Second Chances Girl - a Miami family and lifestyle blog!: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Life Lately

Life lately continues to be on the crazy side! I hit a bit of writer's block with my blog but am excited to be back and blogging!I have alot of fun stuff and crazy family life coming your way!

Lately, our life has been everywhere. We had spring break, birthday parties for our friend's babies, family photo shoot, beach days. It's been fantastic!

Lately, the boys have been waking up super early and making tons of noise.  Of course, this wakes up everyone in the house and it's a less than delightful situation. My solution: take them to the beach! So by 8:30 a.m., we are parked and unloading our stuff at the beach!



Our Disney Cruise is only 30 days away!! I still need to buy swimsuits for everyone (which will probably be part of the Easter baskets on Sunday) and some cute flip-flops for me! JC wants a panama jack type hat but I don't think it's a very good look on him!



We recently went to Portrait Innovations and did the whole family-photo-at-a-studio thing. Here's a sneak peek at our family shot:


And then of course, my favorite. This is actual life people. These boys drive her insane!!


Adrian, Ivanna and I went to the zoo on Saturday. It was so cold. I think it's the first time I have ever had to wear a sweater at Zoo Miami. The animals were loving it though. They were out and about!


Adrian is learning how to use my camera. He loves getting to use it. I think I have a future photographer/blogger on my hands!




On Sunday, my friend's baby girl turned one and they had a ladybug birthday p arty for her. It was adorable and I still can't believe she is already one!



Here's the birthday girl!


We have more baby birthday parties coming up, school carnival, Ivanna's communion, Ismaily's birthday and more family fun. I'm not sure how much more I can actually pack into the month of April!



Friday, March 27, 2015

Art For Our Home


Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Minted.com. All opinions are mine alone!

We've gotten to that point where we need to pick some artwork for our bare walls! To me, this is a huge leap into adulthood. Once you have nice artwork on your walls, you've made it! Sure, we have the family gallery wall but art is different. You are purchasing a piece of work that someone dedicated so much time to. It's so personal. I definitely don't want to go to a big box store and purchase something everyone else has. I want something special. Luckily, I found some amazing pieces on Minted.com. Have you seen their art marketplace? It's AMAZING and most pieces are limited editions so I know I won't see the same piece everywhere I go. I have three different looks I am going for in our home. I want gold and pretty for my room, fun and carefree for the kids and a beachy theme for the living room.

First up: Gold and pretty:



Fun and carefree for the kids room:



Beachy theme for living room:


   
Minted.com has the option of framing your pieces so you don't have to run around town trying to find the right size frame for your print. It also helps when you buy various pieces if you are like me and you need matching frames! Most prints come in various sizes from 8 x 8 to 44 x 60. I know you will find the perfect piece for your home!

What do you think? Do you like any of the pieces for your home? 
    


TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop

Happy TGIF! Fridays have always been one of my up most favorite days of the week. Which is why I started this growing, fun, friendly, inspiring hop! I am thankful to have each and every one of you that link-up and share with us each each. Thank you! 


Celebrate with us making it to Friday!

The TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop is a Friday friendly hop where we hope you can blossom, meet and greet new bloggers. We enjoy having you. 




Each Friday we will feature our most favorite post from the previous week. It could be you! We also have a weekly Cohost spotlight, that is great to gain your blog some extra notice (enter here). 

The rules of the TGIF Blog and Instagram Hop Are simple!
1. Link-up any post or posts (no specifics) and your Instagram.
2. Grab a button and display it on your blog, in a post or somewhere visible to help us get notice for the Hop. Also helps us better feature your blog.
3.Be social. Comment and follow at least one blog you enjoy. 
4. Tweet out the TGIF hop. 
Tweet: Link up at the #TGIFhop with @kaitlynmarie003 @desireephillips @silviearmas @ryderbunch @scggirl #instagramhop #bloghop http://ctt.ec/8oM2V+



Meet This Weeks co host
I am the mother of two adorable children, a wife, a full time nurse, part time student and raise chickens in my spare time. I love to run, read, write, DIY, fitness and healthy living. Follow me through my world of Love, Life and Chickens.


Want to be our next Cohost with a special spotlight?! Cohost Form HERE.


 This Weeks TGIF Feature

From the blog of:Our Pretty Little Girls
Be sure to check her blog out: here.







Thursday, March 26, 2015

Kid-Approved Tropical Fruit Slushie

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

Who's ready for the Kids' Choice Awards show? I know we are. My kids have been super excited to watch this show for weeks now. I've gotten all sorts of questions about the show. Can we stay up late to watch? Yes! Can we go to the show? No, sorry! Will Spongebob/the Ninja Turtles/Nicky, Ricky,Dicky, & Dawn be there? I'm not sure! Every day is a different question! This is the first time they have actually wanted to watch the show so they have no idea what to expect. I decided to have a little viewing party to watch the show and I will be serving their favorite drink: Tropical Fruit Slushies that I make with Capri Sun Roarin' Waters, the official drink sponsor of the Kids Choice Awards.

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

These Tropical Fruit Slushies take only a few ingredients and are super simple to make. The main ingredient you need are a couple packs of Capri Sun Roarin' Water (2 per drink). 

INGREDIENTS: (makes 1 slushie)

2 Capri Sun Roarin' Water Tropical Fruit beverage packs
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1/2 cup frozen peaches or banana (my kids like peaches!)

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

IMPORTANT: Slushies are ultimately just ice so one of your Capri Sun Roarin' Waters has to be frozen. When I purchase my packs, I just stick a whole pack in the freezer when I get home. That way I always have some ready for slushies!!

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

Directions:

Cut open both packs of Capri Sun Roarin' Waters. Add fruit to the blender, then pour in the refrigerated pack and then add the frozen pack. Blend together until smooth! Serve!

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

A few ingredients and a couple minutes of your time lead to this deliciousness!!

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

My kids love these slushies and I love that I get to sneak a little more fruit into their diets!  During the awards show, I will serve these slushies with popcorn and pizza. I want an easy night with them so we can hang out and watch the show together!

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

Capri Sun Roarin' Waters Tropical Fruit is now available in Team Packs! These 30-count packs are great for viewing parties like the one I am having, team practices or games and perfect for handing out to thirsty kids! Capri Sun Roarin' Waters is a lightly fruit-flavored beverage with no artificial colors or flavors. 

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

I purchased the Capri Sun Roarin'Waters Team Packs at my local Walmart. They are located in the juice aisle or make sure to look for a special Capri Sun Roarin' Waters Kids Choice Awards display! Super easy to find!!

These kid-approved tropical fruit slushies are delicious and so easy to make! #KidsChoiceDrink #ad

Tell me: Are your kids excited for the Kids Choice Awards airing on Nickelodeon on March 28th? Who are they most excited to see?


Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Perfectly Sized for Fun

Disclosure: I was provided a Mitsubishi Mirage for my personal use for a week. All opinions are mine alone. 

 As many of you know, we are a one car family. We could afford to have two but really don't need two cars. When we need a bigger car (for trips or when we have all 80 or so kids with us) we just borrow my dad's van. There is that one week a year though when having two cars comes in handy and that's the week of the Hispanicize conference here in Florida. Hispanicize is the largest Hispanic social media conference in the nation and I wouldn't miss it just because I didn't have a way to get there. This year, I borrowed the cutest, funnest car I have driven in a while: The Mitsubishi Mirage!!

the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage: perfectly sized for fun  #DriveMitsubishi #sponsored

Isn't she adorable? Yes it's a she and her name was Roxy (the kids named her!!) 

the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage: perfectly sized for fun  #DriveMitsubishi #sponsored

Adrian was thrilled when he saw Roxy. Having Roxy around allowed Adrian and I some quality time since it was just he and I riding around in it most of the week! Roxy was put to the ultimate Miami test on Saturday morning: carrying our beach equipment! I went with both boys and fir our cooler, three beach chairs, 2 boogie boards, 1 beach bag and a bucket full of toys with plenty of space left remaining!

the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage: perfectly sized for fun  #DriveMitsubishi #sponsored

Now I know what you are thinking.....how did all of you (family of 5) fit in a small car like the Mirage? Well just take a look!

the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage: perfectly sized for fun  #DriveMitsubishi #sponsored


Wait...the Mirage also transported this crazy crew to buy the latest video game. I'm telling you the space in this car is like magic. 5 seatbelts meant any combination of our insane family could ride in the car at any time!

the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage: perfectly sized for fun  #DriveMitsubishi #sponsored


Some fun facts about the Mitsubishi Mirage:


  • The 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage starts at $12,995, making it SUPER affordable!
  • It's received multiple awards like "Best All-Around Performance" and "Best Environmental Performance" in the mini-compact class
  • It's so affordable that it allows the buyer to save when purchasing a car and thereby spend all the hard-earned money on other things that are important to them!!


Honestly, we had a great time driving around the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage and I might have wiped away a tear or two when I had to give it back!


Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Fun at the Fair

What's more fun than a fair? Here in Miami we have the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair that comes every year in March. It's miles and miles of rides, vendors, food, games and fun! It has a HUGE exhibition hall, agriculture center and an amazing petting zoo. Adrian, Ivanna and I went opening day, just like last year and we had a great time!


There were no kiddie rides for Adrian this year. He decided he wanted to do the adult rides and rode them with Ivanna. First stop was the hig h chair ride (no idea what it's called) where we got to see the whole fair!



Then it was on to the big rides. I still cannot believe they rode these swings!


Adrian still loves these playhouses though. He had to go alone since Ivanna is now too tall. How does that even happen? How in the world can you be too tall to play?



They rode the Niagara Falls water ride for the first time. They didn't really get splashed since they don't weigh much but they still enjoyed it and rode it 4 times in a row!


The last ride was the Euroslide. I actually had to get on this one with Adrian. The walk up was a killer. I really need to start exercising!


There is no way I can attend a fair without getting an elephant ear. It's such a classic!


Remember when I mentioned the amazing petting zoo? Well the only normalish animal in here were goats. There were zebras, llamas, alpacas, water buffalo, emus and....


the sweetest camel on the planet along with...


a kangaroo. He was adorable but very fesity!


We had a wonderful time. There were no lines for rides, plenty of sunshine and no crowds. Opening day at the fair is perfection. If you are ever in Miami in March, make sure to check out the Youth Fair! 




Monday, March 23, 2015

Great Savings on RO*TEL at Walmart!

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

Great Savings on RO*TEL at Walmart!


Are you creating a big snacking spread for the Big Tournament? Looking for ways to spice up game day and save money at the same time? #JustAddRotel is the perfect way to spice up your favorite recipes. From guacamole to pot roast sliders, adding a can of RO*TEL makes a traditional game day recipe into something extraordinary. Click this link http://cbi.as/4wqx  to print a Walmart coupon where you buy 3 cans of RO*TEL, you will get 1 can free!

Great Savings on RO*TEL at Walmart! Save money on all your game day recipes! #JustAddRotel #ad

Hurry, this coupon expires on April 6th and is only while supplies last!

Be sure to look for RO*TEL in either the Pasta or Hispanic aisle in Walmart!


Great Savings on RO*TEL at Walmart! Save money on all your game day recipes! #JustAddRotel #ad






Friday, March 20, 2015

TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop

Happy Friday! We are super excited since Spring Break starts today!!! We have a super fun weekend packed and then the kids go to day camps all next week (I still have to go to work!). I am the  worst planner because I should have taken the week off but with attending the Hispanicize conference this week and changes at work with JC, I was not able too :(

Since it's Friday, you know it's time for the TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop!! I am thankful to have each and every one of you that link-up and share with us each each. Thank you! 


Celebrate with us making it to Friday!

The TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop is a Friday friendly hop where we hope you can blossom, meet and greet new bloggers. We enjoy having you. 




Each Friday we will feature our most favorite post from the previous week. It could be you! We also have a weekly Cohost spotlight, that is great to gain your blog some extra notice (enter here). 

The rules of the TGIF Blog and Instagram Hop Are simple!
1. Link-up any post or posts (no specifics) and your Instagram.
2. Grab a button and display it on your blog, in a post or somewhere visible to help us get notice for the Hop. Also helps us better feature your blog.
3.Be social. Comment and follow at least one blog you enjoy. 
4. Tweet out the TGIF hop. 
Tweet: Link up at the #TGIFhop with @kaitlynmarie003 @desireephillips @silviearmas @ryderbunch @scggirl #instagramhop #bloghop http://ctt.ec/8oM2V+



Meet This Weeks co host
we live on a little farm and are new parents to the most adorable little girl! 
follow us on our journey of parenthood and farm life!


Want to be our next Cohost with a special spotlight?! Cohost Form HERE.


 This Weeks TGIF Feature
From the blog of: Simply Anchored 
Be sure to check her blog out: here.






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