Thursday, May 26, 2016

::Let’s Go See:: Visionworks #AD


::Momma Disclosure:: This is a compensated post. All statements are my true and honest opinion.   




I still remember the day I got my first pair of glasses I was in the 5th grade. Knowing how imperative it would be to my overall function, I wasn't ashamed or scared but thankful that I could now see better. I know the importance of good eyesight the older I become the more I stress wearing my glasses and getting my eyes checked regularly. Now that I have children I am constantly checking for signs of good or bad vision.  As they continue on their journey through school and life I will always be on the look out for signs of needing glasses, I know how beneficial they are. 

Which is why when I heard of the Visionworks and Davis Vision's goal of giving away 10,000 comprehensive eye exams and complete pairs of glasses to children in need; I was happy to share the information with all my readers! 

All children should obtain annual eye exams. Every child. Every year. My children go to daycare and they are a great resource and reminder of our annual exams, my kids also get their vision tested by their pediatrician. I know that a much more in-depth analysis will be needed as they grow, which is why I would trust the experts like Visionworks. 




::A message from Visionworks::

You can take the action needed to help get your child a yearly exam. "Take the pledge to get your kids an eye exam every school year, starting this year! It's as important to their health as annual physicals and dental exams." Parents can take the pledge at http://www.letsgosee.net/pledge/

Help a child in need: 

Visionworks is giving out 10,000 vouchers good for a free eye exam and glasses. If a child doesn’t have vision insurance or Medicaid, aren’t signed up for ACA and can’t afford an eye exam and glasses, or if you know of a school or organization that has children who could benefit, nominate them for a free voucher at http://www.letsgosee.net/help/ 

Nominations can be made in English or Spanish.   

An eye exam may be the simplest test kids ever take. It’s certainly the most important for helping shape their future outlook.
  
Let’s Go See is a national movement to raise awareness of the importance of annual eye exams for children as part of their yearly health routine.

As a parent, how can you be sure your kids' vision isn't keeping them from doing their best in school, enjoying life fully, and being successful? The answer is an annual eye exam. An easy way to remember is to add "Annual Eye Exam" to your child's Back-to-School checklist and they'll start every school year with optimum visual performance to achieve both inside and outside of the classroom.

Some of the signs that your child might have trouble seeing:
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Squinting
  • Holding books close to their face or too far away
  • Sitting close to the TV, computer or tablet
  • Twisting or tilting their head to favor one eye
  • Frequent blinking or rubbing their eyes
  • Inability to judge distance properly (bumping into things)
  • Decreased performance in school and athletics


Add an annual eye exam to your child’s annual appointments, and find your closest Visionworks at http://www.visionworks.com/locations/results.php

Find out more about Visionworks and follow (and tag) them on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Visionworks
Instagram: @visionworks_eyewear
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vwks/

#Visionworks
#LetsGoSee



Wednesday, May 25, 2016

::Potty Training with Pampers Easy Ups:: Ad

::Momma Disclosure:: This is a compensated post in collaboration with Pampers and Big Honcho Media. All statements are my true and honest opinion.



Last week I had a small get-together, in collaboration with Pampers, with an amazing group of Mommas. We were a good blend of soon-to-be Momma, toddler Momma, & pre-teen Momma! We were able to help the new Momma's with advice for their journey into potty-training and be reminded of how much support we all deserve as Mommas. It's true when we say that it takes a village to raise a child. A good local Momma support group will become that village and resource that you need when raising your child. At the end of the day, you will use the advice that you feel comfortable with, that works for you and your child and that you know you truly believe in.

Pampers helped set up the perfect platforms for us all to share in a safe space. 

Some of the great tips we discussed were as follows:


We spent a couple of hours talking about parenting styles, birthing stories, and milestones. We had a great conversation overall and enjoyed each others company. We definitely made some good new connections which are important for us as Mommas, no matter how old our children are, I loved that. We ate and exchanged contact information, building that support group is vital for continuing to reach and overcome important milestones in our children's lives.





Pampers Easy Ups have some great features such as:

  • Pampers Easy Ups have fun Thomas & Friends® designs for boys and Dora the Explorer® designs for girls. 
  • A more underwear-like design for growing toddlers. 
  • Graphics that fade when wet to help little ones learn. 
  • Super-stretchy sides to make them easy to pull up and down when using the potty.
  • Pampers Easy Ups work during the day AND night, providing up to 12 hours of protection.


You can follow Pampers on-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pampers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pampers

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

::Transformation:: 2016




I have discovered that times of transformation come as do the seasons of life. 

I feel that in order for overall transformation to take place you must be willing to go through it and you must want to do something that will help you transform your life. Transformation comes in so many forms; mental, physical, emotional, maturity, etc. We create our own periods of transformation and equally we can ruin our best moments of transformation by allowing our weaknesses or past failures to bring us down.

Lately, I have felt a great surge of transformation back to a place of true balance and peace. I decided months ago that in 2016 I would slow down. Start focusing more on life and my career. It's slowly coming together. The current season is one of taking it all in and learning from my past. I have so much to give thanks for. My children are both happy and healthy kids who love life and are so unique. My career is finally in a good place with a good company, I want to make a life where I am.


My Hubby and I have created a constant energy of evolution, we take in all the bad and good and move forward with it. No matter how bad things get we always manage to move forward, together. We are not perfect and do have many battles to overcome, sometimes daily. Arguments and attitudes flare, mostly on my part ::insert evil laughs here:: but it's fun. We have learned to live a life filled with daily arguments that make sense to us and a ton of humor. We are happy in our own little-twisted way and that's what matters.

As for my mind and body. I want to be strong and healthy. I know it will take time, I am taking it one day at a time. Some days are harder than others, as I hate movement after 5pm. But, I kicked off my boot-camp again, and it makes me feel great so I keep going back, week after week. Seeing other ladies progress and kick-ass is very important.  I seek them in so many areas of my life.

Spiritually and mentally, my transformation is constantly changing and my brain is always thinking as to, what's next. I try and fill my mind daily with words and thoughts that will bring me new peace and happiness. I also listen to anything that will inspire me to have an open mind and creative new energy. Recently, the biggest area of transformation has been taking a class that will help further empower me as a Latina in Leadership with Mujeres de HACE. The connections I have already made have been amazing. The learning and thought process on a week to week basis has been even better!

Taking this time to myself and improving who I am as a Momma, as a career-driven woman, and as a person, helps me transform daily into who I want to be. I turn 35 next month and the word transformation has just stuck in my head and on my tongue for the last week or so. I know that the experiences in the next few weeks will help me reach that next level that I want my life to be at.

I want to always take the actions needed to transform my life, not just for myself but for my children, husband and family's well-being. It's so important to evolve and grow, far out of your comfort zone and into that next season of your life... 


“Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward — get real with yourself.”― Bryant McGill, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life
What about you, what are you doing today that will transform your tomorrow?  



Tuesday, May 10, 2016

::Momma's Day Series 2016:: Roxy's Story

::Momma of Dos Guest Blogger Post:: 
Please note that this post was written by a guest blogger in collaboration with Momma of Dos and as part of a current mini-series. Please feel free to contact each writer individually for further information about their blog.


I am Roxy Rodriguez-Becker and I currently live in SW Houston with my husband, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and our first baby on the way! I taught middle school math for almost ten years and currently teach online. My husband is also a math teacher, so at least our little girl will have plenty of help in that subject. I used to play roller derby and am trying to stay relatively fit during this pregnancy (running, walking, modified crossfit).






Daniel and I decided to grow our little family in the Fall of 2015. He was surprised that I was on board with the idea because when we were married a few years ago I was perfectly happy with just our fur babies. We are lucky things came together and are flowing so smoothly. Everyone, I mean *everyone* thought we were having a boy. Our reveal was so much fun, I even tricked Daniel. A girl is a beautiful surprise and we couldn't be more excited.



You can follow Roxy on this new journey to mommahood on:

::Top 10 Motivational/Inspirational Songs:: Momma Edition

When I am looking for daily motivation or inspiration, I often listen to either podcasts (one of my favorites is MFCEO), Ted Talks (Love them!) or a variety of music.

On my sad days or days when things don't seem to go right I listen to radio stations like KSBJ here in Houston. Their overall message is very motivational. For years, I have listened to KSBJ. And, the other day I realized that since I started listening back in 2001, the morning show has been very important. Not only because of my long commutes and the need to listen to good-positive radio, but also because of the dynamics of the morning show hosts. The hosts are usually male and female, parents and non-parents, but their dynamic over the years has been similar. They work wonderfully together to uplift, to encourage, or provoke deep thought as well as to make you laugh. I have fallen in love with every pair of hosts and truly appreciate a good morning radio show.

Mornings are so important because they set the mood for the rest of the day. When you don't feel great and no on else has told you that everything will be okay or that your day can turn around, motivating messages like those on the radio can help change your mood.

Here are my current top 5 KSBJ motivating/inspiring songs, there are so many others but these I love. You might recognize some of the faces from American Idol.










Then, of course, the girl power has got to flow! My top 5 female empowerment songs.









Monday, May 9, 2016

::Momma's Day Series 2016:: P's Story

::Momma of Dos Guest Blogger Post:: 
Please note that this post was written by a guest blogger in collaboration with Momma of Dos and as part of a current mini-series. Please feel free to contact each writer individually for further information about their blog.

Here's my story...



My name is Priscilla, but I go by P. I am 33 years old and from a small town in Southern California, but feel like a southern girl at heart ;) I've been married to my hubby for almost 11 years and we have two beautiful children, Jase who is 2 1/2 years old and Savannah who is 5 months old. Before getting pregnant, I struggled with infertility for 7 years. My struggle was due to a toxic relationship with diet and exercise that ultimately caused my reproductive system to shut down. It wasn't until I learned what it meant to live a truly healthy lifestyle that I got pregnant with both of my children naturally. It's because of my journey that I have become and Health & Fitness Coach in hopes of helping & inspiring others to learn how to live a truly healthy & happy life!

How old were you when you first became a Momma?  I was 31 years old when I had my son.

Was it expected? With my first, it had been a VERY long cycle and I had given up. Fully expecting to get my period that morning, I had this feeling I needed to take a test...I was shocked to see 2 pink lines! A day I will never forget. With my second I had no clue I could be pregnant, I had just gone off birth control 6 weeks prior and we hadn't started trying yet. 3 days late and I figure something was up...instantly 2 pink lines!!

Did your pregnancy/ies go well? I was VERY sick during both pregnancies and my first was considered high risk. I had a hard time gaining weight and felt like a stranger in my own body. This made me sad since getting pregnant was something I dreamed of for a long time, but finally accepted that it was just how my body responds to being pregnant.

Was your pregnancy what you expected? Nope! Not at all lol! I was expecting to feel amazing and be able to eat anything I wanted haha 

Did your delivery go well? Both of my deliveries, however, were AMAZING!! The two best days of my life and something I will miss forever. They are moments I wish I could go back to over and over again...

Was your delivery what you expected? They were both better than expected!! A true blessing!



How was your first year? My first year was amazing, to wake up that morning and actually have a little one to cuddle and celebrate with is something I will never forget. I cried tears of joy that night knowing how lucky I am!!


Was it all that you expected? Yes! Absolutely! And I had my own mother here to celebrate which made it all that more amazing!!


What advice do you have for others new Momma's? That time goes SO quick! When the hard days come, and they will, just know that it's only a phase. Focus on the good and remember to soak it all in.


We all struggle daily with so many self-issues; what has been your favorite quote, book, movie, item, or website that has helped you keep strong and move forward? The book Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson is AMAZING! One I think all mommas should read.



Contact "P": Absolutely! My email is findingpurehappiness@gmail.com, 
IG is Finding_Pure_Happiness


Sunday, May 8, 2016

:: Momma's Day Series 2016:: Val's Story

::Momma of Dos Guest Blogger Post:: 
Please note that this post was written by a guest blogger in collaboration with Momma of Dos and as part of a current mini-series. Please feel free to contact each writer individually for further information about their blog.

My name is Val and I am a 35-year old wife, the lucky mom of a princess named Aly, and a native Houstonian. Also, a full-time working mom as well as a blogger at Val Around Town. I am truly grateful for all the blessings in my life especially being able to become a mom. Mother’s Day is right around the corner and I feel extremely fortunate to have my little one. Until it actually happened, I never knew if it was possible and here’s why.



I am a childhood cancer survivor. Not only did I have cancer but it was in the lining of the bladder and uterus (sarcoma botryoides). At only two years old (the age of my daughter now), I went through two years of chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation to battle this disease. I was very young, but the chance to bear children was considered very slim because you are born with all of your eggs and radiation treatments can affect fertility in many ways.




I always knew I wanted to be a mom (if it was meant to be), though the number of children I wanted to have decreased as I got older (from 10 to 2 to 1, lol). My husband and I had been married a couple of years and we decided to leave it up to destiny. I didn’t even realize I was expecting until my husband begged me to take a pregnancy test because of major fatigue, he said he just knew. I was almost 8 weeks when we found out and given my background was really scared and thankful at the same time.



My pregnancy was not easy and nothing like I had imagined. I thought I would be glowing, eating ice cream with pickles, and loving the feeling of my baby inside of me. That was far from the truth! I was put on partial bed rest at 9 weeks and full at mid-term. I also had complications given my history and one of them was Placenta Previa. Being pregnant for me consisted of swollen feet the size of bricks, heartburn the entire time, and cabin fever. Even though it was rough, it was only 38 weeks of my life and worth every moment even though it didn’t seem like it at the time!

One great benefit about having a C-section is that you have a scheduled date and time to deliver. I went into the hospital, got prepped, and after entering the delivery room had my child in less than 10 minutes. My in-laws had gone downstairs to get coffee and missed my hubby taking Aly to the nursery, it was that quick! The recovery, on the other hand, was quite the contrary.




The first year of motherhood can be challenging. They say the days are long but the years are short and this is SO TRUE! I had a major surgery, had been on bed rest almost 6 months, and gained 41 pounds (Aly was 5lbs when she was born). It was an adjustment for my muscles to be up and walking around again (no joke). Not to mention, trying to live on zero sleep, picking up the baby with the pain of surgery, trying to squeeze in showers, and attempting to produce milk. In the first year, you do what you can to make it through but not to worry, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.





If I could give any advice to new moms it would be this:
  • Remember the days will be long but they won’t last forever.
  • Take all the help you can get from relatives and friends.
  • You will never have everything done so enjoy some moments with your baby even if the house is a mess.
  • Meet other new moms- I joined a mom group (this is a great place to ask questions and hear stories and similar situations> it’s like a mini support group and you will need it).
  • Don’t pass judgment on other moms- we are all trying to make it work, what works for you may not for someone else.


Being a mom can be a tiring job but also the most rewarding experience ever. We are in the terrible twos right now so some days are “Mommy I love you to the moon and back” and others are me trying to pick up my screaming toddler from the grocery store floor. Although my pregnancy and the process of giving and birth were not easy, I truly understand Aly was a MIRACLE and I am blessed to have her in my life. My family and life would not be complete without her and there is a “new definition” of love greater than anything I have ever felt! Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!




Saturday, May 7, 2016

::Momma's Day Series 2016:: Alicia's Story

::Momma of Dos Guest Blogger Post:: 

Please note that this post was written by a guest blogger in collaboration with Momma of Dos and as part of a current mini-series. Please feel free to contact each writer individually for further information about their blog.

Hello, Fellow Mommas! 

I’m Alicia, I’m 40 years young. I was born in Houston Texas on July 29, 1975, at Jefferson Davis Hospital on warm, summer afternoon. I’ve been married for 15 years to my love Rusk Elatassi, we met when I was a graduate student at St. Thomas and he was a senior. We have two boys Alexander (Alex) who is 13 and Maksim (Max) who is 8.  

I’m the oldest of four to Alicia and Jose Araujo, as the oldest I’m bossy and authoritative yet super protective of my siblings and my parents.  I hold loyalty above all virtues and am fiercely protective of my family. You mess with them, I will roar and I will bite!  Lol!! 




I went to Jeff Davis High School in the Near Northside and graduated in 1993, my neighborhood was lively and fun and at times dangerous. My house was next to a bar that had the best Tejano music jukebox and that became my nighttime lullaby, the borrachos were a sad side show.

I had a beautiful upbringing on 1816 Chapman, there was music, dancing and carne asada every Sunday.  My mom was a stage mom before you heard of Dance Moms, she’d make our folklorico dresses from scraps and do our chongo with lots of “Dippity Do” Gel and tons of AquaNet Hairspray.  My dad drove us kids to performances, it was lots of fun! 

Upon graduation, I went to St. Thomas University and became a teacher at the ripe old age of 21. 


I was 27 when I had my Alex, Rusk and I had been married two years and we discussed having kids early because his parents are a little older than most and because my mom had just finished her battle with breast cancer.  I understood that time doesn’t wait for sickness and health, I also knew that having babies while you’re young gives us the best quality in terms of eggs and life in the womb.   We got pregnant the first month we threw caution to the wind. The getting pregnant part was easy it was my pregnancy that was difficult.  From week 8, I suffered from Hyperemesis, a condition where you vomit incessantly and become dehydrated.  I spent a few days with IV when I was around 11-20 weeks along, I was miserable and at times wondered if maybe I didn't want to be pregnant anymore. 

My sickness played mind games with me, depression seemed inevitable. Thankfully I had an amazing support system in my husband, my family, and my in-laws.  Since I couldn't stand strong smells, I couldn't cook and my angel Mother-in-Law took over for me. My mom gave every possible “remedio” in the world, nothing helped all I could do is stick it out till the end. Thankfully on March 11, 2003, I gave birth by C-section to a robust chunky baby boy who made it all worthwhile.  Four and half years later I experienced an even worse pregnancy, the morning sickness started earlier and lasted longer.




It took me a least two years to get over the traumas of my pregnancies. 

Finally....MOTHERHOOD.... 




1. How was your first year?

My first year of mommyhood was ok, easy, I had a lot of support from my in- laws and my family.  I’m grateful that everyone jumped in to help me with the baby, my husband is an only child so my mother in law spoiled me by taking the baby when I needed a break.  She had all the time and desire to take over for me when I was needing to go back to work.  I never got any judgment from her or my mother, they knew me well enough to know that I needed for my own sanity to be back at work ASAP.  After my Max was born I was definitely much more carefree and this baby was much easier to manage, to this day this little boy is an easy loving kid. 

2. Was it all that you expected? 

I expected that it would be rough the first year. I knew that there would be no sleep but I expected that.  I learned pretty quickly that my Alex was a needy baby, and I kept him at my bedside all night, thus it was hard for him to sleep by himself.  It was a tough transition for both of us, we wouldn't sleep and I couldn't let him go.  The second time around I placed the baby straight away in the crib. He adjusted fast and so did I. I breastfed both boys but not for long, I wanted my breasts back! 

3. What advice do you have for other new Mommas? 

I  always tell new mommas that they should trust their momma instincts.  That although we can read every book about parenting in the world, only YOU know what is best for your baby.  You are allowed to not follow every single piece of advice, you are allowed to be cranky and tired.  I tell young moms that they should find the support of someone when they feel like they are going to lose their mind.  Give dad responsibilities and don’t take it all on yourself, he needs the opportunity to be a dad. Don’t go nuts because he didn’t  change the baby on “time”, because he missed a bottle, trust that he’s the dad and he can take care of his baby too!

4. We all struggle daily with so many self-issues; what has been your favorite quote, book, movie, item, or website that has helped you keep strong and move forward: 

I have a daily struggle with anxiety.  I have managed this by exercising and listening to my SiriusXM satellite radio.  I listen to shows that make me laugh and make me think. I love to challenge conventional wisdom and when others defy expectations I love to hear about that. My anxiety can be paralyzing and I’m quite proud that I’ve never taken a pill for it, it goes back to my mindset and how I learn to manage my emotions with humor and satire. Books like the Andrew Carnegie memoir and traveling reminds me that life is good and my issues are small compared to the world.  

I learned a mothering lesson in the least place I expected it..in the hills of Peru.  Rusk and I were traveling to Machu Picchu, I noticed how the Pacha Mamas carried their babies on their back everywhere they went.  Those toddlers were the happiest babies I had ever seen.  I realized that this American idea of detaching from your kids to build independence was ridiculous, these children seemed happy and mama didn’t follow a set of rules, she did what came natural to her. She fed and nurtured her baby on her own terms, without a medical book and benchmarks. I came back a different mother, I let my boys roam and cuddle on their own terms. I swore to myself that I would follow my own set of rules for mothering, that I wasn’t going to be a helicopter mom or a soccer mom or any other label mom.  

I was simply going to be  Alex and Max’s mom, that’s all!


Contact Alicia: 

Yes! I want to hear from other mommies!



















Friday, May 6, 2016

::Momma's Day Series 2016:: Lauren's Story

::Momma of Dos Guest Blogger Post:: 

Please note that this post was written by a guest blogger in collaboration with Momma of Dos and as part of a current mini-series. Please feel free to contact each writer individually for further information about their blog.

Hello, my name  is Lauren, I'm 29 yrs old, and I'm from Houston. I'm married to an amazing guy, and I'm a proud mom to a handsome little guy who was born September 5, 2014. His name is Jonathan but we call him JC for short, or baby boy, and when I was pregnant with him his daddy and I would call him "turtle"

On April 22nd, I turned 30 and was actually looking forward to it, and can't wait to see what's in store for me. Beside that I have been a wife for almost 8 years this November, and I'm a proud mom, first timer and a boy mom at that. I'm also a stay at home wife and mommy and when I'm not busy with my boys I take some time for myself and work on my blog, Wiferella to Boymom, as well as crafts and trying new things. Hobby lobby and Pinterest are my best friends! 



How old were you when you first became a Momma? 28 

Was it expected? Not at all as I was told I would need help with getting pregnant after suffering from a miscarriage but here I am now blessed with my miracle baby. 

Did your pregnancy go well? OMG, totally thankful for a great pregnancy after getting past the morning sickness.

Was your pregnancy what you expected? Not at all, I was scared in the beginning due to what happen the first time, morning sickness was a pain, and I had a cyst; thankfully it didn't cause any problems. 

Did your delivery go well? I had to be induced almost a week after his due date. The beginning was great but towards the end everything got scary. Thankfully, the end results for him and I came out great due to an emergency C-section.

Was your delivery what you expected? Nope! Scary moments we had but so worth it.

How was your first year? OMG, it has been the best and even more so as I'm a stay at home mommy and wife. At times, it can be rough but at night when I lay my head I'm thankful for the memories that we made that day, and on to the next day. 

Was it all that you expected? Nope darn hormones had me scared and thinking I couldn't do it by myself while my husband is working, but here we are 19 months in and I'm balancing life great!

What advice do you have for other new Mommas? You can do it, don't ever doubt yourself. There are times it will get rough, and when it does pop open a bottle of wine take a hot bath and think about the good and will out do the bad. 

We all struggle daily with so many self-issues; what have been some of yours and your advice?  Weight and it goes up and down as well as I love food and sweets. At the end, I have noticed that weight loss will happen eventually and it won't happen overnight. With that being said there is a Rainbow waiting for you after a storm. 

Contact Lauren: Yes, I would for you to follow my journey on my blog at http://wiferellatoboymom.blogspot.com/?m=0 and Facebook blog page at https://m.facebook.com/Wiferella-to-BoyMom-986568011378780/
Can't wait to have you follow my blog!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Summer Drinks with Tekeen #TexasMade

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
::Momma Disclosure:: This is a compensated post. All statements are my true and honest opinion.  

One of my favorite Latina/Tejana food bloggers is Vianney of Sweet Life, she is one of the sweetest, no pun intended, food bloggers known to Texas. She recently featured a drink on her IG page where she used Tekeen as her blend. So, when Tekeen reached out to me as well about creating drinks with their premium cocktail mixes I was thrilled! Vianney was a great inspiration as I created my drinks. 

Enjoy! 

-----

When I think of Summer I think of fruity, refreshing drinks and of course classic margaritas! Thanks to Tekeen, I was able to start sampling my Summer drinks early. I decided to make a minimal-alcoholic version and then your full on bring the tequila version. As mentioned in my last post  I have a passion for local and Texas shops. What better than genuinely delicious Texas Made drinks. It's the best way to recover from the upcoming Houston heat. 
I made my version of a berry filled "white wine sangria" with the Tekeen Grapefruit cocktail mix. Think of it as a fruit infused, aqua fresca with a sweet kick. It was super easy. 

I combined (about 1 1/2 cups) of fresh blueberries, raspberries and sliced strawberries with (1 whole lime) lime wedges and mint (to taste, I used about 2 sprigs) to about 2 cups of the grapefruit flavored cocktail in a small receptacle. It's best if you have a large jar with a lid or pitcher with a top that seals. So, that your flavors lock in. I left it in the fridge for about 8 hours to chill and infuse and then served over ice, it created a colorful and refreshing drink. The alcohol in Tekeen is only about 12%, so it's very light and perfect for a relaxing afternoon in your backyard.    



My second drink was a classic, with a spicy kick alternative, a Margarita! Perfect for your upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebrations or just your everyday backyard get-together. 

Also, very simple I mixed about 2-3 cups of the Cucumber Lime-flavored cocktail (but you can also use the Passion Fruit Lime flavor) with about 1/2 cup of tequila (really this is up to you), in a large pitcher and stirred it together. You can also shake it in a drink shaker or blend it with ice for a frostier taste. I preferred it with crushed ice so I crushed about 3 cups of ice in the blender, and then salted my rim and served the mix over ice. I garnished it with lime wedges and mint. It was so good, I cannot lie. As an alternate serving, I also salted my rim with a combination of tajin and regular salt. The combination was so yummy! 

I am a no fuss kind of Momma and these two drinks were simple, quick and easy to put together. These drinks serve about 3-4 people.  





Thank you to Takeen for sponsoring this post for Momma of Dos- Visit their site for all their newest recipes and information. http://tekeen.com/