Take time to smell the roses

Julia smelling a rose in my tia Frances' garden in Gilroy, CA.

#CokeforEducation

From Sept. 1 through Dec. 15, eligible high school seniors may apply for the opportunity to win a scholarship at www.Coke-HSF.com. Applicants who meet the minimum eligibility requirements will be featured in an online gallery with social media sharing capabilities. Students are encouraged to share their profiles and gain community votes. Each eligible participating voter is automatically entered for a chance to win a $500 gift card and can vote up to five times a day. HSF will select the scholarship recipients based on the Fund’s standard selection criteria for awarding scholarships, factoring in community votes gathered online. Final winners will be announced by May 2014. Official rules can be found here: https://cocacola.promo.eprize.com/hsf/public/fulfillment/rules.pdf

Baby Advice

Enjoy your baby, love him, take good care of him. Raise him in the things of God and remember to pray over him. Give him a home filled with lots of laughs, hugs, kisses, and a whole lot of love. Your sister who loves you!

Elizabeth Martinez & Baby Peter

After raising 4 kids, I'm not sure you need advice. You're a pro at this point. J/K Love your new baby boy as much as you have all your kids. Share the love and responsibility w/Luis. Remember its an equal partnership. ;) When I have kids, I'll be looking to you for advice.

Rocio DeReza

What can I say, you did a great job with raising your kids. You will continue with your new bundle of joy with all the love you could give. No one could ever give him more love than the mama.

A la futura Mama: Que ya es una exelente madre. Le deseo que siga siendo tan carinosa, paciente y compresiva como ha sido siempre. Que siga conserbando su familia (como) tan unida felicidades.

Nana, Ady & Cele

Segue como hasta ahora haz y eres muy buena mama. Con el nuevo bebe, no soras la exepcion. Mucho amor, como el que les dos.

Adela B

Babies are beautiful, and grow so fast. Treasure every moment and memory. Remember to take time for yourself and try to get the groove back, because we may tend to lose it from being so involved and busy with life.

Adriana ;)

Make dad do everything! LOL JK Enjoy every second. . .before you know it he'll be graduating from high school.

Jessie

Enjoy your new bundle of joy. Holding a newborn in your arms has to be the most beautiful experience on this earth. Enjoy the moments and enjoy the happiness your baby brings into your family. P.S. take naps with your newborn.

Olga

Get your sleep and let every one of your family members (kids) help out with the baby . . . . feed,change diapers, rock to sleep! Good luck Mamas :)

Annie ♥

My best advice: plan, pack & prepare diapers, formula, wipes for all your daily trips & activities. Have a diaper bag in car, stroller, @ day care. (baby blow outs) Don't forget to take care of you. Enjoy your baby & love, comfort and hold your baby when he cries. Take lots of pics.

Blanca Alvarez

♥ u and good luck. Congrats! Best of wishes.

Steph

A child is a gift from God. Even though they grow up, they will always be your babies.

Anonymous

Enjoy your baby & boys are fun.

Lupe Vasquez

Continue to be the great mother, wife and person you have always been! God Bless you, Audren!

Joey & Rebecca

Have a great time being a mother again. I think you know what to do. You have been a great mother already.

Serena Plaza (Fatso)

Tell him to do well in school and get scholarships because financial aid is running out. ;) We love you all-

Paul & Lorena Rodriguez

Enjoy your baby while they are small, cause then they grow to be a smart ass! LOL j/k Congrats, Love you guys!

Lorena

Father: Drop your kids off at Grandma & Grandpa often and have fun with the spouse from time to time.

Sincerely, Sleep Deprived

Have as many babies as you can because they are such a blessing.

Elisha Garcia

Always have faith with every coming day.

Gloria Rivera

Borrow babies, don't have any more.

Christiane

Sleep when baby sleeps and use cream if you are going to breastfeed.

Carmen, Rudy & Baby Nadine ♥

Lots of hugs, kisses & love ♥ If you ever feel like giving up, don't, because the reward of your child growing up and accomplishing so many things is undescribable.

Charlie, Crystal, Alilai & Baby Charlie

Take time for yourself (even if it's once in a while) to relieve some stress. Be patient and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. May God bless you and your family always. ;)

Blanca Arteaga ♥

Get plenty of rest because you will need it. Also, you should give me some advice, you're on #5. ;) In all honesty, enjoy your baby because before you know it, they are all grown up.

Gloria Mancera

Keep up being a great mom! You do an excellent job at it. Congratulations to both of you & may God bless your family ALWAYS!

Lorena R

Be very patient and understanding. Also, be supportive. Get a lot of rest. Enjoy them while they are little. LOL

Martha Orozco

Thanks to all for your consejos and for helping to welcome our baby boy.

With love and appreciation,

Audren, Luis & family ♥

Quinceañera Necklace

So delicate and strong My soft Latina neck, Where pride and vulnerability Come together and connect. And above this heart of honor Filled with thanks and inner beauty, I place a Quince necklace as a symbol of my duty. Duty to my family who have sacrificed so much. Duty to my friends Whose heart I hope I've touched. But when I close my eyes as this day comes to end, I am most thankful to God Who has been my closest friend. ♥

. . . the difference between girls and boys

girls ♥

boys ♥

A Non-Traditional Play Date

My husband and I have been recently contemplating moving closer to our jobs. This would mean leaving our cozy community of Camarillo and relocating to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. A difficult transition for the kids, new community, new schools, new friends. So, to make the prospect of this difficult transition more bearable, I come up with a suggestion of a playdate for babygirl. This would give her an opportunity to make a more personal connection with some of her choice classmates with hopes that their friendships would withstand a relocation. Once my daughter caught wind of this idea, there was no turning back. With Papi's help, by morning, an invitation was hot off the printer and a playdate was scheduled. Due to our lengthy daily work commute and busy weekend schedule, this would have to be a non-traditional playdate: 7:00-8:00p.m. on a school night. On our commute home from work, my husband and I discuss that we are certain that no one will show. Afterall, what parent in their right mind takes their child to an evening play date on a school night, especially on such short notice. We anticipate that baby girl will be disappointed if no one shows but we are prepared to explain to her that it's tough with parents having to work, etc. Now, as for the play date planning, I wish I could say that I prepared a variety of healthy snacks, yummy baked goods, and the perfect play date atmosphere, but I'm no Martha Stewart, . . . . .I am more of a Paula Deen. So we swing by little ceasars on our way home from work and pick up some hot and ready pizzas and buffalo wings. These kids can stomach that, I mean, let's be real, they eat hot cheetos and takis all day. Fortunately, my husband had just recently purchased a bootleg copy of Happy Feet 2 in 3D so both the menu and the entertainment are set for the evening. As we finally arrive home and begin walking toward the front door, I realize, it's mid January and we haven't even taken down our Christmas Tree or decorations. I comment to my husband, how embarassing, what are these parents gonna think that we still have our Christmas Tree and decorations up in Mid January? Baby girl quickly reassures me in her best 'chola' voice, don't worry mom, I will just tell them "We're Mexicanos, ese, That's how we do it!" (Note to self: We really need to stop letting these kids listen to music by Cheech & Chong!) Before we know it, the doorbell rings, time and time again, with gitty 3rd graders arriving in their pjs, robe and slippers ready to "play date". They all eat pizza and then we are ready to start the movie. With the start of the movie, I make an attempt at making microwave popcorn which I burn and have to walk a steaming bag of palomitas quemadas outside to keep it from smelling up the kitchen. (My excuse, every microwave is different, it even says so right on the package!) But, no worries, my hubby comes to the rescue, teaching me how to make microwave popcorn and 2nd time is a charm. Unfortunatley, the movie turns out to be a bad bootleg copy; blurry and apparently we forgot the 3D glasses so that keeps the girls' attention for about 5 minutes. On the up side, our dog, Guero, seems to be a big hit and the family computer in the living room provides plenty of youtube videos for the girls to dance to. Before we know it, it's 8:00p.m. and parents begin arriving to pick up the girls. The girls end the evening showing us all how to shuffle and a fun and exhausting, non-traditional play date comes to an end. ♥

My Shero

When it comes to people I admire, rarely does it include an A list celebrity. My idea of a hero/shero are everyday people: family, friends, mentors, pastors, authors, artists, activist,advocates, your everyday blue collar worker and even children. I look up to genuinely righteous people who are human and flawed yet, accomplish great things, have character, people who keep their word, honor their families, mentor their children, work hard, overcome adversity, keep the faith, blaze a trail, make a difference, speak out when it's unpopular, or stand up for what is right. But recently, my admiration goes out to someone who represents all of these things and also happens to be a celebrity. Guiliana Rancic is currently battling breast cancer publicly with more grace and courage than I ever thought possible. Having recently undergone a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, she is quoted as saying, "My breasts have never defined me and now they never will". Guiliana has not shied away from the media attention surrounding this very private matter but rather she was back on the set of E! News two weeks after her surgery and she can be found on her fabfitfun page on facebook or on twitter sharing her characteristicly positive outlook and gratitude to all of her fans and the public for their support of her courageous battle. I consider Guiliana to be the ultimate feminist! Long before she faced a public battle with breast cancer, she has publicly taken on other women's issues such as fertility, balancing a career and marriage and allowing us a glimpse inside of her world with her reality show Guiliana & Bill. Guiliana is my definition of courage and she will be in my prayers for a speedy recovery!

I'm interested to know, Who is your hero or shero and why?