Thank you for all you do

About six months or so, I went to one of those CVS minute clinics because I had a cold.  I was waiting for my name to be called when a police officer showed up.  He signed in after me and when he was done, I said Hello.  He replied back and we started a small conversation.  Mia, my daughter, was with me and he asked her if she wanted a sticker.  She said yes and he gave her a police sticker.  While waiting, we kept talking and he told me that he disliked when children were afraid of him or other police.  He said some parents, when they see him, will tell their kids, "Behave or I'll tell that policeman to take you to jail," or some other obnoxious comment like that which in turn will make the child afraid of police.  He voiced his frustration on the topic and I must agree, I have heard people make those comments or seen how some kids are afraid of policemen.

I have so much gratitude for people who risk their lives for strangers.  Policemen, Firemen, people in the armed forces, nurses, doctors, teachers - these people go above and beyond the call of duty to help people and I hate that most time their work goes unnoticed or taken for granted.

Since that day, I have shown my children to always acknowledge a police officer with a simple, "Thank you for all you do."  I have told them over and over, that now it is just habit for them and I can't tell you how happy that makes me.  It is remarkable to see how a simple Thank You lights up a persons face.

Try it one day - if you never have.  The reaction is always priceless.  You feel good and you make the other person feel good.  I think it's important we teach our kids to be thankful and this is such a small way to make a BIG difference.

Sunday Funday

Sunday has officially become my FAVORITE day of the week!  My Sundays consist of waking up early attending church, going out to eat after church and getting ready for the week. One of my favorite shows on the OWN network, Super Soul Sunday, comes on every Sunday.  

The purpose to this show is to "nourish your mind, body and spirit every Sunday. Super Soul Sunday features
interviews with the top spiritual leaders of the world. It is inspiring in many levels and definitely a show like no other on TV. 

As you know I love Oprah and I love that she has has used her platform to help others.  I have included some clips of my favorite episodes of Super Soul Sunday.  If you haven't caught this show on TV, I highly recommend.  

It is truly food for the soul. 

On another note, I just wanted to brag on my daughter's awesomeness.  She placed 2nd place in her first ever 1K.  She competed with children in ages 2-7 and came in 2nd Place in the Female category.  

From My Heart

As most of you know, my brother Gilbert, went to be with the Lord in January of this year due to heart issues.  My brother was in and out of the hospital last year and during that time, I realized the great importance of health and how essential and valuable this gift is.  I saw my brother get to the point where he couldn’t walk, talk or breathe on his own.  His health deteriorated vastly in the matter of one year.  While my brother was born with health issues, several of us are not, but we don’t take the time or gain the knowledge to know the importance of taking care of ourselves, until it’s too late.   After my brother passed,  I researched rather quickly if there were any walks or runs benefiting The Heart Association.  Luckily, there is a 3 mile walk that will take place September 7, 2013 in Victory Plaza here in Dallas, TX .  I have created a team called, “Brick House” after my brother’s favorite song.  I am reaching out to everyone that is reading this to take a stand and sign up to be a part of my team and/or contribute as much or as little as you can to this cause.  I truly believe when we work together and put our time, love, work and money towards these great causes, we can truly make a difference.  I have listed the information below. 

My Personal Page link:
http://heartwalk.kintera.org/dallastx/mireles

Brick House Team Page link:
http://heartwalk.kintera.org/dallastx/20130620114435304

In addition to creating a team, I have also joined the Go Red Por Tu Corazon movement, where as a participant, I will become part of the fight against heart disease which is the No. 1 killer of women in America. Not only is this the biggest killer of women in America, but it is the No. 1 cause of death for Latinas!  It is even more deadly than ALL forms of cancer with 1 in 3 deaths each year, which is one woman every minute.  As an activist of women, health and self improvement, I felt my involvement for this movement and my sharing of information could help save lives of women. I have listed the link to the Go Red Por Tu Corazon movement down below.  Once you register you get a red dress pin, a monthly e-newsletter and access to exclusive merchandise on Shop Go Red with proceeds benefiting Go Red Por Tu Corazon.

http://myportal.americanheart.org/sorp/registration/registration/goRed/registration_1.jsp?campaignId=3

To prevent heart disease, there are many things you can do:

-          Don’t smoke

-          Manage your blood sugar

-          Get your blood pressure under control

-          Lower your cholesterol

-          Know your family history

-          Stay active

-          Lose weight

-          Eat healthy

Run

In celebration of National Running Day, I've devoted today’s blog in explaining my running journey and why I run.

I run because it is so symbolic of life.  I run because I love seeing a group of people come together to share one love.  I run because it doesn't just benefit me, it helps bring donations and awareness to several causes and charities. 

I was never much of a runner until I accidentally fell in love with it.  I will have to say my journey started the year I became a mother.  It was 2008 and honestly,  I can’t even tell you how I became intrigued by the Susan G. Komen race for the Cure – but I remember falling upon this great cause and knowing I wanted to be a part of it.  My daughter was 10 months old at the time and I felt I owed it to her to sign up for this event as my way of contributing to finding a cure.  As a mother, I felt a sense of responsibility.  I signed up that year for the Susan G. Komen 1K.  I look back now analyzing my life and I see how all the dots are connecting. This first step is what has lead me to two of my passions, helping others and running.

I have signed up every year since then for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I actually ran the 5k for the first time last October with my husband and stepson.  At the time I wasn’t running very often, but I worked out and exercised frequently so I was in much better shape than my first year.  I can honestly tell you the only reason I got through that 5k was because of Alec, my stepson.  Alec is very athletic and runs frequently at school.  He kept motivating me each time I felt I had to rest.  “Come on Vickie!  You can do it!  Don’t give up!”  He was my cheerleader that day and got me through that run when I felt I couldn’t any longer. 

If I can actually rewind a bit to 2011/2012 one of my best friends had actually tried to convince me to join DRC (Dallas Running Club) and start running with her.  I was intimidated. I wasn’t a runner and I really couldn’t run long distance without losing my breath and getting those painful and annoying cramps on my side.  In 2012 I decided to complete the Big D Climb, which is racing up 52 flights of stairs to benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma.  When I went into training mode with my friend who was participating with me, we ran up and down the stairs at the Katy Trail as a good warm-up.  After that, she decided to take me running for one mile.  I couldn't even finish a mile!  I was so out of breath and I just couldn’t run longer than 5 minutes. 

Since October 2012, I have became more and more passionate about running.  I’m not the best runner, but I have improved.  Doing all these races has really opened up my eyes to see how beautiful it is when people come together to do good.  It has inspired me on many levels, in more ways than I could imagine.  I’ve seen disabled people running, I've seen old people running, I’ve seen children running, I’ve seen skinny and overweight people running.  I've seen all colors, shapes and sizes, and I can tell you this: You cannot judge a person for how they look in determining how well they run.  I have had so many people pass me – people that I would never imagine being able to outrun me. It was hard to swallow at first, but I've learned, you can't compare yourself to other people when running.  You don't know their story. And while they make look inferior, they may have more training than you.  Just ask the 85 year old man that passed me last week.  Determination and passion comes in all shapes and sizes.  You have to run your own race and compete with yourself, if not, you'll get lost in all the competition. 

My journey started 5 years ago, but the peak of my journey has been this year.  I have set the bar for myself by committing to run my first half marathon in November. To prepare myself for this endeavor, I joined the Dallas Running Club in February.  DRC (Dallas Running Club) is a running and walking group affiliated with the Road Runners Club of America offering training programs, promoting good health, friendship and camaraderie.  This club has offered discounts, free runs and has kept me on track in training for my half marathon.  Running for charitable causes can get expensive, so being a part of this running club helps me to continue running and competing with others at a much more reasonable price.  

Running is positive.  It makes you feel good and it makes you look good.  When you choose to be a part of something that influences others and at the same time you can benefit from, well I think why the hell not?  Get involved.  Help a charity.  Run for your life.  Run because you can.  The interaction with your thoughts, with nature, comes intact when you are running. At the end of the day, your legs, your body can take you from point A to point B, and through the pain and difficulty  you can look back and say, "I did it.  I did it."  I have to say, it feels pretty darn good! 

En-flower-ed

I found a new cosmetic line called "Flower", which was created by Drew Barrymore.  The beauty line is sold exclusively at Wal-Mart and prides itself in being an affordable line with luxury cosmetic ingredients.  All products are made in the USA and are NOT tested on animals, which I appreciate and respect.  Flower cosmetics has no advertising, which is probably why you haven't heard of it.  The reason why they haven't done any advertising is to keep cost of their products low, which benefits you and me. (Thumbs up)  I heard about Flower cosmetics via YouTube from one of my favorite YouTube gurus, DulceCandy.  After I watched her blog, I decided to search this product line.    One of the things that sold me right away was that the foundation was paraben free.  Jackpot!!!!  There are not many foundations or cosmetic products for that matter that are paraben free.

One of the best things about YouTube is that you can search any product and there are several beauty gurus who give you honest first impressions and reviews of each product.  After seeing that most products were loved, I decided I had to go out and try it out - and that's exactly what I did.

I'm not the biggest fan of Walmart.  It's because almost every Walmart that I've been to is messy and the customer service, in my opinion, is always mediocre or just plain horrible.  I have a Walmart close to my home, so I went there, and just as expected, the selection was scarce, only because customers had opened several of the products to test on their hand and put back.  Everything was in the wrong place and several items were sold out or used and tossed back.  I went in with the desire to purchase the foundation stick, which is referred to as the Skin Cognito.  They were out of my shade, so I opted for the liquid foundation, which to my surprise was a good size and had a pump.  I snagged two lip colors, one lip butter and one creme blush.

Overall I'm satisfied with the products.  I can see myself using the foundation daily and I loved the lip butter and lip sticks.  I will probably purchase other products to test them out and see how well I like them.

I was trying to upload some pictures of the products, but my iPad is acting up.  If you are interested in learning more about these products, visit Flower Beauty's website at FLOWER BEAUTY COSMETICS or you can visit one of the following YouTube guru videos.  Enjoy!  And if you happen to purchase, I'd love to hear your feedback.

DULCE CANDY

LOLLYDOLLY

20/20 Experience

So it's been a while, I have been missing in action.  I have to say I was dealing with a sick child one week and last week I was just in a "blah" mode.  I will get back on track by saying I finally did it!  I finally got my Lasik procedure done.  I know, I know - you are probably thinking everyone has Lasik now.  Well, I was one of those that didn't.  I was fine sticking to my contacts and glasses because well I was just a little chicken  at the thought of having surgery on my eyes.  I truly believe bumps in the road happen to get us to step out of our comfort zone and get on another level of education and self awareness.  About a month ago, I woke up, took a shower and attempted to put my contacts on - which didn't happen.  My right eye was severely red and each time I tried to put my contact on, my eye would sting intensely.  I ended up having to wear my glasses that day and the next day when the pain wouldn't go away, I ended up making a doctor's appointment.  So come to find out I had an ulcer on my eye.  Yes, an ulcer.  I didn't even know you could get ulcers on your eyes.  I had to get a prescription for antibiotic drops which I had to put on my eyes for a week until my ulcer went away.  My ulcer, who we named Ursula, thanks to my sis in law, was the bump in the road which led me to finally getting Lasik.  While at the eye doctor, it was noted that I had been wearing contacts for 17 years!!!  That is an extremely long time.  That was my final wake up call, my ah ha moment that made me realize it's time.

My procedure took place on Friday, May 24th at 10:40 AM. I started getting butterflies while I was waiting, but the Valium they gave me took those nerves away and calmed my butt down. I had trouble with my left eye, so they had to attempt about 4-5 times to get the first part down, so I did get some bruising, but it should be gone in about two weeks. I was able to see almost immediately and by that evening I was able to see clearly.  By my follow up appointment on Saturday morning, the doctor said I was at 20/20.  How amazing is that?  I'm still in awe that I am able to see this clearly without the use of contacts and glasses.  I'm filled with gratitude that God gives humans the ability to have this knowledge and technology to give people the gift of sight.  I'm completely in awe and I'm truly grateful.

This procedure is just one thing to knock off my list of improving myself for this year.  I think it's not only important  to take care of ourselves from the inside but from the exterior as well.  I'm so happy I got this procedure done and I encourage anyone who is interested to go for it!!!!  It's amazing!!

Fatherless Sons/Daughters - It affects us all

Oprah did a two part series called Fatherless Sons this weekend.  It opened my eyes to some of the pain that is caused on children whose fathers decide to leave.  I never knew what it was like not to have my dad or my mom around because they have always been present in my life.  And although I've had that stability in my life, at the age of 26 I did get a glimpse of the pain children feel when one of their parents decides to leave.  

The first time I ever felt like I wasn't good enough in that sense was when I met my biological grandmother at her funeral in November of 2010.  My biological grandmother gave up my mother to her sister when my mom was born.  Luckily, I wasn't stripped away from having a grandmother because I did have a grandmother.  Although, biologically she wasn't - she was there for me the way any grandmother would be. I always knew that my mom's mother gave her up, but I never put it together to even think that my grandma wasn't my "real/biological" grandma.  Maybe it was because I was young, or maybe I just didn't see it any other way.  I still don't.

When I attended my biological grandmother's funeral, I felt cheated out of a relationship and I also felt unwanted.  I couldn't understand how this woman would give up on my mom.  I couldn't understand how this woman deprived herself out of a wonderful daughter who accomplished so much and had 7 children who she had no memories with.  I never met this woman before her funeral.  She didn't know me.  She never wanted to know me.  I didn't know her and I don't know if I would have wanted to know her.  I'll admit there was some anger, not just for myself but for my mother.  My mother is the apple of my eye and I just couldn't see how her own mother wasn't there for her.  Seeing the pictures of her was like seeing my mother.  They looked exactly the same. 

I wish I could ask you "Why?"

Being a mother myself, I don't understand how mothers can just give life to a child and just turn away.  I just don't get it.  You would have to kill me to separate me from my daughter.  My daughter is my life, my heart and the most precious gift God has ever given me.  To take a blessing like that and turn away does not make sense to me.  I don't think it ever will.

After that day, I didn't have those feelings anymore.  It was in the moment that all the feelings came tumbling down over me and I just realized that I fell victim to having a biological grandparent who never wanted anything to do with me.  Maybe I would have felt worse if I hadn't grown up with a grandma relationship - I don't know.  What I do know is that I admire my grandmother for not only loving and accepting me like her own, but for taking in my mom and doing the same for her.  I would later realize that I was placed on this Earth to do the same task.

I think it was around that time - maybe earlier or even a little later that I had these feelings come up again.  I don't want to bash anyone who reads this and thinks I'm being negative, I just want to give my truth to how these things affect us all.  

Most people who are close to me know that my husband has two fathers.  One fathered him and one raised him.  I don't want to put any words on what or how this affected Chris because that is his own story to tell, but I will share my story on how this has affected me:

My daughter has two grandfathers who spoil her, adore her, and take part in her life daily.  What saddens me is that Mia doesn't have her biological grandfather in her life.  I know most of this has to do with Chris not having a typical father son relationship with his biological dad, but the relationship Chris and his biological dad have is separate to the relationship his biological dad and my daughter should have.  I would think a grandfather would make an attempt to see his granddaughter, but in this case, it's not there.  That's when momma bear mode kicks in and I get upset and I realize this man doesn't really care about having a relationship with my daughter, or at least that is the impression he gives me.  It saddens me and upsets me because another person's decision has affected my daughter.  She'll probably never have that relationship with him.  What soothes my heart is knowing that another man, who is not blood related has stepped up and not only taken the grandfather role, but boasts with pride in being the best grandpa he can be.  I don't dwell on it at all unless it's brought up. The way I see it Mia's not really missing out on anything because she has her two grandpas who love her and will do anything for her.  For me, it's the other way around, she's not missing out, but he is.  My only fear is that she'll see him one day and have the same feelings I had with my biological grandmother.  Feeling cheated out of a relationship and wondering why.

Thank you Honey for raising Chris and my kiddos like your own.  You are extraordinary!!!!!

For the record, I don't have any ill feelings towards anyone.  I love Chris' biological dad, after all, without him, Chris wouldn't be here, but there are just some decisions that he has made that I'll never understand.

Please check out the following videos regarding Oprah's two part show, "Fatherless Sons".  I hope it gives you some insight and hopefully healing if you are a fatherless child.