Thursday, December 11, 2014

Procter & Gamble ::FIESTA MART:: Giveaway!! #houstontexans

::Momma Disclosure:: {This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Fiesta Mart Inc. I received the gifts mentioned below both for myself and 1 winning reader. The statements below are both my true and honest opinion.}

Did you get a chance to attend the meet and greets for Houston Texans' football players Brian Cushing and DeAndre Hopkins??! 

Here is my picture recap of the awesome Texans fans that joined us to the events:

DeAndre sat patiently and took pictures with everyone and made sure his fans got his autograph...especially the little ones! 







And, as we all know... Texans fans they go BIG or go home... #texanscountry 







Now who is ready to win some awesome Procter and Gamble products & a $20.00 Fiesta Gift Card ?! 

Prize pack includes the following:
  • $20 gift card to Fiesta Mart
  • Bounty Single Roll Paper Towel
  • Secret Deodorant
  • Old Spice Deodorant
  • Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pens


Monday, December 8, 2014

#ad ::Fiesta Mart Meet & Greet with Houston Texans DeAndre Hopkins:: #procterandgamble

::Momma Disclosure:: {This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Fiesta Mart Inc. I received the gifts mentioned below both for myself and 1 winning reader. The statements below are both my true and honest opinion.}

Are you looking to have a fun and affordable Sunday game-day tailgate party or viewing party for the next Texans game?

Well it can be, thanks to Procter & Gamble and Fiesta Mart, Inc; who have partnered up and want to make your next NFL tailgate party a complete success! You can not only enjoy great deals and some freebies but also meet and greet some of Houston's finest NFL players!  Our local Fiesta Mart offers great deals on brands that you know and will surely love. Don't wait, you can join us tomorrow for some great deals and start planning your next tailgate or viewing party! 

Join us at the event, where you will be able to meet and greet with DeAndre Hopkins, take pictures with  him and get his autograph. Also, you can take advantage of the great one-day-only offer; Buy $25 in P&G products and receive a FREE Houston Texans beanie hat

Fiesta Mart will also be giving away free eye black stickers that feature the logo of your favorite Houston home town team! They are super cute! My kids loved them!! 

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Meet & Greet with Brian Cushing! It was great! The fans were so excited from the youngest NFL fan to some very excited gentlemen and ladies!




 Brian Cushing with his beautiful wife Megan! 



Then come back to Momma of Dos Blog for a chance to enter to win a prize pack for you to enjoy more of the great products P & G has to offer! 




Prize pack includes the following:
  • $20 gift card to Fiesta Mart
  • Bounty Single Roll Paper Towel
  • Secret Deodorant
  • Old Spice Deodorant
  • Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pens



Friday, December 5, 2014

Christmas Centerpieces with Glade ® Scented Candles for Christmas #GladeHolidayMood #ad

::Momma Disclosure:: {This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions expressed are my own.} 





When I was a child I remember our home being filled with wonderful smells of fresh poinsettias, home-cooked meals, and scents of lit candles. My Momma and Abuelita, would make beautiful centerpieces that decorated our dinner, on Noche Buena. We celebrate Christmas as a family and had Posadas the nights leading up to Christmas Eve. 






These days, I am constantly seeking to recreate these traditions for my children. When I saw the glade scented candles I immediately thought of glittered candles to add to our Christmas centerpiece. 


We headed out to our local HEB to find the amazing new scented Glade ® candles. The scents created by Glade ® such as Frosted Cookie Party™ , Sparkling Spruce™ and Apple Cinnamon Cheer™ ,smell so delicious and are reminiscent of our cena de Noche Buena. 





They created the perfect #GladeHolidayMood thanks to #CollectiveBias. 


Here is what you will need to recreate our festive centerpiece, it is really easy and quick to make our glittered candles: 





 1. Spray-on Adhesive 

 2. Glitter 
 3. Glade Scented Candles (I used 3) 
 4. Fun Christmas decorations 




First; I set up a glitter station by my kitchen sink. I picked up the candle from the open end and                      sprayed on the adhesive. 

Then, I quickly sprinkled the glitter on all the way around the candles, on at a time. 

It’s so quick and easy and adds so much glitz to your centerpiece! The centerpieces can be decorated as you would like and see fit. I added reds, greens and silver to help my glittered candles stand out!






It was so easy; your holiday table will not only smell great but be lit in a beautiful manner. This centerpiece brings back memories of when I was younger and my Momma and Abuelita would prepare our holiday dinner. Always a special night filled with family, food and traditions. I am more than happy to recreate these nights for my children and our little family.







 What about you, which Glade ® Candle scents are your favorites?

Thursday, December 4, 2014

#ad #edu Early Education is Important to our Family #TheStoryOfEmma #CollectiveBias

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




I want to share with you a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Thanks to #CollectiveBias for allowing me to share this campaign,#TheStoryOfEmma with the Momma of Dos Readers. With this I ask that you please watch and share the following short 3-minute video; it's the story of how a young girl reaches her goals and finds success through the sacrifices made by her parents and their decision to create a better future for their daughter. Mi Escuelita gave her the educational boost she needed to help her succeed. While the story is fictional, its inspiring message is representative of the children who are positively impacted by a Mi Escuelita education. Here is The Story of Emma:

 
The Story of Emma from Mi Escuelita on Vimeo.

My parents came to the U.S. in the early 80’s, 1981 to be exact. The year I was born. Immigration was a resource and an option. My parents knew that as a young couple they couldn't provide properly for their now forming family if they stayed in Mexico. My parents became U.S. residents with the amnesty in the 80’s.

We migrated for years where the work took my Dad. Our family grew as well. 4 kids. In the mid-1990’s my parents decided that the traveling was no longer good for us. Our family needed stability, they opted for  living in a small border town called Mission, Texas. Thanks to programs similar to Mi Escuelita in the rural town my Momma had all the resources she needed to help us get ahead. They wouldn't realize what they would do for us as far as receiving a good education early on until our later years when college was an attained dream.  

Because nothing in this life comes easy, my parents instilled in us, education and of course hard work. An education that their parents couldn't afford for them. My Momma the oldest child in her family worked at an early age to help provide for her family. My Dad was in the middle somewhere of his family and really didn't get to go to school either. Both my parents had good trades to survive in Mexico but when it came to following the American Dream they were not sure how they would do it, eventually they dared to and attained success for their children.




With their hard-work and sacrifices made, they provided their family with a home, food and dreams. My Sister and I graduated from the University of Houston. I graduated in 2005 and my Sister followed in 2007. One of my brothers graduated from the Culinary Institute here in Houston and now lives and works as a chef in Arkansas. My younger brother is still working on what he wants to be.

Fast forward to the education my children are currently obtaining. As parents who know the importance of an education. We knew we wanted our children in an early education program even before they started public or private school. My children currently attend an early education Christian academy and it's always a proud moment and achievement to have your son recite entire prayers from memory or lines from his plays at the age of 3 1/2 or now at 5. He also counts to 30 in both Spanish and English. I believe in the power of having a great education and taking full advantage of those resources. 

Personally I knew college was my dream and a goal I wanted to reach. We now tell our children that through hard work and an education they to can be anyone they want to be...even the future President of the United States. 







What is Mi Escuelita "My {Little} School" and how can you help?



Mi Escuelita Preschool Inc. teaches English to children from all cultures and prepares them for academic success. A 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with five locations in Dallas, Texas, Mi Escuelita provides a unique service to low-income families with children considered to be “at- risk.” While remaining strongly dedicated to the preservation of each child’s cultural heritage, Mi Escuelita’s primary focus is to provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment where non- English speaking children of preschool age are taught the English language, pre-reading, literacy, and social skills necessary to have a successful experience in both school and life. Visit http://miescuelita.org/” 
I believe in this cause and I hope that you too can find value in what an early education is doing for the children in the program. It not only provides an educational service for the young children who attend but also a wonderful fountain of resources for the parents. Parents that like myself want their children to have an early education in order to create a better future for them! Mi Escuelita is giving these children and their families the opportunity to reach the American Dream, success. 


http://bit.ly/storyofemma
http://bit.ly/storyofemma



Join us for #TheStoryOfEmma #LATISM Twitter Party on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 9:00pm. @LATISM and @ColectivaLatina will be joining forces to support of the Mi Escuelita campaign and create awareness about #TheStoryOfEmma. 5 prizes of $50 gift card + $50 donation to Mi Escuelita in winner’s name will be awarded during the twitter party. PLEASE RSVP HERE: http://cbi.as/qe2ds

Also Tweet the following to help support the campaign: RT to donate $1! I am investing in #Latino children: lets make success stories like #TheStoryOfEmma a reality http://t.co/Pksh0tGGOz




Monday, December 1, 2014

#ad ::Fiesta Mart & Houston Texans:: #procterandgamble

::Momma Disclosure:: {This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Fiesta Mart Inc. I received the gifts mentioned below both for myself and 1 winning reader. The statements below are both my true and honest opinion.}

You already know.....I don't know much about football, posted about it here but I do know that the team won yesterday and that now every Texans fan in Houston is getting ready for the next big game!! Am I wrong? NO. I am so right. 

                                                       {Photograph: ESPN.COM Website}

Well thanks to Procter & Gamble and Fiesta Mart who have partnered up and want to make your next NFL tailgate party a complete success you can not only enjoy great deals and some freebies but also meet and greet some of Houston's finest NFL players!  Our local Fiesta Mart offers great deals on brands that you know and will surely love. Don't wait join us tomorrow for some great deals and start planning your next tailgate or viewing party! 






Join us at the event, where you will be able to talk to Brian Cushing, take pictures with  him and get his autograph. Also, you can take advantage of the great one-day-only offer; Buy $25 in P&G products and receive a FREE Houston Texans beanie hat! Fiesta Mart will also be giving away free eye black stickers that feature the logo of your favorite Houston home town team!



Then come back to Momma of Dos Blog for a chance to win a prize pack for you to enjoy more of the great products P & G has to offer! 


Prize pack to include the following:
·         $20 gift card to Fiesta Mart
·         Bounty Single Roll Paper Towel
·         Secret Deodorant
·         Old Spice Deodorant
·         Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pens






Sunday, November 30, 2014

:: El Pollo Loco:: Eating Healthy & Conveniently

::Momma of Dos:: {This is a compensated post by El Pollo Loco. All statements are my own and honest opinion.}


I think that this year even before Thanksgiving came to be we were all Turkey'd out! Ha. Between pot-lucks at work and Thanksgiving feasts at the kids schools in a time span of 2 weeks; by the time Thanksgiving came around we were semi-done with turkey. After Thanksgiving comes a day of leftovers and last night we were ready for something different. I bet you are too? 

How about a chicken dinner with all the freshest of sides from El Pollo Loco! Like corn, broccoli, a loco salad or some yummy black beans.   It now has dos new locations here in Houston conveniently in your neighborhood and their newest location on Mason Road coming soon! 



El Pollo Loco has so many great family deals and I love their freshness and yummy desserts. For easy and convenient dinners you can order from the drive through and take it home to your Holiday guests or head on over and dine-in to get away from all the busy streets of Holiday shopping. No matter how you choose to order El Pollo Loco is a great alternative for family dinners during the upcoming Holiday season. 

For us as a Mexican {American} family of 4 we are always seeking delicious Mexican food and El Pollo Loco has some authentic foods such as their sopes and tortas as well as burritos and enchiladas which we crave! 

So, as you prepare to head out for Holiday travels or in-town shopping don't forget that El Pollo Loco has great healthy alternative for your entire family. And, if you decided to dine in or order out it's an easy and convenient way to get dinner done for you  and your family. 




::El Pollo Loco::


"At El Pollo Loco, pronounced “L Po-yo Lo-co” and Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken,” we go to crazy lengths for our signature citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken. First, we marinate fresh, whole chickens in a special recipe of herbs, spices, fruit juices and garlic. The whole chickens are then fire-grilled, hand-cut, and served with our chicken meals, burritos, salads, soups, tacos and quesadillas. And if that’s not enough, we apply that same passion to our handmade guacamole, salsas and dressings every day. Some say the lengths we go to are crazy. We say it’s Crazy You Can Taste."

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Yvette {Traveling Husband} #inspiredseries





Hello! My Name is Yvette, Wife to an amazing Hubby, of 6 years, and a Stay at Home Mom of 2 Little Ones.  My daughter(5) is a princess in every form.  She LOVES make up, dresses, heels and all things girly.  Lord Help Me!  :)   My son (2) is truly a boys boy.  He likes to play rough and usually ends up in trouble over it.  My kids are my world, but at times I would struggle with being at home and feeling like I wasn't contributing to the world.  I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in Finance with experience in Accounting.  I was really good at it too, but that experience and degree didn't matter to my kids.  Its easy to get depressed and I always tried to look at the positive side of staying at home with my kids, but it was really hard.  My husband has a CRAZY schedule and we live 3 Hours away from our ENTIRE family, so I usually felt alone and became somewhat of a recluse.   

Starting a boutique was something that I wanted to do since I got pregnant with my daughter in 2009 but we travel for weeks, sometimes months, at a time so starting a brick and mortar boutique seemed really impractical.  After a lot of research, and getting denied by the city the year before, I got approved with a Home Occupancy Certificate.  I was finally able to open up an Online Children's Boutique.  It is the piece of the puzzle that I felt was missing.  Now I feel complete, I get to stay at home with my kids, teach them, play with them and raise them.  My husband never has to worry about taking my kids to any doctor's appointments and I don't have to worry about taking time off work when they are sick.  It is a win, win situation for everyone involved. 


http://roseandrhodesclothing.com/
     


When I was pregnant with my daughter we lived in New Mexico for 3 Months.  It wasn't so bad. 

Then, when I was pregnant with my son in 2012 we lived in Washington DC for 3 1/2 Months.  My daughter was 2 1/2 and we had no vehicle.  We had to walk EVERYWHERE and used the subway when we needed to.  The closest grocery store was about a mile away.  That was a long ways to waddle.  HAHA!  On the final day in DC, I had a scheduled Drs. appointment and ended up at the hospital.  I was 5 months pregnant and already contracting due to the walking and dehydration.  They gave me a shot to strengthen my sons lungs, put an IV for the dehydration and sent me on my way.  Then, when we arrived back home, we went straight to the hospital from the airport.  I spent the night and they gave me meds to prevent the contractions.  In the end, my son was born two days before his due date.  He is a VERY HEALTHY, VERY LOUD little boy.  I really think those shots to strengthen his lungs worked a little too well.  


We have done short stints of travel in California, Houston and the RGV.  Needless to say, we do A LOT of traveling, and with 2 toddlers its not always easy.  My kids are still small so they get impatient and sometimes don't understand that it takes a while to get to a destination.  We have done many things to try and get their minds off of a long trip.  If it is a road trip, we try to leave after lunch so the kids can take a nap on the road and it usually works out just fine.  We also bring movies with us on the road and if we are traveling by plane we make sure to bring snacks, toys and coloring books.  We do sometimes stay behind when my Hubby has a short trip.  Before he leaves, we have a conversation with our daughter so she can know her Daddy will be gone for a couple of days.  She usually says "ok" and "I'm gonna miss you, daddy".  I think it makes it easier on her to know what is going on.  Our son is still too small.  Every time he asks for his Daddy, I just tell him he's at work and he usually says "ok".  




The biggest challenge of having a traveling Hubby is probably having to stay at a hotel room.  My kids like to run and play, and they don't mean to be, but sometimes they are really loud.  The security at a hotel once came knocking because someone complained about the noise.  Obviously, at home they are used to being loud and no one getting after them over it.  I don't like to get after   them for playing but they do have to learn to be mindful of others.  Traveling is not always a horrible thing.  We LOVE that our little ones are able to see other cities, especially big cities.  My husband and I didn't have that privilege growing up so we try to do as much as we can, and see things that we wouldn't see in our small city.  

This time around we are celebrating our Thanksgiving away from our house.  Usually, my parents come over to our house and I make the turkey and my mom helps with making the sides.  This year, it will just be the 4 of us, but that doesn't bother me.  We celebrate Christmas for 3 Days. It starts with Christmas at our house, just the 4 of us, on the 23rd.  On Christmas Eve we Celebrate with my Husbands Family and the 25th we Celebrate at my Grandmas House (my dad's mom), then at my parents’ house in the evening.  Yes, we are all over the place at Christmas.  The kids love it because they get presents everywhere.  On the 26th we pack up and head home.  

It might sound crazy, but we are used to the travel. Most of the year, we are at home, bored out of our minds. My daughter starts school next August so our travel will slow down some. Until then,               we will see where the road takes us.    

I hope you have enjoyed reading a little about how I got started with the boutique and about our traveling experiences with 2 small children.  

Thank You to Connie Gomez at Momma of Dos for this opportunity.  

To contact me, email me at roseandrhodesclothing@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook and Instagram at Rose and Rhodes Clothing 


http://roseandrhodesclothing.com/

                 

         

::Thankful:: #30daysofaffirmation

If you follow us on Instagram then you know that I started a 30 days of affirmation challenge more so for myself but then I started receiving such positive feedback and I hope it will help others as well. 




There are so many times in my life when I have lost sight of the who and the why. 

I lose sight of truth and instead have in the past focused on the wrong people or others' dreams when I should be focused on my family of 4 ::Team Gomez:: and OUR dreams. 

Today, I am thankful. 

For my family. My Hubby, my Dos amazing children who have brought the true meaning of my life to be and have created my passion and dreams. 

Today, I am thankful for my purpose and my focus on who and why I have made it this far. 

Thankful for my family. My Momma, my Dad, my Sister , Nephew and my Brothers. They have all been here for me in huge ways and no matter how bad it has all shaped me to be the person I am today. Driven and ambitious but definitely grounded and realistic. I have not reached all my goals but slowly I will make my dreams come true. 

And, for that I am thankful. 

I am also thankful for my extended family {especially the 3 best Tia's ever; Ale, Erica & 'Nanielle} and of course my friends, not only those people I have met along the way in person but also all of the beautiful online family who support and love me as much as I support and love them. 

For that I am thankful. 

I am thankful for my life, my vision, my home, my job and my future. 

Everyday I am thankful for so many people and so many instances of grace and life..... not just today... 

What about you, what are you thankful for?



{Follow us on Instagram and Twitter

Monday, November 24, 2014

Luminaries Craft for the Holiday's #childrenscrafts

Are you looking for a fun and easy way to keep your children busy during the Holiday season, one way is by creating these easy Luminaries. Inspired by a quick Google search one afternoon. I am visual person so I like to Google images of crafts or ideas that I can create with my children. My kids are also very hands on especially my Cami. They love cutting shapes or paper in general and using their handy-dandy glue-sticks, skills they are learning in pre-school. I decided to help them create these easy kid-friendly centerpieces.



If you too want to help your children create these fun and very easy luminaries to shine some light on your upcoming Holiday dinners here is what you will need: 




  1. Simple White Paper Bags
  2. Tissue Paper
  3. Stickers for added decorations
  4. Scissors-not pictured
  5. Glue Sticks-not pictured
  6. Candles-not pictured - I used small/medium size candles in glass holders 
{Please remember that the candles can become very hot, they are only for temporary lighting and should be in sight at all times as well as turned off over night.} 




  • First; we cut shapes in our paper bags: I opened the bags, folded them in half and cut simple shapes. 
  • Then we cut our Tissue Paper shapes; such as snowflakes, Christmas trees and a flower. {I traced the shapes for my kids and helped them cut them out.}
  • We then glued them to our bags and placed our candles inside.
It was so easy, my children loved the fun Holiday activity.  Are you doing any fun Holiday crafting? Please share some of your favorites with us! 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

::Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinners:: #thankfulthursday

This time next week our little family will be eating a semi-traditional Thanksgiving dinner. My parents are truly Mexican. Not just throwing that out there but it is a fact.  They want salsa and tortillas with their Turkey every year, no matter how non-traditional that may be. Growing up I never had a problem with it, I was used to it. It was later in my years of life that I felt like my parents were just being difficult.  Then I had children. Seems your perspective is clouded before you have kids.

I changed my views, feelings and thoughts on situations like this. I now embrace my parents’ ways. I embrace our roots and accept new traditions. That’s what Thanksgiving was about right? Not just adopting America as our new country but also accepting the coming together of cultures and embracing our life in the American’s and theses differences.

Which is why now, our thanksgiving table is never lacking in tortillas and salsa. Oh yea and our leftovers are always interesting. Either, taquitos dorados or enchiladas, this year I am thinking Turkey Enchilada soup!  I mean come on, is there any other way!?

These days we accept all new foods to our Thanksgiving dinner table, not just because it’s delicious but because I want my children to be open to new ways and foods.  What better time then Thanksgiving to create a melting pot of traditions. I am extremely thankful of my family and our difference, it makes us who we are and stronger as a unit! 

I know we all have very different non-traditional ways of celebrating during the Holiday season and I always love listening and learning from those around me. 

I learned about the awesomeness that happens at my friend Alba’s house of Independent Mami and trust me, I want to be there!!!  She is Salvadorean and her Momma makes an amazing, from what I hear, Pan con Chumpe! She has pictures on her Pinterest board and let me tell you. I almost ate my phone!! Ha.


What are your most favorite non-traditional dishes or family rituals for Thanksgiving?