Final Call!!

The Contest ends at midnight tonight! Good luck to you ladies that entered! I will post the winners tomorrow afternoon/evening!

Prematurity Risks

My hubby sent me a story he read over at foxnews.com. Since we’ve had a preemie (a late one like in the article) and also Latinas have a higher chance of premature birth I figure I share this article. They are saying a portion of these late preemies are due to unnecessary cesarean sections. Here’s a quote from the article:

If slightly early birth sounds like no big deal, consider: A baby’s brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 40 weeks, says a dramatic “brain card” developed by the March of Dimes to educate women. Some will catch up fine, while others have learning or behavioral delays. Also, being even a few weeks early can cause initial breathing problems if lungs aren’t mature enough; feeding problems; even an increased risk of SIDS.

That’s scary because my son was born at 34 ½ weeks. He did have some apnea in the beginning but he’s fine now and a little too smart for his own good! They say these almost term or late preemie babies make up 70% of all preemie births. They are also saying a lot of it could be confusion of the fetus’ actual age. They recommend a first semester ultrasound because it’s the more accurate at predicting fetal age. Here are some factors of prematurity:

 

Folic acid supplements already are advised to prevent birth defects, but new research shows consuming folic acid for a year before getting pregnant dramatically lowers risk of premature birth. That’s longer than most women are believed to take the nutrient, and thus an opportunity.

Carrying twins or more increases prematurity risk, a risk worth discussing with women undergoing in vitro fertilization where more than one embryo typically is implanted.

Pregnancy before age 16 and after 35 increases prematurity risk, another opportunity to discuss the importance of pregnancy timing.

I knew folic acid helps with birth defects but I didn’t know that it will lower the risk of preterm birth. I’m definitely going to look into this if we decide to add to our family. Probably should start taking them now! go to March of Dimes for more info they have a great website!

Magazine Subscriptions

I am the queen of magazine subscriptions. Right now I’m subscribed to the follwing mags:

1. Latina
2. Vibe
3. Parents
4. Better Homes & Gardens

Wow pretty diverse right? Just looking at my list you can tell I’m an urban music loving latina mom with a passion for home decorating! lol! Couldn’t describe myself better than that in one sentence! Anyway, I get something in the mail from Cookie magazine. It’s a subscribe card where you can get one issue free to try out and then it’s only about $12 for a year’s subscribtion. Not bad right? I’m reading the insert about the mag and it sounds like something I’m into. I’m wondering if they go through some kind of consumer list to see what you’re currently subscribed to. It’s like Cosmo and Parenting all in one!! But Cosmo for the married mom. Doesn’t that sound great! On their website you can get recipes for popsicles and enter to win $250 in makeup. It covers every aspect of being a mom! I’m hoping I like it because the Parenting magazine is missing something to me. Cookie may be it! Too bad I’m subscribed to Parenting for another two years! I’m such a big reader but because I never have time to read books I read magazines. And it gives me topic ideas for blog posts so everyone benefits from my many magazine subscriptions! Do you think hubby would buy that? “It’s a public service honey!! It’s my job to keep the ladies in cyperspace informed!!” Yea I don’t think he’d buy that either.

Do You Have A Signature Scent?

I have a collection of perfume and perfume lotions that you wouldn’t believe. I barely ever wear perfume so I’ve had small decanters of perfume for years that still look full. I don’t wear perfume much to work and because of my allergies don’t wear much in the summer. Of course my allergies are killing me today and on top of it I’m wearing perfume so go figure. But I’ve had this bottle of perfume for years it’s from BCBG. It’s either called star or sexy. I love musky light fragrances. No vanilla or flowers for me. I do like Baby Phat’s Goddess and they have a small one for $10 I might get that for my signature scent. Anyone who’s been reading this blog knows I’m a Baby Phat fan. I love their purses and shoes. So that would be a nice addition I’d have for years. J I also own some Avon stuff I’ll probably get rid of and Curve crush which is my fave. I got it for Christmas maybe two years ago I still have two bottles left. I’m telling you I rarely wear perfume. And when I do it’s very light. I like for hubby to have to get real close to smell my perfume not for everyone to smell me coming a while away! So what is your signature scent? Do you have a preference between clean smelling, flower scents or musky scents?

A Girl Can Dream Right?

If I was a famous singer or actress I would have the most amazing shoe game. I would have one of those closets you envy like Mariah Carey’s. With the shoes in order by color and heel and type. You would always see a gorgeous pair of shoes on my feet (even if they were Air Force Ones!)

Anyway I’m on the Jimmy Choo website (check the blog post title if you’re wondering why) and seriously you should be able to fill out an application and submit a credit check before even entering the site! These shoes are sinful!!! They both would take more than one week’s check of mine. But if I was single and living at home with no bills and places to go? I would gladly blow a week’s check on these shoes. I’m just saying….a girl can dream right? Check these out!

   

So as you can see besides my love for my Air Force Ones I definitely have a thing for strappy high heels. A latina through and through!

Hottie of the Week! #12

It’s Friday! And you know what time it is! Hottie of the Week! Today’s hottie is Argentine-Mexican actor/model Sebastian Rulli. He was born July 6, 1975 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He started his career as a model until his first telenovela in 2000 “Primer Amor….a mil por hora”. (first love….at 1000 miles per hour) and was in one of my all time fave novelas Rubi (Ruby). This one was different because the main actress Ruby was the villain of the story. He played her husband. Seems like I’m always finding pics of these hotties without a shirt on. Enjoy!

Insane Child Support Payments

Def Jam founder Russell Simmons will be paying Kimora Lee 480,000 a YEAR in child support! That’s just crazy! I see why groupies really try to get pregnant from high profile men. I’m not calling Kimora a groupie by any means. They were married had their kids and it just didn’t work out. It happens. But for those women who are in it to elevate their status? No wonder they try to get pregnant instead of a job. But anyway the child support settlement for rich people are amazing compared to ones for us regular folk. Here’s what I found:

With payments being due at the first of each month, the documents also require Simmons to be responsible for all travel expenses and always accompanied by a nanny and a pre-determined authority.

“When the children are in [Russell's] custody, they shall be accompanied at all times by a nanny and security person to be named by [Kimora],” it states.

Lee received the upper hand in the case as she will maintain sole physical custody of both daughters while Russell may only be allowed to see them during pre-arranged and scheduled times. This will give the former model the exclusive rights decide on the children’s health, education, and welfare at any given moment.

Excluding school vacations and certain holidays like Father’s Day and his birthday, Russell will be given limited visitation times, being able to see them every two months.

“The children shall be with [Russell] every eighth week from Saturday at 9:00 a.m. until the following Saturday at 6:00 p.m.”

Simmons joins the list of other famous hip-hop celebrities with high profile child support arrangements. Bad Boy president Diddy currently pays $19,000 a month for one of his sons while G-Unit’s 50 Cent is dropping just $6,700 each month, reduced down from an original rate of $25,000 per month.

For All You Procrastinators…

The blog contest is ending Monday! Put your entry in for a chance to win the free book! Go here for the blog post that gives you the rules. Good luck to everyone. Just four days left!

I Wanna Thank My Momma….

I won my very first award! My friend Lisa at www.NewYorkChica.com awarded me with the Arte & Pico Award.



Fancy and all that isn’t it? I’m glad to be on her list of five blogs because I love to read her blogs. She’s a great writer and very likeable. Here’s what she wrote about me:

Jai at http://www.mamistimeout.com/ – She is a Latina like me and her blog makes me laugh.  Always interesting.

Since I’m being completely Lazy I just copied and pasted:

The rules for passing this honor on:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award. http://arteypico.blogspot.com/. 

Note: The blog is in spanish but the award means “This blog rewards the art and creativity.”

Thanks Chica! So here are my five.

1. MuDiva at www.theemakeupdivas.blogspot.com: Another Mom she gives honest reviews and great tips on Makeup! And you know this Mami loves her makeup!
2. Modern Mami at www.modernmami.theparentblog.com: Another Latina her toddler stories are too funny! Another great writer!
3. Literanista at  www.literanista.blogspot.com: A blog about latin books. I’m a big reader. She also blogs about NYC and is working on her first novel. You go girl!
4. Mami-Dearest at www.mami-dearest.blogspot.com Another Latina and she is the funniest writer! Her family should have their own tv show.

I don’t have another one! NewYorkChica would have been my fifth! I hope I made someone’s day!

Time for a Yard Sale!

My friend Lisa over at Newyorkchica has written a blog post about needing to have a yard sale. She’s never done one before and isn’t sure how to go about doing it. I left her a comment but thought I would also write a blog post about it. If you have any more to add to my tips please feel free to do it here or at New York Chica’s website.

When your house is getting too small because of the loads of stuff you and your family have accumulated maybe it’s time for a yard sale! Some good ideas would be to get together with some neighbors and have a street sale. Or if you’re not that close to your neighbors but still would like more stuff to add ask friends and family if they have things they’d like to get rid of. Here are some tips:

1. Place an ad in the classifieds for more traffic. Especially in these times of gas prices people like to plan their garage sale-ing to see how many they can target in one area. Mention your big ticket items in the ad (baby clothes, books whatever you have to sell) so you’ll get a more target customer which means more sales!
2. Get the whole family involved! Make it a competition to see who sells more stuff. Keep a tally and pick a prize that the whole family would enjoy. Get the kids to go through their stuff to see what they’d like to give away.
3. Make a nice presentation! Put your clothes on hangers, place things on tables tallest in back shortest in front. Make it look like a store and you’d definitely get more money.
4. Also place stickers with price tags before the sale (I’ve seen them in walmart). Add 20-40% to the price you’d really like to see it go for. People are always haggling prices down anyway and this makes sure you’d get more for your stuff.
5. If you’re selling any electronics keep an extension cord with an outlet access available so people can try out your stuff. Customers like to make sure things work before they buy it.
6. Make sure everything is clean and nice and neat. All books together, all CD’s together all electronics together, household and kitchen stuff together, etc. This can make a possibility of someone buying more than one item.
7. Place eyecatching signs in your neighboorhood especially in the closest busy intersection. Someone driving down the street can make a quick stop and be your impulse buyer.
8. Anything that doesn’t get sold shouldn’t go back in the house. Make a donation to charity and it would be a nice tax deduction for your taxes!

Hope these tips have helped for anyone thinking of doing a yard sale!

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