Not Quite Zen

{But Working On It}

Just a modern day momma trying to find the balance between life's craziness and zen, with a little bit of fun along the way.

Finding What's Right For You

Remarkable. That's Me.

Many people look at me, I wonder what they see. Do they see a woman, a wife, Or a simple mother of three? A remarkable being, Is what I hope to be. I’m not built like a model, Or as tall as a tree. But I am as rare as a gem As sweet as a honey bee. I am a remarkable woman, My loved ones would agree. It’s the love that I give, The hugs they receive. The food that I cook. And the goals I help them achieve. I am classy, intelligent, Ambitious and sexy. I am charismatic, creative, Selfless, and sometimes cheeky. When people look at me, I already know what they see They see a remarkable woman, a dutiful wife, And a wonderful mother of three.



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Thursday, April 7, 2016

To Be, Or Not To Be...

Do you ever have the feeling that you are meant for something great? Ever wake up and think, “How can I change the world?” Lately I have been having these feelings. Actually, I have been feeling this way for quite a while now. Don’t get me wrong, being home and taking care of my family is EXTREMELY fulfilling. But I know that things don’t happen by chance. There is a reason that at THIS point in my life, I was given the opportunity to stay at home. There is a reason that everything worked out so perfectly. And maybe, that’s it. Maybe being home taking care of the family is what I am supposed to do right now. But, what if it’s not. What if being able to focus on my family is just the icing on the cake?

When I started to write on my little blog, it was meant to be an outlet. Something to do so that I didn’t go insane being at home. A little hobby so that I felt that I wouldn't lose myself. Truth is, I was scared that I would be lost in this world. My identity would fade away. And I would only be known by my kids and husband. But since I like to go off on a tangent and tend to completely go left, let me bring it back to what I really want to talk about. Which is...hmmm, I don’t know exactly. I know I want to make a difference. That's basically it. But make a difference how? Make a difference to whom? What am I meant to do? What are my passions? When I started the blog, the whole idea of perhaps becoming a well known blogger was super enticing. The idea of gaining internet popularity was kind of cool. I have been pretty shy my entire life, so this gave me a little something to work towards. How cool would it be to be known for blogging. How great would it be to have thousands of followers who care about what I say and look to me for inspiration. Or maybe I can reach people some other way. I mean the whole point of all of this is to touch people. To change people’s lives. But before I figure out how I can accomplish this, I have to figure out what my gift is.  Haha. It sounds a lot funnier now that I actually say, I meant WRITE, it out. I know it sounds silly. And I kind of feel stupid for even pondering this. But, what is my gift? What am I good at. No, not just good. What am I GREAT at? What makes me special. What makes me unique?



Maybe that is not it. Maybe the problem is that I am scared to take the leap. Putting yourself out there is a scary thing. Being completely honest about your fears, dreams, doubts. There is so many things you can accomplish if you just went for it. Without being scared of failing or making mistakes along the way. I mean, don’t they say that with great power comes great responsibility? Oh wait, that’s what Uncle Ben tells Spider Man (yes, I am a huge nerd at heart). The saying I am thinking of is…”To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail” -Michael Jordan

Honestly, I don’t even know how to begin or, again, what it is that I want to start doing. I mean, seriously. I am 32 years old and I still haven’t really figured it out. Or where I want to go. I just know that I want to be great. I want to make a difference. I want to help people. I want to leave a legacy. Yes. I want to be remembered. I want my children to be proud of me and what I have done. I want to leave a mark on this world. I have so many goals. So many things I want to accomplish. The question now is...Where do I begin? 

How about I start off with achieving some mental clarity? Yes, that sounds like a good start. Off I go to meditate...On second thought, maybe I will leave the meditation for tonight, AFTER the kids go to bed :-). Wish me luck!




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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

A Story To Tell




Hey guys! How has life been treating ya? I can't believe how long it has been since I have been on here.  Life seems to be going a hundred miles a minute. Seriously. Little man has been getting so big. He will be 2 in December! The girls have been doing great in school. With so much going on at the spa (oh yeah! I forgot to tell you. I have been working part-time/on-call) and throw in my home-based business I guess you can say things around here have been anything BUT Zen. But it's all good. I really have been blessed.

There have been tons of changes going on with people close to me. Some good. Some not so great. But hey, the Lord wouldn't throw anything your way that you couldn't handle right? So let me give you a little scenario so you can understand what I mean by "tons of changes"...

Picture this; You just finished giving birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. You and your husband are excited and feel so blessed for this wonderful addition to your family. You figure, this time around will be like any other. Heck! It's your 4th child, so you guys are pros, right? You've seen it all. You've experienced it all. Bring it on!

Days go by. Months go by. Nursing your baby is going great. Except, you begin to feel a lump forming on one of your breasts. You brush it off as a clogged duct because, well, stuff like that happens when you nurse. Only, the lump doesn't seem to be going away. 

You decide to talk to your OB about it. He isn't concerned because you are young, healthy and have no family history of anything that may raise concern. But, just as a precaution, you are sent to get an ultrasound, then a biopsy. OUCH!

After testing, life goes on as normal. You are supermom once again. Then the phone rings. It's the doctors office with your results...and then the bomb drops. You have CANCER.


A few weeks ago I spoke to my cousin up North. This is actually her story. You see, she has no family history of cancer. She is only 34. She doesn't smoke. She doesn't live an unhealthy lifestyle. She is just a normal, dedicated mother and wife. According to her doctor, what MAY have caused the the cancer were her pregnancy hormones. Paired with nursing, this helped push the cancer along. Because of all the hormonal changes, her immune system was not strong enough for the fight. So here she is. Mother of 4, fighting Breast Cancer.

It's crazy how one minute, you think you have everything under control. Then, suddenly, someone pulls the rug from under you. How do you cope? How do you continue to be the strong woman that you have always been? The first thing that ran through her mind were her children. The baby was only 9 months old. Now she is finally learning how to let go. Let go of all control and let people help. Which is something that a lot of us can identify with.

Finding out that she has cancer has been very eye opening. I was in complete disbelief. She is so young. The brutal, honest truth is that Cancer can strike anyone. It doesn't matter how old you are. What your ethnicity is. Male. Female. My cousin wanted her story told so that people could be made aware that you don't have to be 50+ to get screened. Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not urge you to get checked until you are 40-50 years of age. Hopefully her story will inspire you to take control and be proactive.

This past weekend, she and her family participated in the American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. She now has a story to tell and her strength, bravery and positive attitude will get her through this. Honestly, I really struggled with how to write her story. I wanted to make sure that I helped her spread awareness by writing some epic piece. But then I realized, this doesn't have to be some Nobel Piece Prize winning entry.

Hearing and writing her story made me remember that our time on this wonderful earth is not promised to us. We have to be grateful for every waking moment we have. Grateful for each and every person that touches our lives in some way. Don't get so engulfed in work, chores, errands, social media and anything else that takes your attention away from what is really important. Stop trying to be perfect or better than anyone else. Just be you and enjoy every minute of it. Focus on what is truly important to you and follow your dreams. Life is a blessing. It won't always be perfect, but it will ALWAYS be precious. Life is not quite Zen, but we can all work on it.



During the month of October, Florida Hospital is offering Digital Screening Mammograms for only $35. To my local ladies, you can call (407)303-7500 to schedule your appointment at one of their 11 Central Florida locations.

For more information about Breast Cancer early detection, please visit www.cancer.org

Visit www.cancer.org for more information


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Friday, June 5, 2015

eBody Exfoliating Body Mitt and Giveaway

Wow. I just realized that it has been about a month since I have written anything. There have been tons of things going on. Starting my own business, little man has become super active (I'm serious. It's unbelievable) and the girls have needed so much of our attention. It has all been physically and emotionally draining. But here I am.

As a result of all the excitement, I have really been slacking with all my health and beauty regimens. Recently I was fortunate enough to receive an Exfoliating Body Mitt from the ebody Spa Collection.



This couldn't have come at a better time if you ask me. Exfoliating is one thing that I try to make sure I do on a regular basis (at least once a week) because it yields some excellent benefits. It improves skin texture, detoxifies skin, brightens your complexion, reveals healthy skin, and helps prevent breakouts. And these are only a few reasons why you should exfoliate regularly.

As we get older, our skins ability to shed dead skins cells slows down, so exfoliating really helps your skin look younger. Enter the Exfoliating Body Mitt by ecloth. When I opened the package and felt the cloth, it is actually very soft. It comes with a convenient little thumb hole to provide extra grip. So it was time to put it to the test and get to the scrubbing.



As I scrubbed my arms, stomach, and legs, the Body Mitt exfoliated very gently. It's microfibers were not rough on the skin and left my body feeling smooth and squeaky clean. I'd say the Exfoliating Body Mitt did exactly what it set out to do. I know some people use a terry cloth wash rag, but I find it too rough. The Exfoliating Body Mitt had just the right amount of abrasiveness to get the job done without being too harsh for my body.

The best part about using the ecloth product is that it is reusable and free of any harmful chemicals. So for those of you that have sensitive skin or any other skin issues, this product is perfect. The gentle fibers scrub away dead skin cells and reveal fresh looking skin all without the harshness of a tough fiber or nasty chemicals that can be found on most handheld plastic exfoliators. All you have to do is add water and a drop of your favorite soap and you can experience smooth, youthful looking skin in no time. The entire ebody Spa Collection is pretty amazing. I know I have mentioned how important exfoliating is for your face. Well, get this. They also have a Face Cleansing Mitt. So all you need for your nighttime facials are your favorite face wash and the Facial Cleansing Mitt to gently scrub away the dirt and grime of the day.




As if being able to try out this awesome Body Mitt for free wasn't enough, the great folks over at e-Cloth want to provide one lucky reader the chance to win an Exfoliating Body Mitt themselves. I know you are going to love it as much as I do. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below. You can also earn a few more entries just by taking taking an extra couple of steps below. Join their mailing list to get updates on other great products they offer by visiting their website at www.ecloth.com. Don't forget to like them on Facebook at and follow e-Cloth on Twitter. Check out the links below.



Website: www.ecloth.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eclothUSA
Twitter: twitter.com/ecloth
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/eclothUSA
Instagram: @eclothUSA
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/eclothCleaning

This giveaway will be open for a week and I will announce the winner next Friday. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received this product at no cost. The opinions expressed here are all my own.


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Thursday, April 16, 2015

And The Nominees Are....

Deciding to stay at home with the children was a huge decision. I have worked ever since I was on my own, and prided myself on being independent. After leaving high school and going into college, I realized the world was a tough place. They really don't prepare you at all during your four years in high school. I was accepted into Pace University and attended for a few months. College was completely different from what I was used to, but I was excited for the change. I was excited to meet new people and most of all I was just excited for the whole experience. That was until I got that first bill. I got the list of books for ONE of my classes. I needed to get at least 2 of the books on the list, so I did what any freshman would do. I went to the bookstore. $115 for one book! Are you freakin' kidding me?!? I thought to myself, how the heck am I supposed to get through these 4 years? Forget that. How the heck was I going to get through this semester? Needless to say, I could not afford college. So I did what any person in my shoes would do. Move out of the state. Ok, that may have been a little extreme. But guess what, my leap of faith paid off. That first year I was on my own in Florida I got a job, learned how to drive, bought a car, enrolled in Massage Therapy school and graduated. How's that for an achievement?

After many, many years of just going through life. You know, ups and downs. I have finally made it to this point. 3 beautiful children and a wonderful husband. We have worked so hard and have finally been blessed with the opportunity for me to stay home. Like I said before, it was a tough decision for me to make. But I am glad I did. Writing on this blog has been so great for me. It gave me a voice I never knew I had. And to make things even sweeter, I actually have readers! People who take time out of their busy day to read what I have to say. That is unbelievable. Interacting with other bloggers is always fun and I have met some amazing people. One of which has nominated yours truly for the Liebster Award.

So I looked up the word "liebster". It turns out that it is a German word that means “favorite” or “beloved”. I am so excited and touched to be nominated and given this award. I hope my blog continues to inspire these feelings and any other positive feelings you can think of.




My nomination came in the form of a Facebook shout out from Sand and Snow...and everywhere in between. Thank you so much. You are awesome!

Accepting the award comes with a few rules. And they are as follows:
  1. Acknowledge the blog that nominated you and display the Liebster Award on your blog.
  2. Answer 11 questions that the blogger gives you
  3. Give 11 random facts about yourself
  4. Nominate 11 new blogs that you think are deserving of the award
  5. Let those bloggers know you have nominated them
  6. Give them 11 questions to answer.
OK, so here are the 11 questions that I was given to answer:

1. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
     From a young age I always enjoyed writing poems, but never thought about writing about life

2. What was the kookiest job you've ever had?
     It has to be as a restaurant hostess. We had to wear a ridiculous uniform and do an embarrassing dance everyday at 6pm

3. How many days a year do you spend traveling?
    We try to go a vacation at least 2 times a year for about 1 week to 2 weeks at a time. Really wish we could travel more though

4. What was your inspiration to write?
     Staying at home I saw it was so easy to lose who you are and your sense of individuality. This is my way of leaving a mark in the world and showing people that you can raise a family and not have that be the only thing that defines you.

5. What is your favorite blog post to date?
     My favorite post so far is 5 Things I want to Teach my Daughters. Lessons for my Little Man will be coming soon.

6. How do you maintain a balance between writing and home?
    I try to find a schedule for myself and do most of my writing at night when Little Man is sleeping. 

7. Favorite television program?
    Ugh. There are a few. But I will narrow it down to my top 3: The Originals (I'm a sucker for supernatural things. Oh, and Elijah is sexy as hell), Gotham and The Walking Dead

8. Who was your hero growing up?
    I didn't have 1 hero. I had 2. My mom and my grandmother. The two most important women in my life (after my little girls of course).

9. Sand or snow?
    I know I will probably get a lot of flack for this, but I would have to say SNOW!!!

10. Favorite spot to vacation?
      So far I would have to say Jamaica. The island is beautiful and I loved showing my kids where part of their heritage lies. They are half Puerto Rican (me) and half Jamaican (daddy)

11. What's the one recipe you can make with your eyes closed?
      My famous Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas). Come on, every Hispanic woman has to know how to make the staple.

Ok, now for the 11 random fact about me.


  1. I'm also a licensed Massage Therapist
  2. I love to cook. A lot. I consider myself a foodie.
  3. I was born in Brooklyn, NY
  4. I love Halloween. I find it so much fun to dress up, party and love the thrill of being scared.
  5. My husband swears I break the weirdest things because of my "brute strength".
  6. Growing up I always dreamed of being famous
  7. I am 1 inch shy of being declared legally a dwarf (I am 4'11")
  8. I am a huge Super Mario Bros. fan
  9. I prefer villains over heroes because they are more fun.
  10. I can be really shy and hate speaking in public.
  11. I once wrestled in Jell-O (don't ask)
Now, for my 11 blogs that I would like to acknowledge and nominate. They are:


Again, thank you so much to Sand and Snow...and everywhere in between for nominating me. It is so great to know that people out there are enjoying this old bloggy blog and I am truly honored.

Here are my questions for my blog picks:

  1. What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
  2. What would your dream job be?
  3. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
  4. What is your dream vacation?
  5. What's your favorite T.V show?
  6. Name one item on your "bucket list"
  7. How do you find ZEN?
  8. What inspires you?
  9. What's the hardest part of blogging?
  10. What is the best thing about you?
  11. What is your favorite quote?


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Friday, April 10, 2015

A Moment of Clarity Please!

Lately I feel like I have had so much on my plate. I am busier now, than when I was actually working a traditional job. Seriously. But my busyness is of a different nature. I am now busy with my own projects. And that feels really good. I am finally doing something for ME. It kind of feels like I am a completely different person. Even though I stay at home now with my 3 pain in the butts wonderful children, I feel more independent. More determined. But, in the midst of feeling this way, I found myself struggling with how to manage it all. It was all becoming pretty overwhelming.

Back in the day (lol, I say this like I am some old folgie. "back in my old whipper snapper days..." ok, ok, i'll get back to my story now) I used to meditate. I tried to make it a point to sit for at least 10 minutes a day just to get some peace of mind. Get some clarity. Relax. You know, just basically try to be in the moment as much as I could because I knew that it reaped some huge benefits to take that time out for yourself. But I realized that it has been WAY too long since I have done any of that. So I needed to make some time for myself. Sit and meditate.




I suggested my husband do the same too since he has been really busy working on projects. He has been really good about trying to juggle everything, but I could tell he needed a break. It was time. We BOTH needed to take some time out of our busy day and give some much needed attention to ourselves. We needed to do some de-stressing to our minds. And so after I got Little Man to finally go to sleep, my husband and I found a nice comfortable spot on the floor in our room. The nice Tibetan relaxation music was playing in the background, and we meditated for about 20 minutes. I am sure my husband just sat there with his eyes closed and took a mini nap. It's ok though. This time was for US. To do whatever it was that our body/mind/spirit needed. I focused on good intentions. In my mind I repeated the words: peace, trust, integrity, respect, gratitude.





These are the five principles of Reiki. So when I meditate, I try to repeat these words in my mind along with my affirmation.  I have never really shared this with anyone until now. Maybe this is something you need. Maybe there is a reason why I felt so moved this morning (3am) as to write this and share. Whatever it is, take it and be grateful that it was given to you.

Here is my affirmation:

Just for today I will not be angry. I will have peace in my life.
Just for today I will not worry. I will have trust in myself and in HIM*.
Just for today I will be honest and have integrity in all that I do.
Just for today I will be compassionate to myself and others and respect every living thing.
Just for today I will be humble and grateful for all of my blessings.

*who HIM is, is completely up to you and your beliefs

Taking that time out to recharge my mind and spirit was so helpful. It helped me focus on what needed to be done. It gave me the clarity that I needed to really figure out how to go forward with my projects. It gave me a sense of peace, which is always a great thing.

Today I feel determined. I have all these ideas rushing through my head. I am sure that is why I can't sleep (that, and the cup of coffee I was craving late in the day. Don't judge me). It's like I have opened up the flood gates. I am ready to tackle whatever it is that is presented to me.

So, this is what I do to bring me back to my "center". Sometimes you need to clear your mind to actually see what needs to be done. Some days will be hectic. Some days will be calm. The important thing is that I take that time for myself to figure things out. To make sense of everything. It's a work in progress. My life is not quite ZEN...but I'm working on it.





Oh, and feel free to use my affirmation and tweak it if you need to. Let me know how you use it in your day to day. What do you do get clarity?



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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Teaching the Importance of Being Kind

Showing your children the power of kindness is something that will stay with them forever. We, as parents, strive to raise our children to be respectful, intelligent, loving and kind. I am sure we can add 100+ more things to that list, but today we are going to focus on the "kind" part.




Many people are so busy going through their day to day in their hectic lives that they forget to pay attention to their surroundings. Children see how their parents interact with one another and people they come in contact with everyday. Because our children are living sponges, it is so important that we saturate them with positivity and good morals. One thing that I try to teach my children is the importance of how you treat others and the impact your behavior can have.  Previously, I wrote about Paying it Forward and how wonderful it can be to perform random acts of kindness. Doing something nice for someone can affect not only their lives, but yours as well.  Let's show our kids that being kind to one another and having compassion is contagious. Just imagine the kind of world we can live in if everyone taught compassion.



Any act of kindness, no matter how big or how small, will have an impact.  Here is a list of some random acts of kindness you can do with your children or they can do on their own:

  • Hold the door open for someone
  • Write a "Thank You" note and put it in the mailbox for the mailman (or lady)
  • Give your grandparent a call and tell them about your day
  • Donate outgrown clothes or toys 
  • Make friends with the new kid at school
  • Bake a batch of cookies or cupcakes for the neighbor or a family member
  • Make "Get Well Soon" cards and hand them out at your local hospital
  • Bring a meal to a family in need
  • Leave a nice note in a library book
  • Volunteer at your local church or animal shelter

  • Bring an apple for your teacher
  • Put a dollar behind a childrens toy at the store
  • Give someone a compliment
  • Help your little brother or sister with their homework
  • Help your mom with the dishes
  • Do your chores without being asked
  • Write a nice letter to someone telling them how special they are
  • Leave chalk messages on the sidewalk
  • Help someone load groceries into their car
  • Donate extra school supplies to you classroom

I am sure this list can go on and on. Sit with your child and see what fun and creative things they can come up with. They may just surprise you.  Children learn what they see. Let them see the power of kindness. Let's help them make the world a better place.





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Getting everything back on track (Phase 1)

Ok, so these past couple of weeks have been CUH.RAY.ZEEE. I have had so much going on that I had let a lot of things slip by because I just simply did not feel like dealing with it.  But it is time I get on it. It is time I focus on the important stuff. Not to say that the other things I have been preoccupied with were not important. But I feel like I have been trying to focus on 50 million things at once. As a result, things that I held at the top of my priority list have been pushed to the side.  But really, no more.  In order for me to be successful in these other endeavors, I need to master, or at least fix, what I had started from the very beginning,

The main reason why I decided to stay home was so that I would be able to fully focus on my family and home.  That is what my husband and I felt was most important.  So, for this week I decided that I would focus on the house.  Actually, let's make that the next two weeks (just in case I encounter any "bumps" along the way).  So for the next two weeks I will be spring cleaning our home. I mean really go all out and clean EVERYTHING (or at least that is what the goal will be).



There have been too many times I have put off for tomorrow, what could have been done today.  So no more. I will begin my spring cleaning today.  I think once that is done, I will have a new sense of clarity. This will really help me focus on things that really need my attention.  I know I have mentioned it before, but I am a new Jamberry consultant.  So in order for my business to grow, I really need to set goals for myself and really create a plan of action.  I always find that it is better and easier to make these types of plans/decisions when you have a clear mind.  So by me doing a little (or a lot) of spring cleaning, it will help me get that much closer to my goals.

First things first; Figure out a plan of attack! I am going to start in my living room. It's the room you see first when you come in. So this needs to be first on my to-do list. Hopefully Little man will be on board with my plans and actually let me do some cleaning.




But so far it doesn't look like we are on the same page.  Wish me luck.

Have you ever done a spring cleaning to your home? What are some tips you may have?


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