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New Home Paint Makeover with Sherwin-Williams @SherwinWilliams @SWPintura #MOMPaintsSW

May 21, 2013 by joscelynC 2 Comments

During this week, we are glad to have teamed with Sherwin-Williams, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, to create our home improvement painting experience for our newly built home.

We started our painting project with using the various Sherwin-Williams color tools (Color Visualizer, ColorSnap for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Paint Calculator to determine how much actual paint you need for your project); visiting our knowledgeable local Sherwin-Williams Store #2453 to assist in color choices and design tips; (after recommendations from the Sherwin-Williams store and personal research) selecting Sarasky’s Painting because of their professionalism, experience, and affordability.

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SARASKY’S PAINTING
Guido and Carolina Sarasky are the professional Latino owners of Sarasky’s Painting. Throughout my life, my parents have always owned several properties so I was accustomed to DIY projects and contractors. I was greatly pleased by the level of dedication and detail showcased throughout the entire 3-day project by Guido and Carolina.

We selected Emerald Interior and Harmony paints for our painting project. Emerald is well-known for its excellent coverage and smooth appearance – something that was important to us because we are painting ‘high-traffic’ areas within the 1st floor. Also, Emerald contains a preservative that helps inhibits the growth of mold and mildew – which is a must living in Florida.

Harmony, helps to promote better indoor air quality by reducing airborne concentrations of formaldehyde and other aldehydes. The enhanced formula features formaldehyde reducing technology that helps reduce the levels of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from potential sources like insulation, carpet, cabinets, fabrics and other building materials.

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and these irritants in the air as well as other substances such as dust mites, pollen and mold can cause allergy symptoms as well as asthma episodes. In fact, according to the American Lung Association approximately 3 million Hispanics suffer from Asthma and Puerto Ricans are especially impacted by the disease; they are more likely to have a diagnosis of asthma than any other population group. Due to the eco-friendly benefits, we are using the Harmony paint in many of our heavily used family areas.

We choose Antique Red (SW 7587), Bee’s Wax (SW 7682), Zeus (SW 7744), and Barcelona Beige (SW 7530) to be our primary color scheme.

Highlights…

DETAIL EXPERTS: Our 1st floor painting project required a great deal of precision and detail because of so many architectural designs and various colors. Guido and Carolina not only both had a steady hand for painting but also created meticulous straight lines on somewhat difficult edges, especially when one wall edge is a different color than the other wall edge.
KNOWLEDGEABLE: Guido enjoys sharing money-saving or DIY fact with his customers to help them save where they can. He helped to save me money by sharing a DIY fact. We had some extra unused paint and Guido took the extra paint to Sherwin-William store. The Sherwin-Williams Store #2453 team was able to tint the old paint (with a darker color) so it can be used as a primer underneath our new paint job. It helped us save money by not buying separate primer gallons. In addition, they both made me feel very part of the process and engaged in all decisions and ideas.
HIGH QUALITY CRAFTMANSHIP: Guido and Carolina both take great pride in their work. They went over each edge, line, and color pattern variance with great methodical purpose making sure no error or accident occurred. They showed their expertise while painting each room in a manner to help minimize any disruption of our daily lives.

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FINAL RESULTS
For this project, the following rooms and areas were painted:

Foyer
Living Room
Dining Room
Family Room
Kitchen
Staircase
Hallways (to the garage and 1st floor bedroom)

We are EXTREMELY satisfied with the wonderful work performed by Sarasky’s Painting
and the flow of the vibrant Sherwin-Williams colors.

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Our new home is completely different – its been given a total makeover and new look thanks to
Sherwin-Williams and Sarasky’s Painting.

Want to give your home an update? Get ideas and tips by visiting sherwin-williams.com

As the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service that’s focused on unique project needs. Sherwin-Williams products can only be found at its more than 3,500 neighborhood stores across North America.

Join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/sherwinwilliamsforyourhome,
on Twitter at twitter.com/sherwinwilliams or on Pinterest at pinterest.com/SherwinWilliams.
Bilingual (English/Spanish): @SWPintura

For expert painting at prices to fit your budget, visit http://www.saraskyspainting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saraskys-Painting/209095985772969?fref=ts
Twitter: @SaraskyPainting

Happy Painting!

Disclosure: Sherwin-Williams provided complimentary paint(s) for promotional purposes, however, thoughts and opinions expressed here are clearly our own.

Filed Under: brands, companies, families, family outing, latinos, parenting, reviews

Mother’s Day Reflection and the Detroit Tigers with Kamy Moss

May 17, 2013 by joscelynC Leave a Comment

Spring is here! For many families the onset of warmer weather and longer days means planting flowers, playing in the park and planning how to spend summer vacation. The month of May is also the time when men scramble and kids scribble to make cards and find that special something for Mom. Mother’s Day is a special time when we stop and honor the woman who packed our lunches, kissed our boo-boos and drove us around to every play date, sporting event, and doctor’s appointments. The way we celebrate is different for every family. Some families take mom out to share a meal, see a movie or send her on a spa day. Other families celebrate across the miles by sending a card or flowers and sharing time on the telephone. Mother’s Day may be all about the Mom, but in my house, it is more about the kids.

Since becoming parents, my husband and I have celebrated Mother’s Day by doing something that we know the kids would enjoy. In my mind, the perfect Mother’s Day is a day when my kids are happy and being good. A fun family day allows me to embrace the most wonderful part of being a mom, spending time with my kids. Every mom is different, but I prefer to do something than to receive something as a gift. Instead of a piece of jewelry or a new handbag, I would rather get a handmade card from the kids and spend time together doing something fun.

This year we spent our day as a family doing something we all love, watching the Detroit Tigers play at Comerica Park. For a sports family like us, there is nothing better than Mother’s Day at the ballpark surrounded by the sights and sounds of major league baseball. This mom had a blast eating hotdogs, riding the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel, and watching my boys run the bases after the game.

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Mother’s day was a day of making memories with the people who made me a Mom – my husband and my two amazing boys, Ryan and Liam. My husband has always said that my Mother’s Day is not really in May, it is in August. My first son was born on August 26, and that, in my husband’s mind, is the day I became a Mother….hence Mother’s Day. I will expect a card on August 26 then. J Well, if you think about it, he has a point. Who would turn down another day to celebrate? Not me. Maybe we can go to another game. Hint hint….

As for this year, Mother’s Day was full of highlights and surprises! My boys woke up early and were ready to go to the game before breakfast. They made beautiful cards and crafts at school and surrounded me with hugs and kisses. Soon after, it was time to make the 20 minute drive to Comerica Park. Once inside, the boys were given their free Torii Hunter Poster and we made our way to the Kids Club kiosk. Being members of the Detroit Tigers Kids Club has many perks and I highly recommend it for any little baseball fan! With our free activity sheets and baseball cards in hand, it was time to check out our seats.

As we walked through the massive stadium, we were approached by a young lady holding wristbands.

Surprise #1: Some of the Moms were being selected to go down onto the field for a pre-game Mother’s Day event. Did I go?? Heck yeah! I hugged my family and made my way to the line of ladies waiting behind the scoreboard. The line was long, but I was lucky to be standing with some awesome Moms and we shared stories about our kids and lives to help the time pass. Once the line started moving we entered the tunnel to make our way toward the outfield.

Surprise #2: FREE t-shirts! We were handed pink Detroit Tigers t-shirts with the date and Mother’s Day printed on them. So cool! Walking and putting on our t-shirts, we laughed and jumped up and down like kids in anticipation. It was an amazing feeling to turn the corner and exit the tunnel onto the field of Comerica Park. I felt like a kid on Mother’s Day. I was able to locate my family and waved frantically so my boys could see Mommy on the field. Once we lined up, it was time to begin.

Surprise #3: The pre-game event that we were so honored to be a part of was the National Anthem. Now, the National Anthem at a sporting event has always made me feel a sense of pride and warmth in my heart. Today it meant even more. Not only did the Detroit Tigers honor Mothers, but they honored Breast Cancer Survivors as well. The infield was full of courageous women who fought and won. It was a surreal moment as the music played, the flag waved in the brisk Michigan wind and us Moms and survivors stood together in honor of our country.

The game was amazing, despite the Tigers loss. The day was full of fun photo opportunities, the boys riding the Tigers Carousel, and lots of yummy ballpark snacks. Ryan enjoyed the hot dog vendors so much, he ordered them on his own a few times. We cheered together, ate together, took in the sights and sounds of Comerica Park….together. It was exactly what I wanted for Mother’s Day…QUALITY family time together.

At the end of the game, the boys got to experience the thrill of stepping out on the field, as the Tigers allow kids to run the bases after each Sunday home game. I have to say, the Detroit Tigers and the people at Comerica Park do a wonderful job making this a place where families can have a great time together.

Another Mother’s Day has come and gone and while the celebration is over, the job of a mom is never-ending. When we become mothers and our lives revolve around our children, so it is wonderful to have a day that we can also celebrate our own mothers. Whether you see them on a daily basis or only a few times a year, it is important to take a moment to thank them for their unconditional love and support. For me, I am so blessed to have my mother and that she is able to be involved in the lives of my kids.

I also see Mother’s Day as a day to celebrate all of the women in our lives who have nurtured, cared and guided our lives. Sharing their experiences, mistakes, and successes to help shape who we are as women so on Mother’s Day, don’t forget all of these women.

Don’t get me wrong, I love flowers and presents, but most of all it is the monkey hugs, the “I love you Mommy” and the joy I see in my boys faces when we are having fun family time.

Time is precious, make the most of it.

Filed Under: brands, companies, entertainment, families, family friday, family outing, holidays, inspirational, parenting

Give Your Home a New Look with Sherwin-Williams @SherwinWilliams @SWPintura #MOMPaintsSW

May 15, 2013 by joscelynC 3 Comments

We had the recent blessing of being able to build a home in a new subdivision in Central Florida. Since moving over the holiday season, its been a very busy and hectic time for us. Between work, school obligations, travel, care for my mother’s prolonged illness, out-of-town guests, etc., we had not been able to start the process of designing and creating the ‘look’ of our new home until now.

Throughout my life, my parents have always owned several properties so I was accustomed to shopping at home improvement stores for DIY projects. Even when professional help was selected there was always elements that were done by family members, especially my own mother (who has a fantastic eye for design and creativity). I can remember going to paint stores and looking at endless color palettes and patterns to see what would be the best color that would accent or make a wall “pop”.

Now, that we are painting our own home, we are so glad to have teamed with Sherwin-Williams, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, to create the home improvement painting experience.

We decided our 1st project would be the 1st floor of the home since that is what is seen readily when you enter the home and contains many of the ‘family time’ rooms. (The upstairs with the bedrooms and another family room would be our 2nd project). We knew the importance of going to the paint store to pick up colors and get painting supplies but we also wanted to get some color ideas for the various rooms.

COLOR TOOLS
Sherwin-Williams offers easy-to-use and very helpful color tools, i.e. Color Visualizer, ColorSnap for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Paint Calculator (to determine how much actual paint you need for your project). With great simplicity, we took photos of our rooms with the iPad and ‘swiped’ or ‘clicked’ Sherwin-Williams colors directly onto the pictures of our walls and rooms. We spent lots of time playing and changing the color schemes for the rooms in the comfort of our own home or on-the-go.

Experimenting with colors for the home is easier than ever with Sherwin-Williams enhanced online Color Visualizer and ColorSnap Studio iPad app. New functionality such as drag-and-drop painting, improved edge detection and a wide array of tools lets you apply color or define surfaces as precisely as you want. Plus, true-to-life shades make color exploration and selection simpler.

The powerful online Color Visualizer enables consumers to customize their own interior or exterior home images with more than 1,500 Sherwin-Williams colors. Users can upload a photo or use one of the sample scenes to explore different color options, no edge-masking required. They simply drag-and-drop a color into an image or select a brush to paint specific areas of the photo. Users also have more control over their color application, allowing them to make detailed changes to a scene, with improved image edge detection and updated brush tools.

The new ColorSnap Studio iPad app offers all the ease-of-use of a tablet, as well as pinch, zoom and swipe features to interact with images of your own room, or one in the app. Get color inspiration from a photo or virtually paint your own walls with the swipe of a finger – all for free. Other new features include the ability to share palettes on Facebook or Twitter, clear all selected colors with just one touch and access the Sherwin-Williams product guide in the app.

STORE VISIT
Visiting our local Sherwin-Williams Store #2453 was very pleasant and helpful to us. The staff and managers were knowledgeable and able to assist in color choices and design tips. The store had an ample section of interior and exterior colors to choose from, an array of paint textures and types, extensive painting supplies and equipment. The store offered in-home decorating and paint consultations and customer (and store) recommendations on Sherwin-Williams affiliated professional painters.

We visited the Sherwin-Williams Store #2453 several times before making our final selections. During those trips we were helped by Assistant Store Manager, Alyssa Tubitio, who discussed with us at length various color combinations and shading. She offered her expert advice (and personal anecdotes) and was able to provide unique insight into in the best and affordable paint selections. Alyssa also gave us customer and personal recommendations for various painters that were affiliated with Sherwin-Williams. The store is in the middle of renovating to provide customers with even more flexibility and ease. If you are near the Central Florida area, I would recommend visiting the store at 365 Citrus Tower Blvd, Suite #116, Clermont, FL 34711, (352) 536-1855.

Harmony, helps to promote better indoor air quality by reducing airborne concentrations of formaldehyde and other aldehydes. The enhanced formula features formaldehyde reducing technology that helps reduce the levels of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from potential sources like insulation, carpet, cabinets, fabrics and other building materials.

We choose Antique Red (SW 7587), Bee’s Wax (SW 7682), Zeus (SW 7744), and Barcelona Beige (SW 7530) to be our primary color scheme.

PAINTERS
Though we will be doing a DIY painting for our upstairs 2nd project, we felt it was important to have professional painters complete the downstairs. After recommendations from the Sherwin-Williams store and personal research, we selected Sarasky’s Painting because of their professionalism, experience, and affordability.

The Latino-owned company provides professional Interior and Exterior residential painting. They also specialize in insulating ceramic coating system; cabinets painting; wood, composite, or concrete deck staining; wood, composite, or metal fence staining/painting; pressure washing; 4 shades stucco “faux brick”. Their workmanship is backed by their Labor Warranties, starting from 3 to 7 years, according to the product that is chosen and they guarantee satisfaction.

The painting project commenced today will take 3 days to complete. To follow our painting process, use the hashtag #MOMPaintsSW on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms. (We will be posting ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures too).

For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com or
join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/sherwinwilliamsforyourhome,
on Twitter at twitter.com/sherwinwilliams or on Pinterest at pinterest.com/SherwinWilliams.

Happy Painting!

Disclosure: Sherwin-Williams provided complimentary paint(s) for promotional purposes, however, thoughts and opinions expressed here are clearly our own.

Filed Under: bilingual, brands, companies, families, latinos, parenting, reviews, savings

Mother’s Day Gift Idea: Capture those Special Moments and Make Memories This Season with Best Buy

May 8, 2013 by joscelynC Leave a Comment

These past 6 – 8 weeks have been a true roller coaster of emotions, craziness, pain, frustration, sadness joy, and blessings. Starting from the visit of my mother-in-law, who has been battling cancer for the past 5 years, to my own mother being hospitalized twice (and almost dying) due to severe complications from her dialysis and heart issues – needless to say its been a very overall exhausting period in our lives.

During all the constant back and forth to hospitals, doctor offices, rehabilitation centers etc., pictures that I take of my mother have been a source of personal comfort and connection to those family and friends that separated from us by the distance. Often people remark how “well” my Mother looks and how “she doesn’t even look sick” even when the picture is taken on a hospital bed. She is blessed with beauty, despite age and physical condition, but its her unwavering faith that shines through her to everyone she meets. Plus, she doesn’t EVER like to look sick – as she was coming out of anesthesia in the recovery room after open heart surgery two years ago, the first thing she asked me was for a comb and lipstick. Why? Because she did want the doctors and surgeons to think she looked “sick”!

Thankfully, this Mother’s Day, it is planned for my Mom to be released back to the home she shares with my father after almost 2 months away from her home (and in medical facilities).

This season of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Graduations are those important memory-making occasions that often lead to frame-worthy photo opportunities. Best Buy can help you never miss the important moments with a wide assortment of the latest cameras, including DSLR cameras, action camcorders, and compact cameras with long zoom, low light and wi-fi.

Looking for a way to save and still get the best quality product? With Best Buy’s low price guarantee, you’ll get the latest technology at the best price and with the help of theses added savings:

Click on this coupon link: http://www.wolfatbestbuy.com/may-spring-memory-maker-offer for an additional 25% off select digital photo frames.
Free shipping on all cameras on bestbuy.com
Looking to upgrade to a new camera? Bring your old camera to Best Buy and trade it in for a Best Buy gift card.

Best Buy can help you find the perfect camera to capture your Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Graduation memories, i.e. cameras (memory cards, camera bags, accessories), digital frames.

Want to learn more about how Best Buy can help you capture memories? Visit their website at http://www.bestbuy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bestbuy
Twitter: @BestBuy

Happy Mother’s Day!
Disclosure: 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, however opinions expressed here are clearly our own.

Filed Under: brands, companies, discounts, entertainment, families, family outing, holidays, savings

Mother’s Day Gift Idea: Revitalize Your Beauty Routine with Olay Fresh Effects and Walmart Giveaway

May 6, 2013 by joscelynC 78 Comments

As active women and mothers – we lead very busy lives. Think back about all you did the past day…its amazing how much we accomplish! From our duties at work to family responsibilities, we often do not have much time to beautify or pamper ourselves. Now with new Olay Fresh Effects products, we can get that spa and facial experience right at home and refreshen our beauty routine.

The new Olay Fresh Effects products include the following:

Va-Va-Vivid! (Powered Contour Cleansing System): This powerful brush with super-soft, supple bristles gently massages your skin for a healthy-looking glow and a full-face cleansing.

Shine, Shine Go Away! (Shine Minimizing Cleanser): This cleanser has all the purifying power of a mask, but lathers and rinses like a daily cleanser to remove 2X more dirt, oil, and make-up than basic cleansing.

Bead Me Up! (Exfoliating Cleanser): Foaming bubbles and exfoliating microbeads come together to gently purify and lift away dirt, while softly scrubbing your skin for a beautifully fresh, healthy look.

S’Wipe Out! (Refreshing Make-up Removal Cloths): These special pre-moistened cloths are covered in cottony-soft cleansing pockets to lift away dirt and makeup – even waterproof mascara – in a flash.

Long Live Moisture! (Satin Finish Lotion): Lose the shine and get satiny active moisturizers keeping your skin soft and smooth for up to 24-hours

BB Cream! (Skin Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer with Sunscreen): An all-in-one solution for instantly brighter-looking, smoother-feeling, more even skin tone.

Between deep-down-to-the-pores shine cleansers, exfoliating micro beads, cleansing cloths that remove dirt and makeup, and moisturizers that provide 24-hour hydration, treating yourself to a micro-facial is really easy from home or on travel.

On my own sensitive and combination skin, I found the Olay Fresh products to be light, refreshing, even my skin tone, and hydrated my skin without leaving behind an oily residue. It really minimize the oils that can build up mid-day in the T-zone section of the face. My skin felt protected and covered all day (even in the hot Florida sun).

Want to try it for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12? Walmart has the complete Olay Fresh Effects products available. As a Mother’s Day gift idea, we are offering a $25 Walmart giftcard to try out the new Olay Fresh Effects product line-up.

Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter link below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

To learn more about Olay Fresh Effects, visit the webiste by clicking: HERE
Click HERE for Facebook
Twitter: @OlayUS

Here’s To a More Beautiful and Pampered You!Disclosure: Though the Olay Fresh Effects products, information, and gift card have been provided by Olay,
the opinions expressed here are clearly my own.

Filed Under: beauty, brands, companies, families, giveaways, holidays, parenting, reviews

Experience the Great Food and Fun Times at Bahama Breeze #Giveaway #BahamaSocial #BahamaBreeze

May 4, 2013 by joscelynC Leave a Comment

As a part of the founding team of Social Influenz, we had the great pleasure of hosting a bloggers event in Orlando this past week at the Lake Buena Vista location of Bahama Breeze Island Grille. Despite the always constant changing weather in Florida, the Bahama Breeze atmosphere instantly puts anyone in a tropical fun mood. Some of the highlights of why Bahama Breeze is a great environment for couples, families, or a night out with friends:

Colorful decor
Beautiful lush outdoor scenery
Live music
Ample indoor seating area and outdoor deck with bar
Friendly staff and service
DELICIOUS appetizers – my favorites included the Coconut Shrimp, Beef Empanadas, and Tostones with Chicken
Vast array of TASTY menu choices from burgers to seafood
AFFORDABLE prices – see the Bahama Breeze website for entrees under $10 and 1/2 price appetizers

Bahama Breeze Island Grille, the casual dining restaurant that gives guests the feeling of an island escape, is inviting guests to step inside, warm up and celebrate the arrival of the new “Late Night HappyHour” at its 33 locations across the country. Beginning this month, the restaurant is offering half-price appetizers Sunday through Thursday, from 9 p.m. to close (local time) in addition to its specialty cocktail menu.

“Our guests have increasingly been visiting us later in the evening to enjoy lighter menu offerings with friends, often sharing several of our popular appetizers and catching up over our Legendary Island Cocktails,” said John Wilkerson, Bahama Breeze Senior Vice President, Operations. “Our new Late Night Happy Hour will accommodate this after-hours day part that fits our guests’ lifestyles and it will provide them not only a warm and vibrant environment to enjoy, but with handcrafted cocktails and half-price appetizers for a great dining value.” The half-priced appetizers featured during Late Night Happy Hour include popular guest favorites: Crispy Onion Rings, Coconut Shrimp, Beef Empanadas, Jamaican Chicken Wings and Classic Cheeseburger Sliders. Bahama Breeze also features an extensive bar menu with a large selection of handcrafted tropical drinks highlighted by the restaurant’s line of premium tropical drinks, “Legendary Island Cocktails,” including 10 authentic, custom-made drinks sourced from world-famous island bars and created with the same techniques and ingredients that made them famous. The two newest additions to the list include the Daisy de Santiago – A Chilean favorite with Bacardi Superior, chartreuse, and lime juice; and the Yaka Hula Hickey Dula – a drink which originated from the Hawaiian Islands and features Myers Dark Rum, pineapple juice, grenadine and a splash of Riesling. Availability, times and specific offerings for Late Night Happy Hour at Bahama Breeze will vary by location, based on local and state regulations. To find details about a specific restaurant’s Late Night Happy Hour, please visit www.bahamabreeze.com.

Thanks to Bahama Breeze, we are offering a “Win a Late Night Happy Hour for 10 at Bahama Breeze” Giveaway! You and 9 of your friends will have the time of your lived as you celebrate Late Night Happy Hour at Bahama Breeze, featuring s great assortment of appetizers and Legendary Island Cocktails. So call your “besties” and enjoy the night on us.

The winner and the party will received complimentary appetizers and 1 drinks per person for 90 minutes at any Orlando-area Bahama Breeze location. Date and time to be agreed upon with manager of selected location.
Only for Central Florida residents. You must be 21 years old to participate. The winner will have 24 hours to claimed their prize, otherwise another winner will be selected.

Enter the giveaway using the following Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn more about Bahama Breeze by visiting their website at http://www.bahamabreeze.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BahamaBreeze

Twitter: @BahamaBreeze

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Social Influenz on behalf of Bahama Breeze. However, all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: brands, companies, entertainment, families, family outing, food, giveaways, reviews

Changing the Way You Shop with Sears.com #MoreatSears

April 26, 2013 by joscelynC 3 Comments

Growing up in New York during the 80′s, my family used to make the trek to shop at Sears. It was certainly a ‘trip’ because the nearest Sears closest to us in the city was about a 30 min drive (an hour with traffic) or at least a 2 hour bus ride. We would drive, shop, and come back with purchases that varied from home improvement tools to trendy clothes for the entire family. Now as a wife, mother, and business owner, I am very glad that I have a Sears retail store nearby. Yet, while trying to balance and juggle the family, kids, and work our schedule is very busy so I often shop online because of the sheer convenience.

While online shopping has really been a time-saving resource for me, many times the in-store experience is needed – especially when it comes to shopping for clothing. I think we all have been there when we find a something we love in the store, but only to realize that the last one in our size is already gone. Sears.com has helped that dilemma with their website carrying more sizes and colors than you’d find at your local Sears! Every day, Sears is adding hundreds of new styles, colors and designers to the website. When you shop at the store, you can feel limited to choose only what is on display or in stock. However, now knowing that Sears.com offers even more colors and styles really does create more options and flexibility for consumers.

Need it for the weekend and don’t have time to wait for shipping to your home? At Sears.com, you can buy your item online and schedule an in store pickup. Sears guarantees to have your item ready in 5 minutes or less, or you’ll get a $5 in store coupon. How great is that? I TOTALLY love the fact that I can order something online and within minutes it will be waiting for me at my local store. No more waiting for the mail carrier, UPS, FedEx to arrive – I can have my item when I need it – immediately.

In addition to having more colors and sizes on the website, Sears carries more brands and styles than they do in the store. Sears has stepped up their game with brands you’d never think you’d find on Sears.com. A few examples include: Ray Ban, Michael Kors, DeWalt Tools, Steve Madden, Nike, Vince Camuto, Tory Burch … the list goes on! Along with your favorite Sears brands, you can treat yourself to a few luxury designers without having to go to another website.

Experience the difference yourself by checking out all of the featured offers on Sears.com HERE and the newest arrivals HERE

Connect with Sears at http://www.sears.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sears
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sears
Twitter Hashtag: #MoreatSears

Happy Shopping!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, I am a Sears (#MoreatSears) blogger, though all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: beauty, bilingual, brands, companies, entertainment, families, family outing, latinos, parenting, reviews, savings

Latina Magazine’s 10 Best Latina Mommy Bloggers

April 6, 2013 by joscelynC Leave a Comment

I have been a long-time reader of Latina Magazine since its editorial debut issue. The publication has been a regular for me and has been through various stages of my life from singledom to marriage and now through parenthood. Given all these years of being a reader and fan, you can imagine my delight and honor that Latina Magazine named me one of “The 10 Best Latina Mommy Bloggers on the Web“.

Latina Magazine, was founded in 1996. With single readership of 2 million bilingual, bicultural women in the United States, today it is the largest magazine edited by and for Latin women. Since 2005 Latina has ranked No. 1 in total advertising pages among 38 Hispanic publications. Latina.com is the leading online destination for acculturated Latinas on the web, providing interactive forums, useful and interesting tools, unique content and a vibrant community that Latinas simply will not find anywhere else: the latest in Latin music, everything about Latin foods, can’t-miss Latin events in their cities, the newest on fashion, beauty and health and success tips specially created with their lives in mind.

I was at my Mother’s doctor appointment when I received a tweet from Latina Magazine letting me know of my selection…it was a great surprise and caused a stir of an excitement inside the medical room especially between myself, my Mother, and the nurse (who just so happened to be Latina and a long-time reader of the magazine).

I am humbled and thankful for being recognized for my work and efforts on Mami of Multiples. When I made the choice to finally become a work-at-home/stay-at-home mother, I knew I was making the correct choice for my family but it was a difficult decision to make.

I had worked outside the home most of my life…from the time I was able to get a worker’s permit at the age of 14 in New York and I started to work the Summers in my Dad’s office…through college…after having my 1st child (who is my oldest son)…and after 10 years of working as public relations executive under the Bush and Obama administrations. When the twins boys arrived and with a young boy already, I wanted the chance to be able to be there for them full-time but also still contribute financially to my household. As I started writing a parenting column for a newspaper, Mami of Multiples was born out of the need to connect, learn, and grow with others (especially since I was no longer in an outside office environment) and to be able to share, offer resources, and tips to enhance all-around family and lifestyle living.

I THANK YOU all for your continued support – I deeply appreciate every view, read, click, comment, or share.
A warm congratulations to all the other Latina bloggers chosen – your entrepreneurial spirit inspires us all!

Filed Under: beauty, bilingual, brands, companies, education, entertainment, families, family outing, from the frontline, health, inspirational, latinos, parenting, reviews

Samsung Galaxy S3 Giveaway

April 4, 2013 by joscelynC Leave a Comment

We love it when we can combine our favorite things and get a great deal – one of our favorite things is Social Influenz, which us at Mami of Multiples and Mami Innovative Media are happy to be part of.

In an effort to continue to expand opportunities for the influential multi-cultural community, Social Influenz will be an integrated resource to help bloggers amplify their reach and implement tailored blogger engagement and social media campaigns for brands and media agencies.

Executively managing Social Influenz are Yadira Ambert, Founder of El Club de las Diosas; Joscelyn Ramos Campbell, Founder of Mami of Multiples and Mami Innovative Media; Myrah Duque, Founder of Coupon Mamacita and Mamacita La Cuponera; Karina Fernandez, Founder of Con Sabor a KaFe; and Sili Recio, Founder of My Mamihood and Mami Ink Media.

Combining the well-recognized capabilities of the managing partners, Social Influenz will offer a wide array of services including blogger development, digital marketing implementation, social media consulting and management. Registered influential multi-cultural bloggers will be able to access key tips and tools for advancement, i.e., building relationships with brands, the art of video blogging, creating monetary opportunities, etc. Customized strategies, marketing consulting services, and viable metric tools will be offered to brands and media agencies for conversion purposes and to directly engage with their consumer base. Connect with Social Influenz at socialinfluenz.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SocialInfluenz Twitter: @SocialInfluenz.

Another thing we love – getting a great deal! One of our team partners at Social Influenz, Sili from MyMamihood.com, recently discussed her love for the Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy S III that is available at RadioShack. We have been long-time fans of RadioShack and love all of their newest gadgets that are needed for a digital household but are still easy on the wallet.

Every day can be a #NewPhoneDay with deals like the ones RadioShack is rolling out starting today. Customers can save up to $150 on new 2-year activations on three of the hottest smartphones from Sprint between now and the end of April. With savings of $150 on Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy S III, and $50 on both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S, it’s a great time to visit a nearby RadioShack to pick up a new Sprint phone.

Customers can also take advantage of additional savings through RadioShack’s Trade & Save program, which allows customers to apply the value of an old electronic device toward their new purchase. Plus, every phone purchased at RadioShack comes with free Mobile Product Support for the lifetime of the device.

Thanks to RadioShack, Sprint, (and of course Sili), you can enter to win your own Samsung Galaxy S III! Enter in the Rafflecopter link below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information, connect with RadioShack at http://www.radioshack.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RadioShack
Twitter: http://twitter.com/radioshack

Happy Chatting!

Disclosure: I’m required to disclose a relationship between our site and RadioShack. This could include RadioShack providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment. However, this is a joint giveaway courtesy of RadioShack, Sprint, and MyMamihood.com and Mami of Multiples was not compensated.

Filed Under: brands, companies, discounts, entertainment, families, giveaways, savings, tech teen

P&G Orgullosa La Falda Bien Puesta “Skirts Only” Fashion Show and Prize Packs with $25 Giftcard Giveaway

March 19, 2013 by joscelynC 72 Comments

Tonight (Tuesday, March 19th, 2013) at 7 P.M. ET, the Orgullosa community will unveil its “skirts only” fashion show featuring the talented Latina fashion designer, CENIA and emceed by Christina Milian from The Voice. (See the live streaming event on Facebook by clicking: HERE).

P&G and its Orgullosa program will roll out the red carpet to celebrate a “skirts only” fashion show to not only showcase how the Latina community is made up of mujeres con la falda bien puesta™, (which translates to “women who have their skirts well placed”) but to represent a “stage” where it will continue to inspire Latinas to celebrate their cultural heritage, while empowering them to reach for their personal life goals through a virtual community called Orgullosa (translation for proud).

Orgullosa was created as a digital destination where Latina women can connect, share and inspire each other about their ever-changing and busy lifestyles, including topics ranging from fashion to entrepreneurship. By developing the Board of Faldas, Latina women will now have access to real-life testimonials and advice from women just like themselves, found exclusively on Orgullosa’s Facebook page and Web site (www.orgullosa.com).

Orgullosa has teamed up with this diverse group of successful Latinas to serve as mujeres con la falda bien puesta™ ambassadors in its continued effort to empower the cultural transformation of the Latina experience in the U.S. They include lifestyle expert and co-host of ABC’s The Chew, Evette Rios; international motivational speaker, Maria Marin; and entrepreneur and chocolatier, Maribel Lieberman.

P&G’s Orgullosa program introduces the first-ever Board of Faldas (Board of Skirts), three strong Latina experts and professionals who will provide tips to celebrate, empower, and fuel Latinas’ accomplishments and dreams. They are (l-r) Maribel Lieberman, entrepreneur and chocolatier; Evette Rios, lifestyle guru and co-host of ABC’s The Chew; and Maria Marin, international motivational speaker. To learn more from them, visit Facebook.com/Orgullosa and join the community at Orgullosa.com.

The Board of Faldas include:

Evette Rios: A lifestyle expert, writer and only Latina on a national daytime talk show, ABC’s The Chew. She is known for her fabulous hands-on advice, innovative crafts and dramatic room revisions on a budget. Her special appearances on other English-language media, such as Rachel Ray and Better Homes & Gardens 100-Days of Holidays, have given her the title of the “Mobile Martha Stewart” for her expert advice.
Maria Marin: Recently named one of People en Español’s “25 Most Powerful Women” because of her inspiration, confidence and strength. She is a motivational icon and role model for Latinos in the areas of personal growth and success. Through her nationally syndicated radio show, best-selling books, weekly newspaper columns, network television appearances, international seminars and social media engagement she has touched the lives of millions.
Maribel Lieberman: A food entrepreneur who has created a business career that includes Maribel’s Gourmet Cuisine, Lunettes et Chocolat, and MarieBelle™ Fine Treats and Chocolates. Starting as a “good cook” among her friends, she went beyond expectation with her experimentation of international cuisine and good old-fashioned hard work. She has catered events for Christian Dior, Shiseido Cosmetics, Barney’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and the United Nation, among others. However, it was her passion for chocolate that led to the inspiration of her current business.

Thanks to the P&G Orgullosa community, we are offering three (3) Orgullosa giveaway packs! Packs include an Orgullosa t-shirt, mirror, bracelet, bag and some of P&G’s best beauty products. In addition, we are also providing $25 gift card to each winner to help you with your beauty and health regimen! Enter for the chance to win via the Rafflecopter link below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

To learn more about Orgullosa, visit their website at www.orgullosa.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/orgullosa

Celebrating Women Everywhere!

Filed Under: beauty, bilingual, brands, companies, entertainment, giveaways, latinos