A little FYI for ya...

Just so you know, I get free stuff from Influenster and blog about the products they send me once in a blue moon. If you see something you like, or want to know whether a certain product or another is worth trying, leave me a message and i'll get back to you ASAP!

Much love.

To Peel, or not to Peel… 'Tis the Question.

So I changed my diet, about a month ago, for health reasons and have finally started seeing some changes on the scale… 10 pounds worth of change to be exact. Woo-hoo! Finally! To say I'm big-boned would be an understatement. Most people think I'm in the 150-160 pound range on any given day, but a month ago when I began to change my eating habits I was weighing in at 196 on a good day.
Now that I'm comfortably on the road to a healthier lifestyle I've got to admit that fresh fruits and vegetables have played a big part in losing weight. It also helps that my mom is my diet buddy and we have so many of our meals together. Needless to say, she keeps me in line. Getting back to the point, I've been reading up on the effectiveness of vitamins when taken through food, rather than pills and supplements, and a consistent theme among the internet "experts" and nutritionists in my town seems to be that ingesting fruit together with its peel can and will bring more "absorbable" (that's my own word there) vitamins into the body. This article is about just that and I'd like to encourage you to take the time to read it and then do your own research for a healthier you.
As a Latina woman i've always used certain fruit peels for certain recipes, but i've got to admit that the banana peel really threw me off. I can't stand the smell or taste of bananas, much less the peel. But I do eat them in front of my kids occasionally, just so they know that mommy won't chicken out on vitamins. The same way I make my husband eat broccoli in front of them as well… but that's a whole different story better left for a different day. When my recipes include fruit peels or zesting it's usually in the citrus family, although occasionally I do use apple or mango peels for recipes where my kids won't notice.
When I was about 8 years old there was this kid at my church who ate the watermelon rind clear down to the very skin of it. We thought it was weird but mom said he was a good example of taking advantage of every vitamin that fruit had to offer. I guess watermelon kid was onto something. I can only hope that someday my kids will also have a watermelon kid to learn from, or even be that watermelon kid… if our crops don't keep getting pumped with steroids and pesticides.
What are your thoughts on taking full advantage of plant vitamins?


Much love.

Starbucks quality, generic price.

My husband has been converted… before you go thinking about idolatry or something else let me elaborate. When we married he couldn't stand a weak cup of coffee after five pm; and now he'd take it through an iv if he could. And why wouldn't he like it? It's the elixir of energy that gets him through the morning, noon and late afternoon slump at work. The problem is that he has developed a taste for Keurig and Starbucks, on a TIGHT budget (to put it lightly).
What do I do to contribute to the addiction? I think I have it easy. His bosses are very gracious and have provided a Keurig coffeemaker and K-cups aplenty for their employees. The problem arises when they run out and their "chief purchasing officer" is out on a work trip. This is where resourcefulness comes in. Most Sunday papers carry a two dollar coupon for Starbucks Via (5 pack or higher count) and I make it a habit to cut them out whenever I see them.
What good does a two dollar coupon do for a nine dollar coffee? Well that's the thing, in my local supermarket (Randall's), as in many local supermarkets, there's a 50% off section for products with damaged packaging. The idea is to check that section every time you make a supermarket run and see if there are any Starbucks Vias or other products on your coupon list (just check thoroughly to ensure the integrity of your product has not been compromised). The Starbucks Via I bought for Car today went from $9.00 to $4.50 on the sale shelf, and then to $2.50 with my coupons. You can see by the pictures below that the product integrity remained intact, AND I got "points" toward a free drink at a Starbuck (located conveniently within my grocery store).
Lots of us like brand name flavors, but want the generic price. It's okay to want to have your cake and eat it too… you just might have to be patient for it. I waited three weeks with coupon in hand for this Via to finally make it into my cart.
Patience is a virtue.

Much Love.

We never do anything until someone gets hurt.

I recently saw this title:

"HOUSTON MAYOR FORCES ALL TO OPEN GIRLS ROOMS TO MEN"

for an article on http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-Texas/2014/05/28/Houston-Mayor-Forces-All-to-Open-Girls-Rooms-to-Men. 

This, and other, sites are following closely, though not always impartially, what the mayor has been commenting in regards to a cause so close to her heart. But as a woman with no children can she really claim to have in mind what's best for Houston without taking into account the very valid fears of many parents?

After 911 airport security went crazy all over the country and people claimed that, had preventative measures been taken earlier, our nation could have avoided that catastrophe, but we didn't. Now we have the chance as citizens to put our concern for our fellow persons' well being into action before someone decides he feels like a woman, dresses like one, then has an empowering man moment when he sees a little girl entering the bathroom unsupervised and has a moment alone with her. We never do anything until someone gets hurt. 

I'd like to challenge you, no matter what your background, ethnicity or sexual orientation is, to consider your fellow humans and their safety AS WELL AS your own when voting for things like this. One person can ruin it for the whole lot. If we don't look out for our own kids, who will? Certainly not the government, they've got their hands full with all these kids from other countries whose parents so unceremoniously dumped on us and have no intentions of being the loving family their kids need. 

So what do you think about the gender-neutral restroom issue? Is it even an issue for you? Let me know what you think. Post a comment below. 

Much love.

The World Cup and Republicans

I'd like for my readers to take a look at this link: http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2014-06-25.html

It's Ann Coulter's take on Soccer as a whole, brought on by the World Cup. I myself am a Republican, but cannot proudly say so on this day. Ann Coulter's kind have branded people like me (a moderate Republican) traitors and undercover Democrats. All because I have morals AND a heart.
I'd like to take the time, as I watch the Chile vs. Brazil game, to remind everyone out there in cyber-world that the people we criticize are also humans and feel and live and love the same way we do… some on an even deeper level.
There's a song by Brad Paisley ("American Saturday Night" http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bradpaisley/americansaturdaynight.html) that describes the U.S. traditions for what they really are, borrowed from other countries. Wikipedia, and other books and sites, have discredited Ann's view of what is really "America". Baseball originated in England, football has its origins in Britain, even hockey has been documented in many countries many hundreds of years before it made its merry way to the U.S. So what does a sport need in order to be considered "American enough" for Ann Coulter? It needs to have been stolen from another country and called All-American, like it belongs to us, following the trend of the Trail of Tears and other things the U.S. likes to think belong to it alone.
Don't worry Ann, there will be enough immigrants in the U.S. (from all over the world) to turn soccer into another one of your national sports soon enough.
Finally, let me remind you, as you've most likely heard throughout your lives, that more flies can be caught with honey than with vinegar. So if you'd like to convince the whole world, or at least the U.S., of your personal convictions, criticism is already a bad start. Take a personal interest in your enemies' lives and they will begin to recognize you for the human you are as well.


Much love.

Appeal to Popularity: Fact or Fallacy?

I recently watched a toothpaste commercial (Who am I kidding? Those things are on ALL the time!) where the announcer claimed that 9 out of 10 dentists reccommended it... IT not being elaborated upon, but rather left to the audience's minds to fill in the necessary thought that the toothpaste is actually what was being recommended. This is an Appeal to Popularity that creates in consumers the desire for a product because most dentists who tested it approve of its claims of health. It goes like this: 1) Most dentists approve of this toothpaste, 2) So i should approve of this toothpaste as well, and 3) Since I approve of this toothpaste, this toothpaste must be good!

I read one of the earlier articles that one of my classmates posted on Appeal to Authority and believe that this fallacy may apply as well. It could be applied like this: 1) Person A is claimed to be a dentist and knows about good toothpaste, 2) Person A (Dentist) claims that he recommends the toothpaste, 3) Therefore, this toothpaste must be good!

 Whoever is reading this, do me a favor… DON'T be one of the mindless mass. Think for yourself, your toothpaste is depending on you.

There's an interesting article about Appeal to Popularity on:  http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NineOutOfTenDoctorsAgree 

Sometimes big dreams don't come true, but i've found that if you're just willing to be a little flexible and dream different dreams maybe you can create a fairytale where there once was none.
You see, there once was a girl who dreamed big; in high school she dreamed of becoming an ambassador and traveling the world. But when she started college she decided to change course and set sail for a different future. She met the most wonderful man, who loved her like no other, and they married when he graduated. She was pregnant soon after that and, with much joy, they welcomed a healthy, happy baby into their arms. She kept studying, they had another baby, she tried to be happy, but after a second bout of post partum depression left her reeling she realized that she had gone in the opposite direction from her teenage dreams… and that made her feel like she had failed herself. But the wonderful man she had married reminded her that he had always supported her dreams, and always would, and that she had chosen her course, and only she could change it. So she finished studying and began to search for an exciting job when she realized her heart was no longer seeking worldly adventures. She had everything she wanted sitting in her lap when her two toddlers were smiling up at her.
And it was alright to dream this dream… to want to spend time with her little loves. There would be time to dream other dreams in her future, but her present was enough, and her heart was full. And nothing else mattered.
So you see, dreams are lovely when they move you toward your destiny, but don't get stuck thinking there's no changing your mind.
I know I did, and my new dream was even better than any before it.


Much love. 

The meaning of it all, life

http://www.iscast.org/journal/articles/Day_A_2002-04_Biotechnology_and_Medical_Ethics.pdf 


This article, called Biotechnology and Medical Ethics: Thinking Biblically About Contemporary Medicine, deals with the very modern Christian dilemmas of whether an embryo is alive, cloning as ethical, etc. It seeks to help one as a Christian in modern times to see “what we are able to do” and how that affects “what we ought to do.” (cited from abstract). The promise this holds is that at a worldwide level people, not just Christians, are being presented with the dilemma of whether a life begins with a baby’s first scream at birth or much earlier and are looking for something deeper than science to help them ‘sort through’ all this. This is as good as a promise of more people seeking something more than science, and for there to be open doors in all sorts of places looking for “true life”. The benefits are there, and I’m perfectly sure that setbacks will pop their ugly little heads up in due time, but we must advance while we can.

Down eleven

This comes as a surprise to those who know me, and much more for myself, but i'm finally happy with my body. I've only lost eleven of the thirty pounds that i've set for my goal, but for the moment 180 lbs. feels great. I expect it'll feel even better when I can jog a whole mile without stopping. For the time being i'll just keep on keepin on. Wish me luck!

Valeria...

... has a game tonight. I'm making tomorrow's lunch. We have to go to the Ferrer's house later (after Val's game). Santi's finally napping today, and i have to wake him up in ten minutes to go to Val's game.

And we've finally finished moving into the new house and got internet!! Life is crazy, but this beautiful mess is what keeps me sane.

I've just started a diet, or rather am trying to change my eating habits to lose weight, and have 35 pounds to lose in order to be back at pre-baby weight... but losing 30 pounds would be okay too. I hope y'all are cheering me on!

Adiós, Isla del Encanto

We're back from Puerto Rico and all I can say is that i'm already missing the water. Santi went to the beach for the first time and loved the sun and sand. Car had never been to either and was charmed by old San Juan... To the point where he said he might even like to live there. The day we were to fly back we weighed ourselves and i found out i weigh 191 lbs, so my next challenge is to lose thirty pounds (at least). I've been running with my sisters for a week now and what i've gotten so far is sore. But I know it'll all be worth it in the end.

Dern Kids!!!

Last week was Car's first father's day and our first time helping coordinate youth camp with a "baby on the hip". It was five crazy days and four sleepless nights full of face painting, Bible studies, late night pranks and amazing music. Well it wasn't just those things that made it special... it was a week of firsts.
Santi got into the pool for the first time, I gave a couple of workshops, kids got caught doing stuff they shouldn't, and then at the end of the week the most amazing thing happened.
There was a sort of peace amidst the chaos. Like that bull in the china shop, but imagine that same bull sitting still while everybody runs around it trying to figure out how to get him out carefully. These teenagers all of a sudden seemed to have a more defined sense of direction... now they still don't know what they want to do in life, but they want to do it with God's peace, not whatever fake peace humans pretend to create.

Wild Things

We took our VBS kids to the Sedgwick County Zoo on Saturday as a treat for their faithfulness and dedication in coming every day and inviting lots of new kids. Our group totaled 70 on the final count and let me tell you, it was like taking a zoo to the zoo! Our kids were so lively and excited they could hardly contain themselves at the entrance. This was also Santi's first trip to the zoo and despite his short months he was just as enthused by all the animals as the rest of the gang.
I really liked the decorating style for the "tiger village" and came away with some great ideas for Santi's room and an outdoor playroom or family room of sorts.

Ran into bliss

My family and I did the 2 mile River Run (sponsored by Bank of America) last Saturday. I haven't really exercised in a little over a year, since i found out i was pregnant with Santi. It was really fun and we finished it off jogging over the finish line, holding hands, kissing happily under the glaring sun. Santi slept through the whole race in his jogging stroller. He woke up afterwards for the pictures then to eat and right back to sleep.
Carlos surprised me with the entries for the race. It was kind of my inauguration for a reintegration into a semblance life as it was before Santi. We may be a small family but bliss reigns when we're together. For me this is happiness, this is Love...

I'm in class right now

and i'm wondering whether our forefathers really wanted us to come to this when they sought freedom to worship here in this free land. Dr. Grubb is telling us that we're worship leaders whether we want to be or not (Stevie gives me something like a haha smile over her shoulder)... NO I'M NOT!! (Well that's what my mind is screaming anyways)
It's hard to accept, but as a pastor's wife i've come to realize that people really do look to what i'm doing as a model, look to me as a leader. That's a scary thought for a small town girl who makes no scruples about speaking her mind as frankly as you've ever heard.

Back to our roots.

I'm a Republican to the core but this really made me open my eyes and realize that politics, and politicians alike, have made the turn from looking out for the general commonwealth to backing this cause or that, like trends to be followed or predicted. Please help win America back from those who seek selfishly to promote their personal agendas... let's take her back to what really matters: freedom, respect, honor and integrity.

"These days, the name Ronald Reagan-as well as his legacy- has become oversaturated, just white noise. Conservatives love to evoke him, using him as an example of whatever brand of politics they happen to be selling. But what they seem to have forgotten is that moderates and Democrats elected Ronald Reagan, not the Far Right. The ideas that he stood for- freedom, the individual, and self-reliance- appealed to a broad political spectrum. He believed that it was our independent spirit and our differences that made this country great."
-Meghan McCain

A house is a house, is a house, but...

... not just any house can make a home. And on a pastor's salary my husband and i can hardly afford a mansion for our growing family. In the meantime we're fine, but i wonder if we'll make it through the summer with two interns living with us and family coming to visit. Meanwhile, i've been busy with school and other everyday details. We'll see what comes up. I definately don't want to get caught moving during the cold season.
What to do, what to do?

Full House

These past three days the six male interns, from the group my husband and Axel brought from Texas, have been staying at our house. They've been in training for their individual tasks as summer missionaries, the same jobs my husband and i had when we first came to Kansas as engaged interns. It would seem that every year a new couple emerges as a crop from the missionary visits. Last December one of the girls from our college-level youth married Axel, who was in my same class at seminary. I can't help but wonder how our students this year will fare in the fields of ministry and love.
On a more comic note, i had to make supper for all fifteen of us yesterday and it took forever and a half, but i finally managed to whip up too much spaghetti, just enough meat loaf, and the perfect amount of homemade mashed potatoes.

i'm back!

I'm back from Chihuahua, Chihuaha, Mexico, and all i can say for myself is that i'm immensely pleased with the trip results. We went as far as the sierra, in the mountains, and were able to share at a youth camp with over eighty people. Although the news we hear about the other side of the border is full of death and danger what we saw was hope and faith. We were able to share with people so full of life and with so much love to give that i know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that Mexico's future is not sealed in tragedy and hateful crimes. I love my people, and i know we're hard-headed enough to elbow our way to something different, something better.

Fashionable Artistic...

The Wichita Art Museum (WAM) hosts an event every spring in order to bring locals together in appreciation of art. Every year they pick a single color for the theme. This year the theme was black and people tended toward an edgier dress than the former years... Usually they dress to match the theme color. Who knows? Maybe one year we'll get a room full of straight men dressed in pink?