Sweet Dreams, My Dearest

Sweet Dreams, Shei-bear!

Let us celebrate them...

This past weekend was cuddlier-half's birthday party.  Celebrating children's birthdays is special because we are celebrating each year of their development, growth, maturity and just how thrilling they are.  As adults I believe each birthday becomes all the more special because we're celebrating survival, strength, wisdom, love, loss, gain, health, and gratitude.

I've had my moments of bemoaning getting older, especially since I still can't believe I am an "adult" with a child of my own. But, this past year I've developed a greater appreciation for age and what it means. I'm being more Carmen Cardoza than I have in many years and I am so thankful!

my cuddlier half

Thanks, for loving me despite my PITA moments and in a way, because of my PITA moments. Thanks for cheering me on and embracing me. Thanks for your kindness and patience. Thanks for insisting we have fun!

3g: me, mami, and Shei-bear

Thanks for showing me what true, unconditional, undeniable, fulfilling love really is! Thanks for inspiring me each and every day.

Thanks for reminding me to let loose and let go!

these girls are not shy!

Thanks for girls who just wanna have fun!

Thanks for happy children that warm my heart.

me and Mandykins

Thanks for friends with whom I can share trials, tribulations and plain old silly moments.

me, mami, and Mandykins

Thanks for opportunities to express how much I love and care for those in my life.

me and my bro

Thanks for people who I would do anything in the world for and who may just do the same for me.

♥☺ Carmen

Delicious Quietude of 6am

A couple of weeks ago I started to do my yoga sequence at 6am. It kind of just happened. That first week I was childless and cuddlier-half-less, so I was going to bed at 11pm and waking up at 6am without an alarm. The first morning this happened I thought about heading straight to the computer in my incessant quest to get ahead of my workload, but instead I decided to relish in that special quietude of 6am and raise the sun with some yoga. It was amazing! Not only did the sequence balance out my limbs and strengthen my mind and body, but I truly woke up with the sun. By the time I was finished I felt invigorated. What's more, I didn't feel guilty about sitting for long hours at a time because I prepared my body for it.

Waking up an hour earlier and starting the day with yoga while a good portion of your world is asleep is lovely. Now off to conquer the day!

♥☺ Carmen

Happy Birthday, Cuddles!

Yesterday was my cuddlier half's birthday. It was quite a challenge to come up with a perfect gift for him, but one day I walked by a poster we bought a couple of years ago when it hit me.

We love to get local art when we travel. One of our favorite trips was to Chicago a couple of years ago; where we discovered a fantastic music scene. As a souvenir we bought a great poster for the 25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival since Cuddles loves the blues and music posters. In our home you will find beautiful black and white photography of William P. Gottlieb, Ella Fitzgerald, and Miles Davis. You will also find  colorful posters including Little Feat, and a 1953 poster for the Charlie Parker Quintet. So...

Plays the piano + Loves music posters = A poster of Cuddles playing his instrument. Voila - the perfect birthday present!

Girls Rule!

What a fun day we had celebrating Shei-bear's 9th birthday!  This year, she opted to have a smaller group - her best friends and family. This allowed me to get a little more creative and we agreed that taking the girls to a nail spa was a fabulous idea!

I like a good manicure and pedicure, but I must also have ambience and attention to quality. I hit the jackpot with the Aveda Institute. Their products are made with organic botanical ingredients and smell heavenly. I was able to book $10 manicures for six girls AND you get to keep the bottle of Opi nail polish - instant party favor!

The style of the place was just right for my girlie girls - not too dainty, not too precious. It was more of a beautiful, modern, urban-chic style.

The birthday girl was treated to a manicure and pedicure.  I was not surprised when she chose a golden sunny yellow nail polish, as Shei-bear is walking sunshine.

Being that we booked on the busiest salon day of the week, Aveda was packed to the brim and a bit chaotic. But it worked! It was full of young energy and music. For the purposes of an afternoon with six 6-11 year old girls - I loved it!

We did have one casualty. My nephew  was so excited about spending the day with his best cousin and tried his best to be a birthday trooper, but he was super sick and had to be taken back home.

We had one other male with us and he handled the scene with grace - chewing a little on Shei's purse, his shoe, and anything else within reach.

After a full day of hair, clothes, nails, pictures, cupcakes, chips, pizza, play, and a huge mess (sigh) - I was ready for a good night's sleep and that I did.

All in all - it was worth it and we had such a blast!

More pics of the girlie girl bash!

Yoga ~ Prep Your Body for Long Periods of Sitting

This week I've gone back to practicing a basic series of yoga postures because I'm working on memorizing the sequence in order to then build my own sequences from this foundation. I created a cheat sheet for myself (below) so that I don't have to follow the video anymore.

Yoga is a an ancient practice, dating back over five thousand years, by which the mind, body and spirit are restored to optimal balance and was also practiced in order to prepare the body to be in a seated position for long periods of meditation. Using the body's weight, the mind's concentration, and the spirit's energy, one moves the body through a series of strengthening, toning and lengthening postures, while being constantly aware of complete breathing.


More Benefits of YogaIncreases flexibility
Improves posture
Encourages correct alignment
Promotes the circulation of oxygen-rich blood
Invigorates the spirit
Releases deeply rooted tension
Provides more and more energy with every complete breath
Quiets the mind while conditioning the concentration muscles of the brain
Stimulates the organic systems of the body

This is a great way to begin the day, especially if you spend long periods of time sitting in front of a computer like I do. Click on the download button to print a PDF of this cheat sheet. Ideally, this illustration should be printed on 8.5 x 14 paper, but you can also shrink to letter size.

Namaste

I Can't Believe She's 9

Happy Birthday Sheilah!

Yes, mommy is going to write you yet another super mushy birthday note. I am so proud of you because you continue to be this brilliant and joyful girl, just as you've been since the day you came into this world. Although I can't believe you are nine years old, I know you are maturing because I can tell that you are starting to experience moments of pensiveness as you begin to understand more about love, life, and time.

Thank you for making us laugh. You are so good at that. Thank you for making me practice Michael Jackson dance steps with you. Thank you for inspiring creativity and fun every single day.

Today we celebrate not simply your birth, but the beginning of a beautiful story that begins with a foretelling dream. Before I even knew I was pregnant, I had a dream that I was in a small white room with a wood floor. I was in the center of the room, seated in a lotus position and meditating. I had a huge belly and I felt immensely at peace. A little girl walked quietly into the room carrying a few lavender bath towels. She laid the towels beside me and walked out of the room. I smiled. Weeks later I learned that I was pregnant and you would be born in February. Although I cannot possibly imagine you walking into a room quietly, you have brought more peace, love and light into my life.

My dearest, I wish you many many years of health, joy, and wonderful adventures. I hope you always laugh. I hope you always dance. I know you'll always be loved. 

Happy birthday, Princess Shei!

Bouclés Belle of the Month: Debbie Colon

I love the coils!

Meet Debbie - a 34 year old mother, wife and sales coordinator, living in New York City and rocking some effortlessly gorgeous coils! I believe and have found that with hair products, less is more. This certainly rings true with Ms. Debbie. As you will see, Debbie keeps her hair care regimen quite simple. Now, we all have different hair needs and wants such as moisture, definition, sculpting, hair porosity, etc.  Personally, I don't use gels much but I might have to give Debbie's recommendation a try as an alternative during our extremely humid and hot summer months in Florida. Debbie is the second boucles belle to mention Garnier's cream gel. Here she is...



How long have you been natural?
I've been natural all my life - no chemicals ever. But, I really started embracing my curls in junior high school.

Hair Length: Curly? Straight?
My curls are pretty loose so my hair length (medium length) is pretty much the same when curly and straight.

Daily hair care routine?
I wash my hair every other day or every two days with Pantene products for curly hair. I apply Garnier Fructis Curl Sculpting Cream Gel and air dry.

Great beach hair!

That's it?
That's it! Takes about 10 minutes!

Favorite product?
My favorite product is the sculpting cream gel from Garnier. It leaves my hair soft, frizz-free and shiny :)

Any favorite hairstyles for your curls?
I like short curls and sometimes I blow-dry my hair straight.  I am looking for a new style in the next year.

Where do you get your hair cut?
I get my hair cut at Demi Salon in Sunnyside, Queens.

How often do you cut/trim your hair?
I get my hair trimmed every three to four months.

Anything you would like to learn more about when it comes to caring for or styling curly hair?
Yes,  I want to learn about new product lines for curly hair and hairdressers who understand curly hair.

Thanks Carmen. This is kool :)
xoxo

No, thank you, Debbie, for sharing a bit about your lovely curls.


What's fun about hair is that you can play with different products, combinations and amounts until you find what works for you while maintaining your hair healthy, soft, touchable, and beautiful. When you are able to experiment with your hair, start with as little product as possible to see the results. Then add as necessary until you find the right amounts for your hair and styling needs. For example, don't assume that because you have a lot of hair, that you have to pile on the products. You may be surprised.

♥☺ Carmen

Why I Love Roller Setting ♥

I love roller setting...

Roller setting your hair is a gentler heat-styling method than using flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers.

Roller setting gives your hair a break from the daily washing, which can be really drying on your hair and scalp during winter months.

Results - beautiful, bouncy curls!

♥☺ Carmen

P.S. An illustrated tutorial on the way!