10 Life Lessons from Don Jesus "Chito" Garcia

My Summer 2015 Photobook

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Our Arizona Trip was a Success!

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1. The Fountains at the Bellagio, 2. Daddy - hitting the slots at Caesar's Palace, 3. My very proud Grand Canyon Junior Ranger, 4. Sunrise over Monument Valley - from Goulding's Lodge, 5. Goulding's Lodge - Monument Valley, 6. Dad - in Monument Valley, Utah, 7. 4x4'ing Canyon de Chelley, 8. Canyon de Chelley in The Navajo Nation, 9. Road-tripping leaves lots of time to admire (and relish) sleeping children!, 10. Señor Bob's in Sedona, AZ, 11. A 6:00 am wake time translated to 4:00 am in Arizona! Mommy enjoyed many cool-morning strolls, solo time, good coffee, and great sunrises this vacation!, 12. CJ...roadtrippin' in Arizona, 13. I <3 Daddy - Tombstone, AZ, 14. Stagecoach Tour of Tombstone, AZ, 15. View from our room...JW Starr Pass, Tucson, AZ, 16. Kissing Cousins - JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort - Tucson, AZ, 17. In-n-Out Burgers - YUM!!!, 18. We've arrived! - Phoenix, AZ

Better Late Than Never - Carlo's 0-3 Month Photobook!

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My Camera Phone Mosaic - 10-29-2011

1. It's finally looking like autumn!, 2. A visit to the pumpkin patch..., 3. 2 shots at the doctor's office...and still able to give me a smile. :), 4. Brothers, 5. My 3-year old's favorite drawing, 6. Carlo Ascensión Contreras, 7. Our family is now +1 :), 8. Loving the chocolate in the middle!, 9. Car Seat Ready? CHECK!, 10. Ahhh...nice & clean, 11. Toddler's Bedroom Ready? CHECK!, 12. My lil' Green Lantern

My Camera Phone Mosaic - 09/25/2011

1. 40th Week, 2. Cousin Angel's 1st Birthday!, 3. My pair of characters :), 4. Class? What class?, 5. His first Oatmeal Creme Pie, 6. My DT Booth,  7. Ready for Battle..., 8. Enjoying his yogurt parfait, 9. My shining knight

My Week - Camera Phone Mosaic

1. My Lovely Sister at 38 Weeks, 2. A Chicago Hot Dog, 3. The Nursery, 4. Tragedy at Steiner Ranch, 5. New Haircut, 6. Deep Dish Pizza, 7. 36 Weeks, 8. 36 Weeks, 9. Happy Birthday to me!

Our 2011 Summer Vacation Photobook

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My first mosaic!

My personal snake slayer! / Chicken Saltimboca / My son's favorite pasttime / I rolled my own dough!

A visit to the firestation / Our Willow Tree family / Sugar Mama's cupcakes / Sugar Mama's in Austin, TX

Mommy at 32 weeks / Stop taking pictures! / A great breakfast at Pioneer Mill / Just rockin' away

Dream state / He sure does love Tia / I can stay here forever / Hunting Easter eggs

Laurie Dolan's Baby Shower (RGV)

Nelda, my sister-in-law, and I were so blessed to host nearly thirty guests at my sister's baby shower in Weslaco, TX this past Saturday. At first we weren't at all sure many would come, but lo and behold...our family on my mother's side came through! My sister now lives in Austin and although I live here close by to them, neither of us see them very often and often feel guilty because of it. This shower not only provided a great avenue for a showering of blessings for my sister's growing family, but we were ALL blessed with the opportunity to bridge gaps and catch up with loving family.

After enjoying an afternoon of good food and cake, and games and prizes, we almost immediately made plans to follow up with a family get-together the following day at my mother's only surviving sibling's home nearby. There we enjoyed even MORE great food and fellowship and took lots of pictures while we were at it.

Enjoy my personal album of the shower and the next day's get-together here. A close friend of ours (THANKS DEZ) also took pics at the shower...I'll be hopefully posting those soon as well. :)

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding!!

This has become a regular in my rotation of desserts that I serve at church gatherings and family get-togethers. Rather than send people over to the great Paula Deen's version on the Food Network's website, I thought I'd post my slightly modified version here along with the link to the original version for all those inquiries I consistently get when people try this wonderful dessert:

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding by Paula Deen
(Cynde's slightly modified version)

Ingredients
1 box of Nilla wafers
4-6 bananas, sliced thinly
2 1/2 cups milk
2 3.4 oz boxes instant French vanilla pudding
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 8oz container frozen whipped topping thawed

Directions
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. (I sometimes instead layer ingredients in a trifle bowl)

In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and line the edges with additional cookies placed upright and a few in the center for added presentation. I also crumble a few into fine crumbs and sprinkle it over the rest of the casserole. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The colder the better!

My modifications don't alter the taste much...they were made simply because some of the size ingredients she asks for are harder to find around here. I've also made a "Dirt Cake" using the same recipe just replacing the Nilla wafer layer with processed Oreo cookies and the vanilla pudding with chocolate fudge flavored pudding! YUM!

I'll post a picture as soon as I can keep one around long enough to snap a pic!

Sweet Home Chicago

I know it's been ages since my last post...but we had such a fantastic time in Chicago with the entire family, I decided to take the time to post a link to my online album!

Cristián's 2nd Birthday is A'Comin'!

I'm hosting a Pampered Chef catalog party!

I was fortunate to be introduced to Pampered Chef a few years ago and have been extremely satisfied with the items I purchased—particularly the baking stone I use to bake my cookies, biscuits, and bread on. Unable to find a local representative to host a cooking party for me, I instead contacted a cousin from Dallas who sent me the materials I’d need to host a catalog party!

If you’ve never heard of Pampered Chef, then you’re in for a treat! In hopes of updating and adding to my own cooking and baking collection, I’m providing you this opportunity to purchase these high-quality items for you and your family as well!

Please browse Pampered Chef’s online catalog so that you can give me your order by Sunday, February 14th! Don’t forget to take advantage of the February customer special and save 20% on stoneware!

Any orders from people outside of Edinburg / McAllen will be mailed to your homes. Just contact me with your order and I'll get back to you with a total. I can then take your credit card info (please don't send it over the Internet) which I will promptly dispose of after submitting your order.

Please tell your foodie friends about this...they'll be glad you did!

Discovery Toys: Get a Jump on January!

Get a JUMP ON JANUARY with discoverytoys by shopping their wildly popular Winter Sale, by taking advantage of some great promotions for hostesses by booking a January party, or by joining the discoverytoys team for only $99.00!!

Shop the discoverytoys Winter Sale!

Discovery Toys is now having their wildly popular WINTER SALE! View the products on sale by clicking on the thumbnail image of the flier on your right. This sale doesn't just include some discontinuing products, but some of DT's favorites as well! Some of the discontinued line can be purchased at up to 50% off the regular price while supplies last! Hurry! This sale ends February 6th!!

Host a dt Party and enjoy added Hostess Bonuses!

Pick the date, place, and time... Invite as many people as you can... I'll bring the toys...then you'll... Earn free toy credit based on your party's sales total! Use it on your own child or to buy something special for that other important child on your shopping list! For parties booked and held December 26 - January 31, hostesses may receive added bonuses: a free sale item (up to $20) for a $200 party, and a bonus $50 in free toys for a $500 party (over and beyond the normal hostess rewards amount). That amounts to $160 worth of free toys with a $500 party!! ($20 free sale item + $50 bonus +$90 free products). By taking outside orders, you can work on achieving this goal before the party even begins!!!

Join discoverytoys for only $99.00!

In January, you can join Discovery Toys and purchase your Success Start Kit worth over $390 for only $99.00 (plus shipping). With only 1 or 2 parties a month you can earn extra rewards through the Success Start Rewards Program! These rewards are only available to new consultants and can earn you $1,024 in cash and product after achieving your first three months’ goals:            - receive a $75 cash bonus after reaching your first              month's goal of $500 in sales            - your Success Start Kit REFUNDED after               reaching your second month's goal of $500 in sales            - and a New Products Kit (valued at over $165) FREE              after reaching your third month’s goal of $750 in              sales! And that's ON TOP of your 25% commission!!

Interested in placing an order, booking a party, or joining my team? Then call or email me!

Look who's on ESPN! :)

I was just browsin' around online when I came across this fun lil' freebie from ESPN! I'll prolly look around for a better pic...but until then thought I'd share this! Get your own ESPN poster at http://poster.myespnhighlights.com!

Give the Gift of Learning this Christmas Season!

Hello!

Thanksgiving is here and Christmas lights are going up as we speak! Have you started shopping for Christmas yet? Well, I've got some great ideas on how you can save money while giving some great toys that are both fun and educational for the important children in your life.

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1.	Create a Child dt Wishlist!
	Look through the catalog with your child and select his / her favorites... Pass around a few catalogs and copies of the wishlist to friends and family... Collect orders - whether they're gift choices for your child or for their own family- then... Earn free toy credit based on your sales total! Use it on your own child or to buy something special for that other important child on your shopping list!
2.	Host a dt Party!
	Pick the date, place, and time... Invite as many people as you can... I'll bring the toys...then you'll... Earn free toy credit based on your party's sales total! Use it on your own child or to buy something special for that other important child on your shopping list!
3.	Buy a "Gift of Learning" Bundle!
	Save 10% - 15% on an infant, toddler, pre-school or family games "bundle" of toys... Give the whole bundle to that special someone in a lovely eco-bag that's provided...or... Break up the bundle and pass out the toys to several children as stocking stuffers or gifts!

It's become a Christmas tradition...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

TO DO: Nutella Ricotta Calzone at Toby's Public House

Does this look absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS or what?!? Some friends from Brooklyn recommended Toby's Public House for their pizza since I made it known that I was gonna want to try some Brooklyn pie on our next visit to NYC...but now I'm more lookin' forward to trying THIS!

For those of you who may not know...I'm a HUGE Nutella fan...and have been known to eat spoonful after spoonful straight out of the jar on more than one occasion...sooo...to happen upon THIS masterpiece is more than just serendipitous...it's destiny. :)

You've got to be kidding me!!!

Ok, I'm going to completely expose myself here to show you something I just think totally ROCKS!!!

*clears throat and composes self*

Well, you know what I mean. It's just, kinda cool is all. :)

I used to spend hours scrunching my face in all sorts of grimaces trying to move things from one shelf to another using the "FORCE"...and now, I can actually do it!!! This thing actually measures BRAINWAVES!!!! I haven't read any reviews on it and bein' that it's over a hundred bucks, I can't really justify my needing it *rolls eyes*...so if you have one, or know someone that does...I GOTTA know what's it's like to use! Contact me!