I’ve been having so much fun at the PBS Annual Meeting!

If you’re looking to do some home improvement this Spring, think about creating an extra room – an outdoor room! Imagine how you can extend the walls of your home by using outdoor rugs, patio sets, lighting and plants to create an outdoor room you can use to relax and entertain! That’s what a group of designers are doing as part of the Lowe’s Spring Designer Challenge. Chef Marcela Valladolid gave me her shopping list for her vignette, so I thought I’d stop by Lowe’s to see some of the items for myself. We’re looking to buy a patio set, so this was perfect timing.

For a little background on the Lowe’s Spring Designer Challenge, be sure to go back and read my first post about Marcela’s inspiration, the Colors and Textures of Baja: What’s inspiring you this Spring?

Marcela took her son Fausto with her.

Fausto approves!

And I took mine. Shopping with kids at a store like this is so fun!

My little flowers

allen + roth Dellinger Patio Dining Table & Chairs

The centerpiece of Marcela’s design, like most outdoor spaces, is the table. It’s where everyone will gather. I LOVE the patio table that Marcela picked out from the allen & roth Dellinger line. It doesn’t look like a traditional patio set… more like a dining room table. Sleek and modern. While it may look heavy, it’s actually fairly light since it’s made out of aluminum. My daughter and I could move it by ourselves.

The chairs are super comfy. I’ve never bought furniture like this because I was honestly afraid of how much care it would take to maintain. Bryan, the wonderful assistant manager at Lowe’s Alexandria reassured me, explaining that the chairs are made to weather the elements, with a special cover made out of quick-dry fabric.

Garden Treasures Square Pergola w/ Canopy

While the exact pergola that Marcela ordered wasn’t on display in store, there were two others that were quite beautiful. Our patio isn’t covered, so this is definitely something I’m considering. I know we’d spend so much more time outdoors! If a pergola or gazebo isn’t within our budget, we’ll definitely go for a big umbrella!

Olympic Paint Color – San Juan Spritz

A little paint always freshens things up. Marcela’s opting for Olympic’s San Juan Spritz, a sea foam green-like color that definitely says Baja to me!

Succulents

Isn’t this just gorgeous? As pretty as a flower, but it lasts so much longer!

I have no idea why I didn’t think of incorporating succulents into my garden or outdoor decor before. It’s no secret that I have absolutely NO green thumb, but succulents are easy to grow and need almost no care. It just makes sense. And, wow… are they beautiful!

Marcela’s creating a succulent ‘wall’ in her vignette. I can just imagine how awesome it’ll be. If this looks like something you’d be interested in, to get you started, Lowe’s has some ideas for succulent centerpieces and container gardens.

What’s great about this project is that the design created by Marcela can be adapted to fit any outdoor living space and any budget! Whether her paint selection inspires you to update an accent wall in your living room this Spring, or her use of plants with various colors and textures inspires you to revamp your garden this year – you can achieve a similar look at your home or create a space that is uniquely YOU with products from Lowe’s. I just can’t wait until the big reveal on Thursday! Be sure to follow the action on Twitter at #LowesChallenge.

Disclosure: Lowe’s is covering all my travel expenses to facilitate my coverage of the Designer Challenge.

This does NOT keep us from entertaining, however! Far from it. We host frequent neighborhood get-togethers, outdoor play dates, and have family over all the time. But it would be SO nice to have a beautiful, inviting outdoor space that I can be proud of!

So… enough is enough! It’s time for me to start taking advantage of those extra hours of daylight and start digging into my to-do list. This is why I’m so excited to be partnering with Lowe’s this Spring for the Lowe’s Designer Challenge.

Lowe’s Spring Designer Challenge

WHAT
To help get our creative juices flowing, Lowe’s has challenged 3 lifestyle experts to share their inspiration for Spring by creating the ultimate outdoor room and hosting a Spring garden party using products from Lowe’s.

WHO
The designers participating in this challenge include:

• Chef Marcela Valladolid
• Designer Elaine Griffin
• Green living expert Danny Seo

WHEN/WHERE
The designers’ outdoor rooms will be revealed at an event in New York City next week.

WHY
Like the name says, this is a challenge. And there will be a winner – the designers are competing on behalf of their favorite charity. Each designer’s charity will receive $25,000 just for being part of the challenge. The designs will then be posted on Lowe’s Facebook page, where Lowe’s more-than-1-million fans will vote for their favorite. The winning designer’s charity will receive an additional $25,000 (for a total of $50,000!!).

What’s MY role in this?
I’ll be covering Chef Marcela Valladolid’s design from the planning stage down to the final vignette here on my blog and via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

I’ve been a fan of Chef Marcela for years, ever since she was on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. I remember a task where her team had to create a salad dressing. Being the chef in the group, Marcela put the recipe together herself and then worked her butt off selling it, winning it for the team. She seemed so down-to-earth and fun.

Fast-forward 7 or 8 years… and Marcela has done so much, all while raising her son, Fausto. She’s released two cookbooks – “Fresh Mexico” and “Mexican Made Easy” – and has a wonderful show on Food Network, also called “Mexican Made Easy,” which just entered its 5th season last week. To top it off, Marcela’s releasing a new line of housewares later this year! You can “like” her on Facebook to get a preview of that.

Like me, Marcela is Mexican-American and a mom to a 7-year-old. I feel like I can relate to her! She’s a great inspiration to Latina moms everywhere, showing us just how far hard work and true passion can get you, so I’m looking forward to learning from her and meeting her in person next week. I had the opportunity to chat with Marcela over the phone recently, to learn a little more about her inspiration for this project…

The Colors and Textures of Baja

Marcela was inspired by the variety of colors and textures present in the place where she grew up – the Baja region of Mexico. These are some photos she sent me. Beautiful.

Marcela wants people to know that there is SO much more to Mexican cuisine and culture than what is perceived. She tries to break away from the stereotypes, and is looking forward to showcasing Baja California through her vignette, drawing inspiration from: Succulents The Mexican flag The deserts she sees when driving through Baja Warm colors and textures – shades of brown and blue Talavera – a type of Mexican pottery

Follow me on Pinterest!

I’ve created a Pinterest board where I’ve been pinning some photos that inspire me, based on Marcela’s inspiration. Here are a few that have caught my eye:

Source: merchantcircle.com on Pinterest	Source: asvossen.tumblr.com on Pinterest
Source: matadornetwork.com on Pinterest	Source: saveur.com on Pinterest
Source: citypictures.org on Pinterest	Source: trendir.com on Pinterest

WHAT’S NEXT
I’m looking forward to seeing how I can take bits and pieces from Marcela’s vignette and bring it into my own home! In my next post, I’ll share with you what Marcela’s actual shopping experience was like, and will go visit my local Lowe’s store to touch and feel some of the products myself. While your desired theme may be different, with Lowe’s huge variety of products and affordable prices, I hope some of you can benefit from this design series and be inspired to create a wonderful space as well!

YOUR TURN: What’s inspiring you this Spring?

Disclosure: Lowe’s is covering all my travel expenses to facilitate my coverage of the Designer Challenge.

“Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still.”
- Chinese proverb

I can’t believe I’ve been on a diet for 4 months… I never thought I’d get to 4 WEEKS!

I haven’t updated in a while, I know… because, well, I’m not sure if I even have an excuse. I’ve been busy. Focusing on other things. Like going to Disney World, registering my little girl for Kindergarten, taking care of my sick husband who is the biggest baby EVER, and planning out all the travel I’ll be doing this month.

I must say that the last half of April was hard. I ran out of my Medifast food! While I was waiting for my delivery, I started rationing out the food, going from 5 Medifast meals and 1 regular meal a day, to one or two Medifast ‘snacks’ in between 3 or 4 small(ish) meals. While I didn’t gain weight during this time, I sure didn’t lose much! It made me realize that maintenance isn’t going to be easy. And that I’m not ready for that phase of the program just yet.

That said, I’m really pleased with where I am right now. I’m a size 11/12. Large. I can wear “normal” clothes. I fit comfortably into my wedding ‘skirt’, a cute mini I bought at Express over 12 years ago. The only reason I even pulled the skirt out is because Maya asked me about my wedding dress.

We were watching Ellen, as we often do in between homework time and dinner, and comedian Kevin Nealon was on the show. Ellen had sent Kevin to Vegas to marry couples at the famous Little White Chapel. When I told Maya that that’s where her daddy and I were married, she got so excited! After answering a handful of questions – No, Elvis wasn’t at our wedding. No, I didn’t have a bunch of half-naked guys there (Thunder From Down Under). No, we didn’t go through the drive thru. No, our wedding wasn’t shown on TV. No, I didn’t wear a pretty white dress. – she insisted on knowing what I had worn. A black sweater from Banana Republic, a purple/black lace mini from Express, and black Enzo Angiolini knee-high boots. Yep. That was back when I still actually shopped at the mall and not at T.J. Maxx!

“Do you still have it?” she asked. I hesitated to answer… but, yes, I do. Everything but the boots, which I wore out years ago. I never did wear the sweater or skirt again, however, having carefully wrapped both items, storing them in the bottom drawer of my nightstand for more than a decade.

I knew the day would come when the girls asked about our wedding, but I guess I just didn’t expect it to be so soon. Thank goodness Maya was more interested in what I wore than why we eloped. Ha! I wasn’t prepared to explain that to a 7-year-old.

So I pulled out the skirt, honestly afraid of what she would think if I couldn’t zip it up. But it fit. Perfectly. And she thinks it’s so pretty and unique that I didn’t wear white at my wedding.

I’m happy. I’m in a really good place.

EXERCISE

So… I’ve recently come to the realization that I don’t like running.

I really wanted to like it. I did. I wanted to feel the rush from it that I’ve heard about from so many others. But I think I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I ran because everyone else was doing it. I did the C25K program hoping I could run 3 miles straight without stopping, seeing my family cheering proudly for me at the finish line. I ran because I thought it was an efficient way to burn calories. I wanted the fastest means to an end, and thought running would get me there.

But I could never get past 5 or 6 minutes of running without feeling the need to stop, whether inside on the treadmill or outdoors on the hard pavement. My breathing never felt quite right. My belly jiggled uncomfortably. I didn’t know what to do with my hands. My knees were achy. I was bored, constantly keeping an eye on the time. It just felt awkward and not enjoyable at all. So I stopped.

Lately, I’ve been dancing every day – Zumba, Dance Central, or Just Dance on the Xbox – and it’s so fun. And I’m doing Jillian’s “Ripped in 30″ video now and then. I’ve also made it a rule to only watch TV in the evenings while on the treadmill. Move more, sit less, you know! I’ll watch a 1-hour show, walking at 4 or 4.5mph, and sprint at 6-7 during the commercials. Short 45 second to 1 minute commercials, mind you, as I usually watch On Demand. So I guess I haven’t given up running completely. Who knows… maybe I’ll go back to it one day when I feel a little more fit.

MY WEIGHT

35.4 lbs lost, 16.2 still to go! I somehow managed to lose almost 2 lbs during my 5 days at Walt Disney World! All. That. Walking.

Starting: 211.6 lbs / Current: 176.2 lbs / Goal: 160 lbs

• MONTH ONE: - 12.6 lbs
• MONTH TWO: - 8 lbs
• MONTH THREE: -7.4 lbs
• MONTH FOUR: -3.8 lbs
  
• week 17: – 1.8 lbs
• week 18: – 1.8 lbs

Update on my mom: She lost 7 lbs in her first 7 days on Medifast, and is really starting to enjoy the program now, after a tough weekend at Disney World, full of temptations! While she’s happy about the number on the scale, she seems to be over the moon with her blood sugar numbers… the lowest they’ve been in months! I think the low-glycemic Medifast food – and the fact that she’s eating 6 times a day – is really helping keep her blood glucose steady. Her positive attitude and optimism is probably helping a great deal, too!

Want to join me on my Medifast journey?

Use my coupon code, BUZZ56, and sign up for Medifast Advantage, and when you order $250+ of food, you’ll receive 56 free Medifast Meals and free shipping! Check out Medifast’s website for complete details on the program and discounts.

Also blogging about their Medifast journeys:

Kelly at The Turnip Farmer
Jenni at Jenni From the Blog
Stephanie at Goober Monkey
Alison at O My Family
Jessica at The Unemployed Mom
Stephanie at A Grande Life
María José at Very Busy Mamá 

Disclosure: I receive free product in order to evaluate and comment on my experiences on the Medifast Program. Medifast products and the Medifast Program are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any medical improvements noted while on the program are related to weight loss in general, and not to Medifast products or programs.

The burro-shaped sugar cookies are adorable, complete with hollow centers that you can fill with your favorite candies, like M&Ms. Kids can break them open and find a yummy surprise, just like a real piñata!

If you think they’re too difficult to make, think again. SheKnows put together a thorough step-by-step recipe & video to help you make these cookies for your family and friends!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

If you were too distracted to get the recipe from the video (I don’t blame you! Did you catch the part where he took his shirt off?!), here it is:

SAUZARITA

Ingredients:

• 1 part frozen limeade
• 1 part water
• 2 parts beer
• 1 part Sauza Blue Reposado 100% Agave Tequila

Directions:

• In a pitcher, combine 1 can frozen limeade concentrate, 1 can water, 2 beers, and 1 cup tequila.
• Chill and serve in glasses rimmed with sugar or salt.
• Garnish with a lime wedge. Enjoy!

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If you prefer fruity/flavored ‘ritas, here are a couple more ideas:

BLUEBERRY-POMEGRANATE MARGARITA

Ingredients:

• 1 part Sauza® Tequila (Sauza® Silver Tequila recommended)
• ½ part Triple Sec
• 1 part fresh lime juice
• 1 part blueberry-pomegranate juice
• Blueberries for garnish

Directions:

• Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake hard.
• Strain into a margarita glass with fresh ice.
• Garnish with fresh blueberries

CUCUMBER MARGARITA

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Sauza Blue 100% Agave Tequila
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 6 ounces fresh lime juice
• 2 ounces DeKuyper Triple Sec
• 2 ounces simple syrup

Directions:

• In a pint glass, muddle together sliced cucumber (except for 8 slices) and Sauza Blue Tequila. Let sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Strain the cucumber tequila and combine with all ingredients in a pitcher.
•  Stir and serve over ice.
• Garnish with reserved cucumber slices

BLACKBERRY MARGARITA

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh blackberries
• 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup simple syrup
• 1 1/2 cups Sauza Silver Tequila
• Ice
• 4 cups sparkling blackberry soda
• Sugar

Directions:

• In a blender, puree 1 cup fresh blackberries with 3/4 cup lime juice and 1/4 simple syrup.
• Strain into a cocktail shaker, add the tequila and ice and shake to chill.
• Rim Champagne flutes with sugar. Place 2-3 whole blackberries (fresh or frozen) in each glass.
• Pour each glass 1/3 full with the Blackberry-Lime-Tequila mixture.
• Top with chilled Blackberry soda.

¡Salud!
Cheers!

Disclosure: Recipes and images courtesy of Sauza Tequila.

Avocado Cream

Yield: 3 cups / Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 15 oz. sour cream (try V&V Supremo Crema Supremo or Crema Rancherito)
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1 avocado, peeled and pit removed (add more if you want it extra avocado-y!)
• 2 serrano or jalapeño peppers, seeded (unless you want it extra spicy)
• ½ tsp salt, or to taste
• juice of 1 lime

Directions:

• Place sour cream in blender. Add all other ingredients and blend well.
• Use as a dip, or a topping for sopes, tostadas, quesadillas, etc.

Disclosure: Recipe and photo courtesy of V&V Supremo.

Our local Disney Store reopened just days before we left. You can imagine how happy I was! I picked up a Minnie-themed water bottle, t-shirts for both the girls and myself, sunglasses, flip-flops, a light-spinning thing (whatever those are called), handheld fan, and a few other things… and my mom bought the girls new bathing suits and beach towels, at a Disney Store back in Texas. I stashed all the goodies away in the girls’ suitcases for them to discover when we unpacked at the hotel, and saved myself a ton of money in the process. With more than 200 Disney Store locations in North America, over 100 across Europe, and 40-something in Japan, chances are there’s one not too far from you!

While shopping is the obvious reason for visiting the Disney Store, stepping foot in a store is an enchanting experience in itself. My local store, at Tyson’s Corner, just unveiled an innovative, highly interactive new store design aimed at delivering the best 30 minutes of a child’s day. These are a few of its features.

• Unlock Imagination

Every single day, a fun ceremony takes place at every new Disney Store. One lucky child is chosen to take part in “unlocking imagination” with a big lock and key. The child even receives their very own replica key to take home as a keepsake to remind them of that special day. I saw this take place, and the excitement in the little boy’s eyes was just priceless! I hope my kids get to participate one day.

• Pixie Dust Trail

As you enter the Disney Store, the story begins with the Pixie Dust Trail, a sparkly path that you can follow all the way to the back of the store. The store is divided into neighborhoods – Princess, Mickey & Minnie, Cars, Toy Story, The Muppets, etc. – which are all found along this path.

• Disney Princess Castle with Magic Mirror

My favorite part of the new store is the Disney Princess neighborhood, the centerpiece of which is the Disney Princess Castle. When a child enters the castle, she’ll see a mirror, which at first glance looks like any other. Wave any princess product in front of the mirror, however, and the mirror comes alive. The princess will appear, and even talk! All the favorite Disney princesses – Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Tiana – tell their stories through short film clips. The voices were recorded exclusively for the Disney Store magic mirror, and many were recorded by the original voice talent from the films! Maura was a little startled by it, but it’s all very cool.

• Magical Trees

Disney Store’s magical trees are a unique feature that I’ve never seen anywhere else. They definitely help create the mood of the store. The trees will change with the four seasons – coming to life with bright green leaves in the summer, and orange and red in the autumn, play a part in celebrations with fireworks, or show whatever the brand is trying to focus on. Some of Disney’s favorite characters make appearances in the trees – I saw Tinker Bell!

• Custom Skyline

One of the more subtle features of the newly designed Disney Stores is the custom skyline, which lines the upper perimeter of the store. You might not notice this unless you’re looking for it. It incorporates Disney storytelling moments with local (to that store) landmarks. For example, I saw Cinderella and her Prince looking over the 14th St bridge, with the Washington Monument in the distance. With Disney, it’s all in the details!

• Disney Store Theatre

At the end of the Pixie Dust Trail, you’ll find the Disney Store Theatre. It’s basically a giant video library containing Disney film trailers, film clips, music videos, classic animation and more, that you can access from a jukebox-type touchscreen computer. Choose from over 50 clips to watch on the 12-foot long screen, and you can even request a special “celebration” clip personalized with your child’s name for their birthday or any other special occasion. There’s a table with crayons and coloring sheets, and this is where Disney Store will host family activities and events.

• Disney Gives Back

With each new store opening in 2012, Disney Store will donate 10 percent of grand opening day’s sales to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the United States!

• Let’s Go Shopping!

For more information and to find a Disney Store location near you, please visit www.DisneyStore.com, and follow Disney Store at www.facebook.com/DisneyStore and www.twitter.com/DisneyStore.

Video of the “unlock imagination” ceremony on the day of the Grand Opening of Disney Store at Tyson’s corner, by Jennvswrld on YouTube:

Disclosure: I was given a tour of a new Disney Store by a district manager, and received a discount and a goodie bag to thank me for my time, but all opinions are my own.

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As always, one of the highlights of the trip were all the character meet & greets. When editing my photos Friday night, I came across this one that I must have taken by accident, as I tried to fumble for the girls’ autograph book. If you can’t make it out, Maura is discreetly looking at Pluto’s tag.

She later explained to me that she was checking to see if it was really Pluto.

“It really WAS Pluto, mommy!” Maura squealed, her eyes wide and a big smile on her face. “So that means Mickey and Minnie and Donald and Goofy were all REAL, too!”

Isn’t that just the sweetest thing? I practically cried.

The innocence of a child is SO beautiful!

Disclosure: I paid a fee to attend the Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World, but as an attendee I received complimentary items, special discounts, and other exciting benefits such as food and entertainment, so my family and I could experience the magic of Disney.

When you’re sick, I feel so helpless. I wish I could magically take all the sickness away, even if it meant putting it upon myself! It could be anything… it could be nothing… I’m so used to controlling every situation, and hate it when I can’t.

Whether it means sitting in a steamy bathroom with you for what feels like forever, playing Candyland again and again, watching endless cartoons, or cuddling with you in my bed (kicking your daddy to the couch!), I’d do anything to get you back to your normal, playful selves.

When you wake up giggling, with that familiar vibrancy and sparkle in your eyes, I know you’re feeling better and a huge weight is lifted. Even in difficult times, you always see the joy in life. I’m so blessed to be your mom!

Love,
Mommy ?

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For over a hundred years, mothers (like me and you!) have trusted the JOHNSON’S brand to provide gentle products formulated just for babies. I’ve been using JOHNSON’S Baby Lotion for as long as I can remember! Now, JOHNSON’S Baby Cares, Save the Children and new mom Hilary Duff have joined forces to make sure families who are experiencing difficult times, both in the U.S. and around the world, get the baby care resources they need.

“As a new mom, I am inspired by this worthy cause, which aims to give all moms a chance to not only experience the joy of a healthy baby, but also an opportunity to be together and have moments of normalcy during crisis situations.” – Hilary Duff

It’s hard to imagine not having basic needs for our children, isn’t it? Through this partnership, ‘Baby Care Kits’ filled with essential JOHNSON’S Baby products will be sent to needy families worldwide in times of natural disasters. You can support this campaign by visiting the JOHNSON’S BABY CARES tab on Facebook, purchasing any JOHNSON’S Baby product between now and June 10th, 2012 and redeeming a $0.50 cent coupon at retail stores, of which half will be donated to Save the Children.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and JOHNSON’S.