The TRUTH About Motherhood

Author: Deborah Cruz

Elote Casserole Recipe
Have you ever tasted elote? I make lots of Mexican dishes and have lots of favorite Mexican food recipes, my enchilada recipe is to die for. Seriously, but I also have developed a new take on an old favorite, elote! You may know it as esquites. I am calling it elote casserole because it’s not quite esquites either.
Growing up, I remember getting elote, the amazing steamed corn from street vendors. It was always a treat that we kids looked forward to, maybe more so than paletas! Anyways, I don’t currently live any where that I can get access to elote and you what they say, necessity is the mother of invention. In this case, it was the mother of the invention of this recipe. The same way it inspired me to develop my mexican hot chocolate milkshake recipe. There was no way I could let me kids grow up without knowing what this amazing food tastes like.
What is elote? If you are not Mexican, you may be asking yourself this. Elote is basically corn on the cob, steamed or boiled in the husk. Then the husk is pulled back and the corn is dipped in mayonnaise, drizzled with limejuice, dusted with Parmesan cheese and then liberally covered in tajin. You can substitute limejuice for lemon pepper and tajin for chili powder, either way, it tastes like a taste explosion in your mouth.
The only problem is that it is a little messy to eat and, where I live, hard to find a street vendor who makes it so I created this recipe so that I can still have my elote without the mess.
Elote Casserole
Ingredients
1 can of corn
½ cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup of sour cream
¼ cup of Parmesan Cheese
2 tablespoons of Tajin
1 small lime
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Empty the can of corn into small casserole dish, spread evenly.
3. In small bowl mix mayonnaise, sour cream, Parmesan cheese and juice from half of one lime. Blend well.
4. Spread mayonnaise mixture over top of the corn.
5. *If you’ve never had Tajin, I recommend that you taste it first. I love it on everything, oranges, apples and corn. You may not, so you may opt for less than the 2 full teaspoons or more.
6. Sprinkle Tajin, to your desired liking, on top of the mayonnaise mixture.
7. Place in oven and cook until top is starting to get golden brown.
8. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve with your favorite dish, mine is everything, especially my enchiladas but if you want to serve it at a cook out, it pairs awesomely with my recipe for Chorizo hamburgers with avocado cream sauce. What’s your favorite casserole recipe?
Have you ever had elote before?
2015/06/26
A Life that’s Good
What do you think constitutes a life that’s good? It’s been a really weird couple of weeks. I’m not sure that mentally, I’ve completely returned from vacation. It’s difficult to get back into a routine when you’ve just spent 2 weeks living on vacation time. But when something unexpected like illness is thrown your way, well, your world goes from hazy to upside down in zero seconds flat. You find yourself discombobulated and confused. You find yourself weary and worn. You find yourself changing perspective and reprioritizing. Then, you find your way.
Sunday morning started like every other Father’s day, I told the Big Guy to sleep in. Then I went downstairs and began making espresso and cooking breakfast, as our girls busied themselves making him the sweetest Father’s Day banner to date. Everything was right in my world. I was feeling blessed.
The day before was spend doing yard work and teaching the girls how to play basketball. Things were starting to fall back into a groove. Normalcy was settling in and the overwhelming exhaustion of reentry was dissipating. Then it happened. The other foot. I always get cocky when things are good and then life throws me a curveball to instill a little humility.
After breakfast, the Big Guy said he wasn’t feeling “well” and went to lie down. I went up after him to check in on him because this is very out of character for him. I found him laying in silence, fist clenched as he stoically winced. I knew something was wrong. In the 18 years that I have shared a life with this man, I’ve never seen him do this. He has a high tolerance for pain (unless you count the man cold) but this was something different. I knew he was in pain. It’s humbling to see a 6’5”, 250-pound man incapacitated. It scared me because what if it was something serious. What would I do without him?
I asked him if he wanted to go to the hospital, he brushed it off. I knew better. I called my in laws to come stay with our girls and,in silence, we headed for the hospital. Happy Father’s Day to the Big Guy. I hate the ride to the hospital. It’s always the time my head thinks all of the worst thoughts.
We spent all day there. It was a three Xanax kind of day because seeing him in real pain made me feel helpless and that turned the volume up on my anxiety to high but I couldn’t show it. I had to stay strong for him, like he’s done for me so many times. All I wanted to do was breakdown. Think trapped wild animal but instead of a wild animal it was my emotions being forced silent inside of my head.
Deep breath. Keep your shit together lady. Pray. Check in on kids. See if he needs anything. Can I do something? Question the nurses and doctors like it’s your job (because it is.) Mind keeps going to the worst place. Get the hell out of my mind. Shift in my seat. Hold back the tears. Deep breath. Keep shit together. Pray….Repeat!
Eventually, after a CT and several other tests in which he was poked and prodded, they released him home to me with 3 bottles of medication and a strict clear diet and orders to see a surgeon the next day. I was happy to be taking him home but still my mind would not quiet. All I kept thinking was he needed to follow up with a surgeon. My thoughts were spastic and my heart was cracking. Stay strong bitch. This is NOT about YOU!
We went to the surgeon and for now, it’s nothing a couple weeks of high-powered antibiotics and some pain meds won’t fix. We’re scheduled for a follow up but today the prognosis is good. My mind is still worried, even with the 99.9% reassurance from the funny little doctor with the sunny disposition and wonderful sense of humor. To him, my husband is just another patient but to me, the Big Guy is everything.
The bottom line is that life happens and sometimes it’s some really shitty stuff like losing a baby or a parent or watching helplessly as your child or your husband is hospitalized. All you can do is pray and advocate, advocate and pray like their life depends on it because sometimes it does. The rest of the time all that we can hope for is a life that is good.
Speaking of which, about half way through writing this post, A Life That’s Good by Lennon and Maisy came on and the words spoke to my heart. This song sums up exactly what I’ve been feeling these past couple of days. Here are the Lyrics:

Sitting here tonight, by the fire light
It reminds me I already have more than I should.
I don’t need fame, no one to know my name.
At the end of the day, Lord I pray
I have a life that’s good.
Two arms around me
Heaven to ground me
and a family that always calls me home.
Four wheels to get there.
Enough love to share and a
sweet, sweet, sweet song.
At the end of the day, Lord I pray
I have a life that’s good.
Sometimes I’m hard on me,
when dreams don’t come easy
I wanna look back and say I did all that I could.
At the end of the day, Lord I pray
I have a life that’s good.
Two arms around me
Heaven to ground me
and a family that always calls me home.
Four wheels to get there.
Enough love to share and a
sweet, sweet, sweet song.
At the end of the day, Lord I pray
I have a life that’s good.
At the end of the day, Lord I pray
I have a life that’s good.
In the end, who cares about money, status or what other people think about us? All that matters is that we lived on our own terms, a life of few regrets and filled with lots of love. Care about the people who matter and don’t waste your time on those who you don’t matter to. These past few days have reminded me that I really do have a life that’s good and that is more than enough. That is everything.
Tonight, I am thankful. I am thoughtful. The people that I love are safe and healthy and that’s more than enough.
What do you think qualifies a life that’s good?
2015/06/25
Orange is the New Black Season 3 is the Best Yet of OITNB #StreamTeam
It felt like I was waiting forever for June 12th and season three of the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black to begin. It felt like an eternity because it always does when you are an addict waiting to get your next fix and I, my friends, am a HUGE OITNB addict. Seriously, as a #StreamTeam ambassador for Netflix, I watch a lot of Netflix and I love a lot of the Netflix original programming but Orange is the New Black is the one I find to be the most entertaining and this season did not disappoint.
Of course, OITNB debuted on Friday the 12^th, while I was traveling visiting friends, obviously I couldn’t watch Netflix (though I will admit, I did sneak and watch it on my iPad late at night after everyone else had gone to bed.)I told you I have a problem. But it’s not my fault there are so many amazing funny, uplifting and dramatic well-written Netflix Originals to choose from.
I watched when I could but there was no binge watching. I know sometimes you just need to unplug and be present in your life but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Luckily, I was mostly unplugged and missed any spoilers that might have been floating around. The great thing about Netflix is that I knew that OITNB would be there waiting for me when I returned home and I binge watched the entire thing in 3 days. There’s nothing quite like a couple of good binge watching days to help cure the vacation reentry blues;)
I don’t want to spoil the season for anyone who hasn’t gotten to watch the newest season of Orange is the New Black but I will tell you this, you really get to know the characters on a deeper level this year. It’s less about Piper and more about all the supporting characters. You might even change your opinion of a few, including Piper. I would definitely say this was one of the most well written seasons to date. Now, I’m going to be biting my nails waiting for season 4!
If Orange is the New Black is not your thing, Netflix has plenty of great shows for everyone.
Speaking of which if you are like me and celebrating a good old-fashioned throw back summer with your kids, why not round out the experience with some throwback shows? I love watching shows that I watched as a child with my own children. Shows like Scooby Doo, the Smurfs, Jem, Garfield, Power Rangers, Care Bears, My Little Pony and Inspector Gadget, just to name a few. What about Knight Rider, Magnum P.I. and The A Team?
Or if you want to start watching a new show together, Netflix Original Some Assembly Required season 1 premiered on June 19^th. It’s a kid’s show about a 14-year-old who takes ownership of a toy store and hires a group of his friends to help him create amazing new toys! Rated TV-G, so the entire family can enjoy it together.
If you are looking for a great drama to binge watch that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I recommend Hostages! It is addictive. I couldn’t stop watching it and I bet you won’t be able to either.
Have you watched Season 3 of Orange is the New Black on Netflix yet?
2015/06/23
The Only Limit to What You can Film with your Solo 3D Drone is Your Imagination
Have you heard of the new 3D Robotics Solo Drone at Best Buy? Solo, the Smart Drone arrived in over 400 Best Buy stores on June 8 Just in time to be the perfect tech gift for any dad.
You all know that I love tech. I have a sickness really. I can’t get enough of it and I always want to know what’s new and what’s on the horizon. I didn’t use to be like this. I was the girl who had to convinced to use a computer to write my papers in college because I was totally happy typing it on my typewriter and I really thought I had hit my technology ceiling when I was using a word processor. But look at me now, playing with drones, GoProing or Periscoping my every move. I’m not even sure I could function without my iPhone because I’m pretty sure that it’s become an appendage.
I find drones particularly fascinating because a drone takes technology to the next level. Drones are the future. It’s hands free filming of the future. When I think that just 20 years ago most people still didn’t have cellphones, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Periscope and Pinterest weren’t even a “thing”. No one could have dreamed of what technology would look like today.
Solo Drone is the first-ever drone powered by two integrated Linux computers, making capturing the perfect shot easy for anyone. The drone handles the positioning while you get to focus on the composition of your photo or video. The Solo retails for $999.
The Solo drone can define its own flight, freeing users to focus on getting the shot.
This intelligent drone is also the first to support full control of GoPro® cameras and deliver live HD video either wirelessly to your mobile device or through the controller’s HDMI port for live broadcasts. How awesome is that?
There’s a great deal going on right now; get a FREE Solo Smart Battery (Reg. Price: $149.99) when you purchase the 3DR Solo Drone (Sku: 5354101). Valid 6/7-7/11 at Best Buy. Disclaimer: Offer valid with purchase of the 3DR Solo Drone SKU: 5351035
Just think of all the possibilities and amazing shots and videos you can catch with your own Solo Drone. If you could film or take a shot of anything with a Solo drone what would it be?
Disclaimer: The have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card but all opinions on the Solo 3D drone are my own.
2015/06/21
Adding the Perfect Pop of Color to Your Dining Room
My style is very minimalist but I crave a pop of color like the air I breathe. I need it. I like clean lines and bright colors but not a lot of “Stuff”. I am not a chochky kind of girl. Mess makes me insane and too much going on is just, well, “too much” for me. Don’t get me wrong I love bright bold colors and patterns but everything in moderation. My dining room is no exception.
We bought an old house, circa 1977, and we are completely renovating it. It’s been a labor of love and it’s going a little slower than I would prefer but hey, if living in a perpetual episode of This Old House gets me the home I’ve always wanted, then I’m all in.
My dining room was stark white. For a brief moment we painted the upper half merlot red but that seemed to date the room and it wasn’t the pop of color I wanted. I wanted fresh and clean. We decided it was just too dark and drab for us. So, we scrapped the whole thing and started from scratch.
Currently, the top half of the dining room is beautiful, soft trellis wallpaper in robin’s egg blue. We are still in the process of adding Wainscoting below the chair rail but that didn’t stop me from feeling like I needed something to really make my dining room pop. After all, the décor is a big part of the dining experience. Well, that and the company!
I usually add pop with flowers because who can resist fresh flowers. My favorite flowers are peonies but mine are all in various shades of pink and I needed something brighter.
My daughters wanted something whimsical but I really crave simplicity so we compromised with LaMont Brights Placemats in Peacock. They come in 3 bright colors; lime, peacock and daffodil.
And we properly set the table for four with my favorite white dishes. There is just something about a cheery table that makes the food taste better and the entire meal more digestible.
For more great ideas of how to add that special pop of color to your home, check out the Wayfair Pop of Color Pinterest board.
What is your favorite way to add a pop of color to your home?
*Disclaimer: A huge thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring this post but all opinions and love for these gorgeous Peacock blue placemats and the pop of color they bring with them are all mine.
2015/06/19
The Charleston Shooting is a Black and White Problem and We’re All Responsible
The Charleston Shooting was not an isolated case. It’s not even the first time RECENTLY that unwarranted violence has happened in Charleston. It was the brutal murdering of 9 innocent African Americans for no other reason than being black. The Charleston Shooting is not just something that happened to the American people. This is something that we allowed to happen by being complacent and silent and doing nothing more than bitching about the ongoing state of civil rights in America for decades. We could have prevented this had we stood up, fearlessly and relentlessly against racism.
Innocent people were shot and killed by a man who thought he was justified in walking into a Charleston, South Carolina church during services and murdering them because he felt that he was entitled to, after all, he didn’t see these people as human. He saw them as “other”. He saw them as less than and because you are on your high horse now…you are still culpable. We all are. We allowed this to happen, yet again.
Dylann Roof is a monster but we allowed the monster to exist. We tolerated his behavior like so many others before him. We allow our fellow human beings to be treated like animals. We don’t stand up until it is in rage when it is staring us back in the face. Then we settle back into our new normal and we move on with our lives. What we need to do is get outraged and never stop being outraged at this blatant racism and hatred and never stop until it is eradicated.
Racism isn’t just limited to African Americans. What about Latinos? What about women? What about the Jews? What about every single minority in America that has to stay quiet and behave and have condescension and disgust shoved down their throats as they are dared to say anything other than, “Thank you, may I have another?” Because to do anything other than that could result in retaliation. Mutiny. Revolt. Civil war. But we’re getting to a point where something has to change.
Have you been to the south? In the south, the confederate flag flies proudly. People have no qualms about using ethnic slurs out in public, loud and some ignorantly proud. I know this happens everywhere in the United States but in the south it is particularly tolerated. Racism is so hateful to me that I have moved beyond wanting tolerance, I am demanding equality for all human beings.
Caucasians feel as if the minorities are stealing their country, their jobs and their women from them. But I have news for you; America is made up of every single race in the world. There is no “pure” race. There is no superior race because we are all mixed and we are all humans so like it or not, we are all equal in our value as human beings. Are some people better than others? Sure, but that has nothing to do with race, religion or sexual preference and if you think it does, then, my friend, you are not one of the better people.
The Daily Show
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Jon Stewart said he is sad. The entire country is momentarily wrought with sadness. Me, I’m sad but mostly I’m pissed off. I am fighting mad because I can’t understand how in 2015 this is still happening? How can we look ourselves in the mirror knowing that we are allowing this to happen over and over again, even making excuses for the behavior? How can people still treat other PEOPLE as less than?
What kind of upbringing did Dylann Roof have that made it all right in his head to walk into a house of God and murder innocent, unsuspecting, defenseless people? How do you pull a trigger and snuff out a person’s life for no other reason than the color of their skin? What kind of monster must you be? Look in the mirror, if it takes anything less than the rest of your entire life to get over this…you are part of the problem.
Stop feeling sad and starting feeling mad. Start feeling indignant and lower your tolerance for this kind of bigotry. I feel sick and vulnerable walking around in a world where at any moment someone can shoot someone else dead, rape them, maim them in public, no less, and suffer no real fear of consequence.
Prison is not a deserved consequence because it is too good for this type of murderer. He has already done the damage. He has already destroyed 9 families. That can’t be undone. The prisons are filled with young African American men put there by a society who thinks they belong in cages. I hope they put Dylann Roof in general population and I hope that he gets the justice that he deserves.
Our current racial situation is dire.

“Gaping Racial wound that will not heal, yet we pretend that it does not exist!”

“I’m confident though by acknowledging it, by staring into that and seeing it for what it is, we still won’t do jack shit!” Jon Stewart
I’m starting to feel like the civil rights victories of the 60’s were nothing but a ruse to pacify the unsettled and uncooperative militants who had the balls to fight for equality. I’m beginning to feel like equality in the United States is a farce.
The problem of race in America is not a new one. Our country is a menagerie of different people from different countries from around the world. The only thing we have in common is that we are all from some place else. We are every shade of the rainbow. In theory, we should be the happiest and most evolved place in the world. Instead, we still hate what we can’t personally identify with. Rather than embrace difference, we try to eradicate it. I say no more.
Please don’t let your outrage at this racist murderer fade. Don’t let the Charleston Massacre be forgotten. Don’t let these innocent men and women have died in vain like so many before them. We’ve been here before, let’s not be here again.
What will you do to help heal the gaping racial wound that exists in America?
How do we prevent another Charleston Shooting?
2015/06/19
Hottest Father’s Day Tech Gifts
Can you believe that Father’s Day is in 4 days? Me, neither. The Big Guy is hard to buy for. He’s easy in the way that he is a complete tech nerd and loves all things gadget and tech related, especially if he doesn’t need it and especially if it’s out of the ordinary, extremely small or completely unnecessary. Don’t ask me why, he just likes things that are definitely out of the box. I’m pretty sure if he could pick any time period to live in, it would be the time of the Jetsons.
I made a list of all of the really cool tech that dad might like this Father’s Day.
From the obvious to the obscure, if you have a hard to buy for dad in your life who just loves to always have the latest and greatest tech gadgets, boy have I got a list for you for this Father’s Day.
For the Golfer Dad:
OptiShot2 Golf Simulator
OptiShot® Golf allows golfers from around the world to compete against each other on any of the 43 To-the-Tee™ exclusive and private championship course replicas in the OptiShot Golf Course library. Each course provides a realistic and fully immersive 3D environment for play or practice. With OptiShot2, users have the ability to play the same championship holes the top PGA pros are playing on TV, as well as compete in a tournament of their own with OptiShot Live.
With the new OptiShot Live feature, users can play 18 holes on the world’s most famous courses with friends, family and competitors all over the world without ever leaving the comfort of their home or office. This award-winning golf simulator uses the latest in analytic and shot tracer technology with an easy to use interface to create the ultimate real-world golf experience. Compact in size and cost, the OptiShot2 requires no elaborate setup, works with every club in your bag and is compatible with Mac and Windows. With the goal of providing the best real golf experience, OptiShot2 provides technology consistent with professional simulators in a package designed for consumers.
Optishot has launched the OptiShot Tour featuring weekly events and on-going competitions all played on To-the-Tee™ replicas of PGA Tour courses. The PLAYERS Championship course is this week’s tour stop. Just login in to your OptiShot and play the corresponding course anytime from Thursday 12:00am EST – Monday 3:00am EST to be automatically entered for a chance to win free OptiShot Courses for life!
OptiShot Golf Simulator is available at premium golf retailers and online at store.optishotgolf.com.
Zepp 3D Multi-Sport Motion Sensor and Platform
The Zepp 3D Multi-Sport Motion Sensor is wearable sensor that allows dad to review and replay his swing in 360º and HD video, while providing detailed analysis and trend reports sent straight to any iOS® or Android device so he can improve.
Users can review and replay their swing in 360 degrees and see their swing in HD Video.
Then they can compare their swings to pro athletes. The 3D motion sensor easily attaches to any bat, club, or racket using innovative sport-specific mounts. Sensor wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth after every swing.
Your guys not into golf? No problem. The Zepp 3-D Multi-Sport motion sensor is for everyone.
Baseball: track bat speed, path, timing, angles at impact, trends and more
- Golf:track speed, tempo, club plane, hand path, backswing position, hip rotation and more
- Tennis:track shot type mix (serve, forehand, backhand, smash), power and spin (topspin, slice, flat) and more
- Able to compare swings to pros and friends and share your swing data with others
- Zeppapplication records critical data and provides analysis, personalized tips, drills and coaching
For the Audiophile Dad:

Cambridge Audio: TV5 – TV Speaker Base
We bought an awesome 55-inch television last Christmas to hang above our mantle, the only thing is the sound quality is awful. The picture is amazing but the sound is like it’s coming through a tunnel. If you have this situation going on why not have the best of both worlds?
Get room-filling home theater sound all from one cabinet and Bluetooth streaming speaker, the Cambridge Audio TV5 speaker base? It’s suitable for use with most flat-panel TVs up to 55 – 60”
It has 100 watt Class D digital amplifier with less than 0.5 watt standby power consumption.
The TV5 also features multiple audio modes for ultra-clear voice reproduction with movies and music and two 2.25” Balanced Mode Radiators (BMR) provide clear sound plus dual 6.5″ powered subwoofers are built-in for deep bass.
Torque Audio’s t103z Headphones
For the music lover looking for something new check out the t103z from Torque Audio. These fully customizable ear buds feature Passive Acoustic Valve Technology so you can swap out TorqueValves™ for a totally individualized listening experience. Use the deep valve for thumping lows, clear valve for crisp highs or the reference valve for a balanced sound. If he likes playing videogames, you can give him the best under $100 gaming headset.
SOUL Electronics: Run Free Pro
Bluetooth headphones appeal to fitness-enthusiasts with comfort and wireless fit. My husband is not a runner but he does walk and move around his office quite frequently and with these he canmove around without worrying about getting hung up or knocking stuff over with the cord.
The Run Free Pro headphones are guaranteed to stay on when active with the first interchangeable ear lock system for custom size and fit, so no more inconvenience of headphones popping out on the run. Wind noise reduction technology allows listeners to listen to music without wind interference while on the go. It also features a sporty and fashionable waterproof design with up to 8 hours of battery life.
The ergonomic remote control with integrated mic for music control and hands free taking make life super easy for dads on the go.
Grace Digital: aptX™ Bluetooth 4.0 Bookshelf Speakers
The aptX Bluetooth 4.0 Bookshelf Speakers are perfect for the dad who just wants to rock out in his office while he “gets some work done.” Sure there may be some air guitar happening but these speakers are crafted with a sleek leatherette casing, modern, compact and lightweight Bluetooth bookshelf speakers that seamlessly stream room filling sound from any Bluetooth compatible device. Simply put, they are awesome.
Engineered for in-home use with full range, CD quality audio, providing a high-quality indoor music experience where portable/outdoor speakers typically fall short. You can pair up to 8 devices via Bluetooth 4.0, with a range of 30 ft
Bonus, while dad’s rocking out he can conveniently use the USB jack on the speakers to charge his mobile device, while still rocking out. It’s the perfect gift for the dad who loves music.
For the Photographer Dad:
Large Power CapXule by Xsories
Summer is the perfect time for the photo-centric dad to get out and start shooting again. But who wants to have to cut their day short because of lost power? Not only will the Large Power CapXule from XSORIES comfortably hold and organize all your gear, the clever case comes with an on-board 2800mAh power bank to get your camera or phone charged in a pinch.

The New Dad:
Izon View Cam
Do you know a new papa who can’t stand being away from the little one while he is at work all day? Keep Dad connected to what matters most with the Izon View an app controlled home video monitor that enables dad to check in on the little ones from anywhere in the world. The Izon View is a great gift for fur parents too!
For the Dad who Loves the Newest and Coolest Tech Toys:
XSORIES: X-Project Wi-Fi
The X-Project WiFi Projector is a Wi-Fi enabled Pocket Projector that shares and displays HD Video from anywhere. It is a portable projector that’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It’s perfect for summer outdoor movie nights because you can wirelessly share HD videos and images directly from online sources, SD cards and/or USB sticks. With it’s 100-lumen LED it projects brilliant color and high-contrast images. Xsories took compact tech to the next level because the X-Project is certainly small but mighty and will bring a smile to your outdoorsy family man.
There are so many cool high tech gifts for dad this Father’s day but these are my tops for the Big Guy!
What will you getting the Fathers in your life this Father’s Day?
Disclosure: I was provided some of the product for review purposes but all opinions and love of tech for Father’s Day are my own.
2015/06/18
GoPro this Father’s Day
Do you have a GoPro? Father’s Day is coming up this weekend and some dads, like the Big Guy, are complete techies. He loves to have all the latest and greatest gadgets. Believe me when I say there is a list a mile long of great Father’s Day gifts that my husband would like to have but at the top of his list is the GoPro HERO+ LCD.
I have a GoPro HERO4 Black and I love it.
It’s been the best thing for documenting our family adventures since I got it. The only thing that I wish it had was an LCD screen. While the camera itself is amazing, I always wished that I could have the instant gratification of seeing what I was shooting as I was shooting it but I was willing to overlook it. The new GoPro HERO + LCD has everything, great quality and instant gratification.
We all know that Best Buy is the destination for the latest cameras and camcorders, and now that includes the new GoPro HERO+LCD arriving in stores just in time for this Father’s Day.
The new GoPro camera is perfect for capturing sweet family moments, long summer breaks and every journey that lies ahead. It is the perfect gift for the man who wants to capture incredible moments and relive them on the spot with the LCD display.
You can help dad capture his adventures and relive them with the new GoPro HERO+ LCD—featuring:
1. 1080p60 video, 8MP photos and built-in Wi-Fi, plus the convenience of a touch display.
2. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® connect to the GoPro App for shot preview, total camera control and easy content sharing to Instagram, Facebook, and more.
Great Father’s Day Offers include:
- HERO+LCD (Sku 6954009) with free 32GB Extreme Plus memory card (Sku 9387066). Valid 6/14-6/20
- Free $50 Best Buy Gift Card with purchase of the GoPro HERO4 Silver (Sku 8374096) or GoPro HERO4 Black (Sku 8374078). Valid 6/7-6/20
What’s at the top of your dad’s Father’s Day list?
Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free but all opinions of the GoPro Hero+LCD are my own.
2015/06/17
Summer Vacation Blues and How to Cure Them
I am just getting back from the first mini summer vacation; this one was 11 days. Not actually so mini.Our summer vacation started off with 7 days in Nashville, Tennessee and capped off with 4 days in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina with great friends (I’ll write you some great travel posts about that over the next few weeks but today we’re focusing on how hard it is to come back to reality.) I have to be honest, it was exhilarating but reentry is HARD! Really hard. Like I feel like I’m moving through molasses hard.
I barely looked at my social media except for sharing a couple of photos on Instagram (because my phone was out of actual storage space) and I went a little overboard on Periscope (@DeborahCruz you have to watch the video about the drive thru safari. There is nothing quite so funny/frightening as a Bison sticking his head into your car trying to eat your tiny people.) This vacation gave me a chance to decompress and look at things a little softer and less cynical. I saw the beauty instead of the time consumption.
I’ve been back from summer vacation for 24 hours and I just can’t get back into the swing of things. I miss exploring a strange town, hanging with great people and being unplugged. Coming home and back to my reality of cleaning house, obligations and deadlines is hard. Reentry into the real world and the summer vacation blues are real.
You know, getting caught up in the grind is what keeps us going. Every day we get up, do our thing and power on to the next. It becomes old hat and we do it because we are supposed to. We never step back and deeply inhale, enjoy the moment. We can’t because every moment precedes another moment. There is always something else pressing to be done; whether it be meeting with a neighbor, checking a status, writing a post or just getting dinner done. Life is full of obligations.
The problem is when you actually do take those moments to enjoy your life, the minutes, the days the people that surround you; then you realize what you are missing and this is what is causing my raging case of summer vacation blues. We left our bubble.
We were outside enjoying the summer weather, noticing all of the new sights and sounds around us. Trying new foods, talking to new people and doing new things. We were completely out of our comfort zone and I loved every moment of it. The girls were enthralled, in the moment and never stopped exploring and engaging. The truth is that if you stop to enjoy every moment of life, it goes slower and it is actually so good that you can’t help but want it to last forever. It usually is, we just never notice because we are stuck in the minutia.
My husband and I have had the conversation that when you are in your teens and twenties, you spend your life looking for someone to love and spend your life with. You just want that all consuming, never ending happiness but you never realize (until you have it) that THAT kind of love has a price. When you truly love and enjoy something so much, it can be your undoing. The same way slowing down and going on vacation can be your undoing. You change your perspective and you change your expectations and your limitations.
I married the man I love and I have my daughters but with that I learned that the price of that happiness, that gift, is that if I lose them, it’s not something I am sure I can bounce back from because once you’ve gone there, you can’t go back. Once you’ve seen the world in living color, it’s impossible to go back to black and white.
When you go on vacation and really enjoy it, it makes it glaringly obvious how unmagical your reality is. I know the purpose of vacation is to rest and relax but it makes the price of not resting and never relaxing almost too much to bear. I came home and it’s been raining since we returned, there are no new and exciting anything, there are no old friends to love and consort with and there are bills, responsibilities. Life seems less bright. Maybe we are gypsies but we all agree on this point.
The time with old friends was amazing, however now I am left feeling more than a little deflated because it reminded me of just how much I miss them. The places we stayed on our summer vacation were beautiful, vibrant and ethereal because we were in a dream. Reality is like a room filled with fluorescent light, it gets the job done but it is severely lacking the magic factor.

I have the summer vacation blues but there are some things I can do to cure them.
1. Take more time to enjoy the moments. Consciously, make the effort.
2. Explore your own town. There are a million places that I’ve never been or eaten or explored within 2 hours driving distance but I will.
3. Go out of your comfort zone. Obviously what is comfortable is good but it makes us complacent. I am sick of complacency.
4. Try something new. Introduce yourself to the new neighbor, visit a local gallery or the new Ethiopian restaurant that just opened. Go to see the live bands play in the park.
5. Do it all while taking it all in. Don’t power through life, soak it in. Bask in it like the warmth of the summer sun.
Life might feel ordinary and boring after an exciting summer vacation but if you look, if you stop and breathe for a moment, you can always find the extraordinary right beneath the surface of the ordinary people, places and things.

How do you cure the summer vacation blues?
2015/06/17
4K that will take TV Viewing to the Next Level
I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.
As many of you may know, I am a little tech crazy. I always want the latest and greatest tech available. It’s a disease; I caught it from my husband. I swear, when I met him in college he practically had to pry my hands off of my word processor because, hello, who needs a computer when you could type all of your research papers on a state of the art word processor. However, that is no longer the case. I want all the newest tech gadgets and I want them now.
One of my favorite things about the evolution of hi tech is that it is about more than just new innovation Samsung SUHD TV. It’s about taking your television experience to the next level. If you are looking for home cinema installation company in Toronto, you can visit https://tvwallmounting.ca/ in order to benefit from high quality tv installation and tv mounting services at affordable prices.
The 4K is more than just a television it is a viewing experience which is visible immediately if you’ve had the chance to just go to a Best Buy and check it out for yourself.
Here are a few features that I think we could use to complete our vacation.
- Reveal more colors and a brighter picture with Samsung 4K SUHD TV – all powered by a revolutionary panel featuring Nano-crystal technology. The immersive curved screen portrays a greater sense of depth. Easily access the content you love with the advanced Samsung Smart TV.
- You can enjoy a brighter, more true-to-life picture with a wider range of colors
- Peak Illuminator Pro for enhanced picture detail and color
- Improved black levels and contrast for a greater sense of depth
- 4 times the resolution of full HD
Do you love twitter parties? @BestBuy and Brand Ambassador @dodomesticdad will be hosting an SUHD Twitter Party on Thursday June 9th at 7:00pm CST. Feel free to join the twitter party for a chance to receive Best Buy gift cards.
If you shop at select 4K special events, you can even experience this amazing product in person in the store. Right now, you can see an exclusive sneak peek of Jurassic World in Samsung Entertainment Experience Shops inside Best Buy.
And don’t forget to register for our twitter party on June 9^th, 2015 at 6/9 at 7PM CST. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/1ecE5Ru
I’ll be there, I hope you are too!
2015/06/07