Inspired by Familia

Though it’s hard to be away from our extended family during the holidays, it definitely has pushed me to come up with some of our own little family traditions.  And now my two oldest, excitedly expect certain activities around the holidays. When I am running around exhausted and I look at my husband and say, “the things […]

  This month as we usher into the season of joy, service, gratitude, family and yummy food let’s take a few moments with our kids to instill a value that they will take them a long way in life: gratitude. Do you know of anyone who is constantly complaining? Who points out the negative in […]

Why 21 Days and not 28 or 30 days to complete the whole month? Well, because I realize that we are busy people with busy lives and instead of beating yourself up for missing a day I’ve built in those “we just couldn’t get to it” days for you.  If you missed what this is all about […]

I was recently asked for my Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll recipe and I realized that my all time favorite cinnamon roll recipe is not on my blog. I can’t believe I haven’t shared this one with you.  My kids love helping make cinnamon rolls and if it was up to them we would make it every Saturday. It’s such […]

  I truly believe that gratitude can be contagious, so let’s shake off the whiney and grumpy mood we can get in.  And for the next 21 days, let’s become beauty seekers. Let’s train our  heart and mind to look for the beauty that surrounds us, the big and the small moments. The Tuten familia along […]

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and WGBH. Holidays are the times when I am trying to come up with ideas on family games that kids of all ages can enjoy together.  Together, is key because I really love having all the ages enjoy each others company for at least […]

At night when I would walk into my mothers room to kiss her before heading to bed and sometimes I would find her on her knees, literally. She would be pleading to God for her children and as I observed her face it was one of true humilty.  This is such a beautiful memory and a powerful […]

I am so excited a friend of mine is putting together a Costume Party for the ladies! Dare I say, a Halloween Costume Party. We are a part of a huge missionary community here so I walk on egg shells when using this term, Hallow……  So not to be offensive and to be all inclusive I usually say Harvest instead […]

One of the fun things about living and traveling abroad is that we get to add to our own little holiday festivities as we discover new traditions from our host country.   An interesting holiday that people celebrate here in Quito, Ecuador for Halloween is Dia de los Difuntos or Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).  This celebration […]

One year, we had a Pumpkin Patch Halloween Party theme and it was one of the easiest parties to plan and decorate for.  Here are some of the fun ideas we came up with for our Pumpkin Patch party.  I was very proud of myself 4 years ago to have come up with all of […]

Thank you Allstate Foundation and Latina Bloggers Connect for sponsoring this post and getting the word out on domestic violence. I showed up at her trailer house at the crack of dawn as I had told her I would when we discussed the escape plan. Pack your bags while he’s at work. Hide them. As soon […]

I really enjoy scavenger hunts.  They’re such an easy activity to put together and kids love them as long as they are not drawn out and tedious.   What I love about this scavenger hunt is it has you smelling, touching, listening… as you explore nature not just picking up things.  One of the things I […]

Wow, what a week and it’s only Tuesday.  My dog woke me up at 4 a.m. and then every 20 minutes after that. Here are my Top 5 Post of the week: 1. Toddler Decorated Monster Cookies from Craftulate 2. These are so fun, Roll Up and Go Outdoor Mats. She calls them Sit Upons via […]

  With 3 growing boys I am always on the look out for snack ideas. Here are some great Fall snacks your whole family can enjoy!   These are some of my favorites and as you can see some can be served as dessert but if you leave out the ice cream they make a yummy […]

The power of a praying mom is truly a beautiful thing. I tell you this not because I have done a great job praying for my children but because my mom is a prayer warrior. I have so much admiration for my mother and one of the things that stands out to me the most […]

A fun group of bloggers: Inspired by Familia, Lalymom, Stir the Wonder, Crayon Freckles, Kids Yoga Stories, Me and Marie Learning, have united to bring you this awesome giveaway! All 6 of us are mothers and we all know how the beginning of Fall can be hectic so we wanted to send some sunshine your […]

Wow, so many wonderful projects were linked up last week!  Here are some of my Thursday Faves from last weeks blog hop and don’t forget to link up your new projects before you head out. I enjoy reading but I LOVE children books so when I saw this post on Children Books for Autism by Growing Book by […]

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with AT&T and Latina Bloggers Connect. All comments and opinions are my own. Take out your cell phone. Look at the last text you sent. Mine says, ” Who this?”  (Yea, I should be texting because I sound like a gangster.) That message or any other message is not […]