The TRUTH About Motherhood

Author: Deborah Cruz

Zara Designs Holocaust Fashion for Kids & Sees Nothing Wrong with It
Throat Punch Thursday is back just for International Clothing designer ZARA from Spain. They are selling a “sheriff” shirt with stripes and a star of David that very closely resembles the shirts worn in concentration caps in Nazi Germany. Talk about low rent behavior.
Look, the world is a cesspool of shit right now. Isis is beheading Christians, African-Americans are being shot dead in the street like animals, mental illness is the silent killer like cancer of the brain chemicals and anti-Semitism is alive and well. See, I learned a very important lesson as a child, those who do not know history are destined to repeat it. Well, not trying to be captain obvious but haven’t we all been here before?
The ZARA shirt is just a reminder of what a group of assholes we can be when we try or just don’t give a shit about other people at all. I’m not going to go on a rant about what a rotten state the world is in because truth be told it’s probably always been in various states of shit depending on who you are and what your perspective is.
The reason this ZARA shirt is so offensive to me is that aside from being blatantly anti-Semitic it lets adults dress unsuspecting children in a sick and offensive garment that is reminiscent of one of the darkest days in history and then send them out into the world like a big Fuck You to the entire Jewish population. Maybe someone thought this was funny but I think it’s sad, hurtful and dangerous. What’s next, swastika print on Bermuda shorts? What are we teaching our children? Isn’t the world messed up enough without reopening old wounds?
Global warming, racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism, the objectification of women, the never ending misunderstanding and stigmatization of mental illness, gun Control, the economy, the hungry homeless on our own doorsteps and just a general lack of empathy and compassion in the world are just a few things going so wrong right now that have all happened before. Were we not paying attention the first 100 times these things have happened?
I’m a pragmatist, I know that the world will never be a perfect place. I don’t believe in unicorns and Utopia. I know that not everyone will always be accepting or tolerant of others. But wouldn’t it be nice if for a change, the assholes were in the minority instead of the majority. My eyes have begun to twitch from the news lately.
Today , I read about a male pediatric nurse who molested the 2-month old preemie baby boy who he was fostering and then video taped and took photos of the whole thing. It went on for weeks. In one video, the authorities said that they could audibly hear the baby crying. What makes a person able to stomach doing something like that to a newborn, or anyone for that matter?
What are your thoughts on this “Sheriff” shirt by Zara?
2014/08/28
The ALS #IceBucketChallenge Controversy
Seems like everyone’s doing the ALS #IceBucketChallenge.
Well, not quite everyone. Not the Catholic Church, not anymore. Not since someone discovered that people acting like goofballs to raise awareness for a very important cause is something “bad”.
Full Disclosure: If you’ve been a reader here for any amount of time, you’ve probably already surmised that I’m a very liberal Catholic. Yes, we do exist!
Okay, let me be totally honest, I’ve got to tread lightly here but I want to write this post. Recently, “a friend” (let’s say his name rhymes with “the principal”) was nominated for the #icebucketchallenge by 3 kindergarteners. If you knew this guy, you’d know that he’s is a genuinely good guy. He mentioned that he’d been trying to decide whether or not he would take part in the ALS ice bucket challenge. In fact, he was rallying to get a couple priests to do the challenge with him to help garner more attention for the cause until he received a “concerned citizen” note that informed him that he shouldn’t do it because the ALSA uses embryonic stem research. (Cue pitchforks and angry parent mob).
She was not so subtly warning him that participating in the ALS #Icebucketchallenge would put him in direct contradiction to the church’s position on abortion. (Cue disapproving look and shunning). Obviously, this was her “Christian duty”, seeing as his everlasting soul was in peril. Sorry kids. No dunking the principal in ice water to help the sinners at ALSA. (I hope you are reading this in sarcasm font and know that I am being facetious.)
I know many people who have done it. A few of my brothers and sisters (yes, I told you we’re Catholic. Keep up) have even done it. We are big into raising awareness of important causes. I understand my religion’s stance on embryonic stem cell research but before we through the baby out with the ice water people should know that you can tell the ALSA where to spend your contribution. You can specify that you don’t want to contribute to embryonic stem research or you can donate to the ALS Foundation, which helps people living with the disease by providing supplies or the John Paul II Medical Research foundation, which concentrates on medical research using adult stem cells and other alternatives to embryonic stem cells.
He closed the letter by saying that he WILL be accepting the challenge from the 3 kindergarteners and donating to a Diocesan approved ALS charity because the idea of finding a cure for ALS is noble.
No matter what you think about the ALS #icebucketchallenge ( which to be honest I thought was kind of ridiculous until I saw the above video) but now am forced to defend it because I always thought being a “good person” was about tolerance and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Seems like some people think their morals put them on a higher horse than the rest of us. Can’t we all just help those in need?
What do you think about the #Icebucketchallenge ?
2014/08/26
Join Me! Help Light The Night For Kids with Cancer
Cancer sucks; plain and simple.
Pediatric cancer is one of my biggest fears since becoming a mother. I have partnered with Light the Night campaign to bring attention to this cause that is very near and dear to my heart, pediatric cancer, more specifically Leukemia. You see, when my nephew was just a preschooler, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. I can’t even begin to make you understand what a blow that was to our family. I was only in my mid-twenties and I hadn’t had children yet. It made me question everything I ever knew or believed. I can’t even fathom how my brother and his wife remained so stoic. I felt so helpless all I could do was cry for weeks and pray.
As a mother now, myself, I know how my brother and his wife made if through…they had to. When you are a parent, you lose the luxury of choosing to collapse in a pool of snot and tears when the world beats you down, you just have to suck it up and be strong for your children and then you collapse behind closed doors. You stay strong for your child until you make it out the other side; healthy and happy. My brother and his wife are still two of the strongest people that I’ve ever known. They are my heroes.
If you can survive a child with cancer, I’m pretty sure the rest of life is just a cake walk.
I wish no parent ever had to go through what my brother, his wife and my sweet nephew had to go through ever again. I wish we could eradicate all cancers (pediatric and adult alike), but especially Leukemia and Lymphoma because I’ve seen firsthand the toll it takes on a small child and his parents. Thankfully, my nephew went into a full remission and we just sent him off to his freshman year at college. He is an amazing kid who makes the world a better place and none of that would not have been possible without lifesaving treatments and advancements in science and medicine that made it possible. I thank God every night that my nephew is here and for the doctors who saved him.
This fall, let’s walk to the end of cancer by joining The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night Walk fundraising campaign, which brings together families and communities to honor blood cancer survivors, as well as those lost to the diseases, and to shine a light on finding cures and providing access to treatments for blood cancer patients.
One group that deserves our attention is children with cancer. Leukemia is the most common cancer in children and adolescents less than 20 years old. While extraordinary progress has been made in blood cancer treatments, the journey back to a healthy life can be a long one. For these kids, returning to school means additional challenges, from maintaining friendships to keeping up with schoolwork. You can make an impact.
This year, Sylvan Learning is partnering with LLS through Light The Night, with a commitment to raise $250,000 and to donate more than 12,000 hours of free tutoring services in nearly 200 communities nationwide to help young blood cancer patients and their families with the transition back to school. Here’s how you can help:
There are nearly 200 Light the Night walks nationwide this fall. It’s easy to walk by registering and joining a team. Learn more about how LLS and Sylvan are helping young cancer patients and their families manage. Find a walk in your area, and join a Sylvan Learning walk team in supporting this great cause.
I’m going to join Light the Night with my family. Won’t you join us?
Let’s all walk to the end of cancer and, at the same time, you can help kids get back into the swing of school, often while they are still undergoing treatment.

2014/08/24
Setting Health Goals and Getting Healthy Just Got Infinitely Easier
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a sucker for health and fitness apps. I set health goals and try to make healthy choices, but don’t always follow through. That’s why I need accountability. After my past struggles with weight, I know accountability is the key to my wellness success. Honestly, I either need a tiny drill Sargent or a giant cheerleading team. I just need to know that someone somewhere is in my corner, understands the struggle of weight loss and weight management and wants me to succeed. I need peers.
I swear by my Fitbit, MapMyFitness & Dottie’s Food Score apps, I will also recommend you the light therapy lamps for your body health improvement. I love the friendly competition sparked between friends. I call it motivation. Just no taunting; fragile ego, I’d fall apart. Why so many apps you ask? Because FitBit and MapMyFitness sync with my FitBit and I prefer the food library on MapMyFitness and Dottie’s keeps me in the know for any possible dining out option which is very convenient.
Well, hold on to your Saucony’s ladies and gents because now Walgreens have developed their own Balance Rewards Program which gives you weekly savings as well as reward points for purchasing all kinds of items in the store but now it has a healthy choices feature that literally rewards you for your wellness efforts. It keeps you accountable and makes living a healthy life easy by allowing you to set health goals, tracking progress and connecting your devices. Not only does it keep me aware of the healthy choices make but it also rewards me for my healthy activity. We use positive reinforcement with our children, why not a little for ourselves?
You can earn points by living healthy and making healthy choices. Walking, running, doing Pilates, Zumba, or spinning and tracking your weight all allow you to earn points. You can track progress towards your fitness goals, sync devices to log activity on the go and connect via the community forum. I love the accountability.
I’m always on the look out for a way to make my weight loss journey more effective and less of a struggle, I feel like the Walgreens Balance Rewards Program might just streamline my whole process.
I am also very fond of the community. It reminds me of the Weight Watchers system. There is a forum for every person and let me tell you a little encouragement from a person trying to do the same thing, for me anyways, is a lot more helpful than an 18-year-old, 110-pound trainer screaming at me.
If you track your weight, and who doesn’t? This is for you. Do you get regular tests to check your blood pressure or glucose? Do you crave physical activity and is it a priority for you? Why not let Walgreens keep you accountable for your healthy choices?
I’ve partnered with Walgreens to try it out and I think you should too!
What is your favorite healthy living app?
Photo
2014/08/21
Learning to Disrupt the Pink with GoldieBlox Giveaway
When I was a little girl, I was raised that little girls did “girl things” like play with baby dolls and Barbie dolls. Boys played with Legos and Lincoln logs. Girls were pretty and boys were dirty. Boys got to have all the fun while all I got to do was chores and play with toys that taught me how to be a “young lady“. Enter easy bake ovens, play houses, baby dolls who cried and needed their diapers changed. But it doesn’t have to be that way and I’ve partnered with GoldieBlox to change that.

When I tried to climb trees or build forts, I was promptly told that those things were not very “ladylike.” It’s damn hard to climb trees in skirts. Don’t get me wrong; I loved doing all those things but maybe I would have liked to play with the Legos or built something with Lincoln logs? The point is this; I didn’t even know what an Engineer did until I was in college at Purdue University…dating an Engineer. So how could I have ever chosen to be an engineer when no one thought it was worth the bother to teach little girls to be anything more than princesses, mothers and maids until now. Enter GoldieBlox.

We live in a world where men grossly outnumber women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Girls lose interest in these subjects as early as age 8, GoldieBlox is determined to change the equation. Construction toys develop an early interest in these subjects, but for over a hundred years, they’ve been considered “boys’ toys”. By designing a construction toy from the female perspective, GoldieBlox disrupts the pink aisle and inspires the future generation of female engineers.

Debbie Sterling, a female engineer from Stanford University, was always bothered by how few women are in the engineering field. The numbers are definitely skewed in the engineering field. So, Debbie did something about it. She started a toy company in 2012 called GoldieBlox to get little girls to love engineering as much as she does.

The mission of GoldieBlox is to create fun toys that develop spatial skills and teach basic engineering principles. Girls like to read and boys like to build. Put spatial plus verbal together, story and construction and that’s how GoldieBlox was born. GoldieBlox is a book and a construction toy combined, starring Goldie the girl inventor and her motley crew of friends who go on adventures and solve problems by building simple machines. As girls read along they get to build what Goldie builds using their own tool kit. At the beginning of every GoldieBlox story, they introduce some basic engineering vocabulary with a basic “Bill of Materials.” The pieces you get with GoldieBlox are based on the Seven Simple Machines (wheel and axis, lever, pulley, etc.) These are the basic building blocks of every physical thing. Once you learn these simple machines, you can’t see your world the same way again, because you understand how things are built.

No longer are we teaching our girls that they have to stand by looking pretty while fetching cold drinks for the man folks. Nope, we are teaching our girls that they can put on a pair of cute jeans and work-boots and go build it themselves. By designing construction toys from the female perspective, GoldieBlox will be more appealing to a broader audience of children and parents who previously considered engineering a job for boys. Engineers solve some of the biggest challenges our society faces. They are critical to the world economy, earn higher salaries and have greater job security. And they are 89% male. There’s more to girls than just pink and fluff. We can be anything we want to be in this world. We are bigger than the pink aisle. Our dreams and skills can’t be contained.

One of the most critical skills we can teach our girls is confidence and perseverance. By giving girls confidence and exposure to words, when they see and hear these words later in life, they won’t be as intimidated, because they will already understand the concepts!

GoldieBlox teaches girls not to give up. Goldie never gives up and always tries again at making something. I love that message and I saw it come to fruition when my own girls were playing with their Goldieblox and the Parade Float and the Dunk Tank. I also love watching the confidence they have in building new things, not just what the instructions say. Thanks to GoldieBlox both of my girls have began to ask if they can join the schools robotics team. My husband is an engineer so this thrills him. I know what a turning point this is in history, so it pleases me too.
I am also giving away a GoldieBlox Parade Float and one Dunk Tank toy to one lucky reader. Easy to enter, simply follow me on Instagram and leave me your instagram account name in the comments. Ends 7/29 at midnight. Open to U.S. and Canadian readers.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

How do you get your girls to keep an interest in STEM?
2014/08/20
Monday Envelope Is Revolutionizing the Room Mom
Tonight is my first meeting as a member of our School Board. I’ve been a perpetual room mom for the past 6 years, for both girls; sometimes manning two parties at exactly the same time. Oh yes, I am doing it again this year because I am “that” mom. Anyways, at the end of last school year I decided that I wanted to be the change I wanted to see in the school and instead of just complaining about everything; I put my money where my mouth was. I did what any sane mother with too many obligations already would do, I went for the school board.
Anyways, this school year is going to be crazy for me. Maintaining two classrooms as room mom is hectic enough but add to it more obligations, I am in desperate need of some streamlining, organization and control; at the very least some organized chaos. We can’t afford another unfortunate “reply all” incident like the Halloween party of 2013 scandal. Thankfully, I was asked to try Monday Envelope.
Monday Envelope is an all in one group manager for any device that allows you, as a parent, PTA leader, room mom or Girl Scout troop leader (among many other things) to control and organize (streamline) all of your communications with all the people you need to be in contact with, at all the right times and at all the right places.
Parent involvement is crucial to the success of any school and a big part of that is effective communication. It is the perfect tool for the busy, on the go, involved mom. It means that this mom will never have to miss another out of uniform day again and that makes all of us happy! It’s everything, you never knew that you always wanted in organization.
Finally, I won’t have to worry about sending BCC emails from my address that trigger spam filters or worse CC everyone and the thread is 800 emails long and sometimes inappropriate. Refer to scandal of 2012. This allows everyone to be on the same page without the insane email tread. Tastes great; less filling.
The best part is that it is simple to use. Simple is my favorite word these days because with school back in session, my life has gotten exponentially more complicated with schedules and classes and meetings. It saves a ton of time that you can spend actually enjoying parenthood and these precious fleeting moments with your little ones. It frees up our time so that we can be engaged.
If you think this is a great option for your school, room mom, team mom, PTA president or girls scout mom friends have them check out Monday Envelop for themselves https://mondayenvelope.com/tell-your-group-leader/ .
This post was sponsored by WOMWomen.com on behalf of Monday Envelope. All opinions are my own.

2014/08/19
Sometimes You Just Need a Little Hideaway in your Life
My daughters, they saw an Instagram video of a friend’s little girl lip syncing Kiesza’s Hideaway. It was the first time they’d ever heard the song. They were instantly obsessed and being my children, of course they never do anything to scale. They had to take it and run away with it. After making several Instagram videos, they decided it was time to pull out the big guns and they entered my office with costumes and demanded that I record them. What did I expect from the kids who did a toy version of the Harlem Shake. What can I say, the whole family is a little silly. Every last one of them has a silly streak a mile wide. Who am I to deny them this? Besides, aren’t these the moments that memories are made of?
I’ll hideaway with these girls any day of the week!
My girls rock and they make me proud when they just do their do! They have no qualms about anything, they always just dance like no one is watching. I hope that never changes. These are the moments of bliss that motherhood is peppered with; these are the moments that make it all worth it.
What moment makes it all worth it for you?
2014/08/19
Salted Caramel Mocha Whipped Cream & Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
School is back in session. Thank goodness. Nope, that’s not just me sighing with relief my girls missed their friends and were bored. They like a good routine. Sure they like a week off here and there but they really missed seeing their friends. Which made me think, why not celebrate back-to-school with my girls, a few of their friends and some homemade ice cream.
I told the girls my idea and we got straight to planning our menu of homemade vanilla ice cream and salted caramel mocha whipped cream. I love adding flavored creamers to drinks other than just my coffee. There are few things 7 and 9-year-old girls love more than the marriage of smooth, creamy homemade ice cream and fresh made whipped cream, adding salted caramel and mocha was just the cherry on top..oh yeah, there has to be one of those too!
Here is the simple recipe I used for homemade vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
· 2 tablespoons cornstarch
· 1/8 teaspoon salt
· 1 1/2 cups Vitamin D whole milk
· 2/3 cup Fat Free French Vanilla
· 1 cup heavy whipping cream
· 1 egg yolk
· 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Whisk together sugar, cornstarch and salt in a large heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk, International Delight Fat Free French Vanilla creamer and heavy whipping cream. Cook over medium heat and stir constantly, 10 to 12 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
2. Whisk egg yolk until slightly thickened. Gradually whisk about 1 cup hot cream mixture into whisked yolk. Add yolk mixture to remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in vanilla extract. Cool for 1 hour and stir occasionally.
3. Place saran wrap directly on cream mixture, and chill 12 to 24 hours.
4. Pour mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Top with homemade Salted Caramel Mocha Whipped Cream.
Ingredients
1 ½ cup of heavy whipping cream
½ cup of International Delight Salted Caramel Mocha creamer (What? You thought I only used creamer for coffee and cocktails?)
¼ -1/2 cup of sugar (add sugar till your desired stiffness)
Instructions
Put heavy whipping cream and International Delight Salted Caramel Mocha creamer into a chilled mixing bowl.
Slowly add sugar as you blend with hand mixer on med. As whipped topping begins to stiffen, turn mixer up to high speed.
Garnish with 2 salted pretzel rods and a Maraschino cherry or two. Serve with love and enjoy all the giggles and squeals of back-to-school happy. Yes, I can’t believe it either but my girls seem to simply love being back in school. I guess my nerd gene didn’t skip a generation after all.
By the way, we all tried this recipe out yesterday and we concur that it is equally delicious to both the adult and child’s palate. To be honest, I could eat the salted caramel mocha whipped cream all on it’s own….all.day.long!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight.
The opinions and Salted Caramel Mocha Whipped Cream recipe are all mine.
[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
2014/08/18
Yucateco Habanero Hot Sauce Bloody Maria Recipe
This shop has been compensated by #Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
It’s Friday and you know what that means? It’s the weekend and on the weekends I like to enjoy brunch and sometimes, I like to add a little something special to brunch, a Yucateco Habanero hot sauce Bloody Maria for those weekends when your day needs a little get up and go or it’s a little nip in the air! My Bloody Maria will warm you right up.
I don’t drink Bloody Mary’s often, I am more of a Mimosa girl myself, but sometimes you just want something savory and spicy on a Sunday afternoon with your Frittata or before your Scotch eggs and maybe you love spicy heat but you don’t want to cover your eggs in hot sauce. Me neither!
Here’s my recipe for a Yucateco Habanero hot sauce Bloody Maria
6 oz. Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix
3 ounces Reyka Vodka ( if you can’t find it, if not any top shelf vodka will work)
3 liberal dashes of Yucateco Black Reserve Habanero Sauce ( you can find all 4 flavors at your local Wal-mart in the Hispanic food aisle)

2 dashes of pepper
2 dashes of sea salt
1 squeeze of lemon
Garnish with 1 stalk of celery, 1 pickle wedge and 2 blue cheese stuffed green olives for optimum Sunday Funday experience.
Fill shaker 1/2 full with ice, add all ingredients except garnishments. Shake for 10 full seconds. Pour into a Collins glass and garnish. Relax and enjoy your morning/ early afternoon relaxing as El Yucateco Black Label Reserve (available exclusively at Wal-Mart) washes over you like the sunlight through the window. It’s like a hug from the inside. But if you are afraid the Black Label might be too much smoky goodness for you, there are 3 other flavors you can try; Red Habanero, Sauce Green Habanero Sauce and XXXtra Hot Kutbil-ik Sauce.
For more awesome recipes and great ideas of how to get the most out of your Yucateco check out El Yucateco Facebook page.
Hope you can join us at the bilingual #SauceOn Twitter Party for inspiration and ideas on how to bring more excitement to your everyday meals by using El Yucateco. We’ll be sharing delicious and exciting recipes using El Yucateco and there will be $550 in Walmart gift cards! RSVP here: https://www.sofabchats.com/parties/233-sauceon

This shop has been compensated by #Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

2014/08/15
Savings Catcher will Make Sure that You Always Get the Best Deal
I have partnered with Walmart to bring you this sponsored post and information about this awesome new program Savings Catcher ; as always, all opinions are my own.
Back to school has had me steadily spending money; tuition, backpacks, school supplies, clothes, uniforms, gym shoes and don’t even get me started on all the groceries for the school lunches and did I mention, SCHOOL.SUPPLIES?? I know this happens every year but still every year, I get sticker shock.
It’s not that I don’t want to spend money but there is a thrill I get from finding the deal and saving the difference for family vacations or home renovations. Life is expensive but that doesn’t meant we shouldn’t get to enjoy the finer things in life, right? I’m frugal and always looking for ways to save money so for school supplies, I always hit Walmart first because they usually have the best prices and on those rare occasions that they don’t they will price match so I always know that I am getting the best price when I shop do back-to-school shopping at Walmart. I mean $.25 crayons, how can I beat that? I’ve got two words for you; Savings Catcher!
What is savings catcher, you ask? Is it like a dreamcatcher but instead of bad dreams it filters out bad prices? Exactly! Savings Catcher compares your receipt to advertised prices from top stores in your area, and if it finds a lower advertised price, you get the difference on an eGift Card. It started August 4^th and now all you have to do is enter your receipt and Walmart does the work for you. No more shopping around town or dragging in all the circulars from all the stores so that you can ad match. No more holding on to your receipts for 14-30 days and running all over town to get your receipt “adjusted” because the $200 lamp you bought yesterday went on sale today. I hate when that happens.
Basically, this is what happens; you log into www.walmart.com/SavingsCatcher , enter your receipt number from within the last 7 days, Savings catcher checks it and if you there is a better price, you get the difference credited to a gift card. What do you have to lose?
Savings catcher is awesome and really easy to use. Here is a demo video that shows you how easy it is. https://walmart.box.com/s/fl8fe85r6sfk8w63g9sl I can’t wait to enter my receipt from last week’s back-to-school shopping and see if I earned any credit. What a great, you get the best price and maybe even get to save a little money to buy yourself a little something special.
Have you tried Walmart’s new Savings Catcher Program yet?
Photo: RapidEye
2014/08/15