NaBloPoMo March Day 3-This is Me

Today's Topic-When or where do I feel most like myself?

Well I am a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a mother, a worker, a friend, a blogger, etc....  I am a lot of things.  I wear a lot of hats everyday.  Sometimes when everything is going so fast you do not have time to think about one self.  You forget that person exist.  You are always doing things for others and never for yourself.  Who are we talking about again?

I think I am feeling like myself most often when it is just me.  When I can refocus on who I am.  I like to run.  I run without music.  People think that is weird but to me it is not.  It is my time.  I talk to myself.  I clear my head of others, their needs, their wants, their problems, etc... and then I am just left with me.  I have no needs or do I.  I have no wants or do I.  I have no problems said no one ever.  I get to remember that I do exist.  That there is a self being myself, when I am alone by MYSELF.

It is good to just stop for a moment.  Some people don't have that, a free moment does not exist for them or their schedule.  I am one of those people.  I like everything planned and scheduled.  Do not throw something at me last minute, it throws me off.  But I am learning to focus on ME.

A couple of years ago, I realized that I forget ME more often than I should.  I am the long lost friend that I call up every now and again when no one answers.

I now take time to find myself.  I am starting to feel more like myself when I do things that make me smile, that make me remember I am a daredevil, and adventurous person, and I definitely feel like myself when I am around my loved ones.  They make me feel whole, and are my comfort.

I feel like myself when I am hanging out with friends.  I feel like myself when I am here.

NaBloPoMo March Day 2-Writing Voice and Me

Today's topic-How is my writing voice like me?  How does my writing voice differ from me?

Hmmm...this one is a thinker says the writing voice.  I think I am the same because I tell you and write exactly what I think, feel, or want to say.  I am not a different person when I go online than when I go offline.  If you meet me in person, I believe I am the same if not funner person to be around.

I am not a pretender and I admit, I am not a SCHOLAR.  I do not write my blog posts everyday thinking this will be my next big break unto a paper or this article will be famous or make me famous.  I write about my experience and the things I see and do.

Writing voice likeness, we are one.  We are the same person.  My writing voice expresses ME.

Difference between us, I get to experience everything my writing voice tells you about.  I live it, my writing voice journals it.

But I do not think there is a need to put us in different categories.  Plain and simple.

Travel Tuesday-New York Bucket List

2014 is looking awesome for me as I get to check off something else off my At Least Once in this Lifetime Bucket List.

-New York

I finally made it to NYC.  I was so excited I even made a little New York Bucket List for my short 24 hour trip.  See when I think NY I think of JLo, Friends, and the Big Apple.  My theme song was Aleshia Keys 

Alba's New York Bucket List-

1)  Bump into JLo
2)  Visit Central Park 
3)  Experience Time Square
4)  Admire the Empire State Building
5)  Cross the Brooklyn Bridge (I want to visit several bridges all over-on my life bucket list)
6)  Skate at the skating ring
7)  Ride the boat to the Statue of Liberty
8)  Visit the 9/11 Memorial
9)  Go behind the scenes or sit in the audience of a show
10)  Visit the biggest Toys R Us (per my son who was lucky enough to go on a church choir trip to NY and told me there was a 2 story Toys R Us with a Ferris Wheel inside the store)

I was on business so I did not know if I would even get to go to any of these places.  I told myself, "What if I never make it back?"  So the list was created.  I only had a small window for sight seeing and who needs sleep anyways?  After business was taken care of, I ventured alone in the Big Apple.

I crossed some of my bucket list items off and was able to experience other places I did not have on my list.

Visited the set of the Today Show, too bad everyone was gone to Sochi for the Olympics but I was there.

 Not on list -Go to the Top of Rockefeller Center-not on my list but now I have added this item to my Life list -go to the top of all the famous buildings in the different cities i.e. Seattle Space Needle

 That is Central Park.  Through the fog, the place covered in snow, and I did not care as you can see from my cheesy smile.

 I did not get to skate here, just pass through but I actually can say I was there.  I saw where the tree goes.

 To you just a subway picture, to me a Houston-Texan -Wow a subway! The NYC subway

 I made it to Time Square.  Not as big as I thought it would be but yet an experience.  Everyone was there and it was late at night.  I felt like a New Yorker.  Walked past the Late Show on my way to find the Empire State.  All I had to do was look up and see the beautiful colors that lit up the night.

That completed my search as I headed back to the hotel that night I still had the itch so visit Central Park.  Not realizing how close I had been to it all along.  My hotel was across the street from there.

 Central Park!!! I made it.  I did jog a little because it was night time, I was alone, my battery was dying, and I did not want to be a victim on CSI New York edition.  This place was amazing and I want to come back so I can jog, see the castle (yes, there is a castle there or so I heard), and just experience this huge park that goes for city blocks.

 Check out the ice on the river.  Nothing famous, just a body of water and some buildings.

 The Freedom Tower.  I asked the driver on the way out of the city to please take the long way to the airport and drive me by there.  He did.  I did not get to see the 9/11 Memorial from the car but just being in this area made me so emotional.

 On the way in and on the way out, we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge.  It is a beauty.  We do not have bridges like this in Houston.  Our driver was so nice.  He was a mini tour guide.  Telling me about the Bronx, the Queens, Harlem, the buildings we were passing up and then even coming to the rescue by not making me miss my flight home in all the traffic.  Oh yeah, almost forgot I passed through the tunnels.

Sad to say good bye to New York but I can honestly say I want to come back.  A different city, fast life, and I loved it!

Giveaway-Flashback 5k/10k Fun Run and Fitness Expo

March has started and we are on month #3 of this year.  Did you set a goal for March?  I did!  I joined 2 challenges and both of them involve running.  This is my new found love.  In January, when I was at the half marathon start I noticed a group.  This group was an older group of men and women.  They were the 50 states marathoners.  Yes, they have ran a full marathon, 26.2 miles X 50 = 1 in every state of the U S of A.  Crazy huh?  To me, it is not.  It is a wonderful accomplishment, and one day I want to be able to do just that.  But for now, I will stick to half marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks locally of surrounding areas.  Remember I suggested for you to find fun things for you to participate in.  I found a fun run close to home as a suggestion to you, and what I like most is that there is also a fitness expo.

-Located in League City, TX -At the South Shore Harbour Resort

-For ticket information, go to http://katsanford.com/flashback-fitness-expo/

So who likes to dress up?  I do!  When I think of flashback I think of my 80's birthday.

I did 3 costume changes this day and this was my 2nd look.  I like flashing back at this picture of myself because it reminds me of how I felt about myself at that time and that I was at my goal weight.  I run for fun but I also run to stay fit, lifestyle change.  I hear a lot of people always saying back in the days when I was younger, but those good ole days are not gone.  This was my 29nd birthday and letting go of my 20's was hard for me.  I wanted to go back in time.  So why not go back?  Pull out your tube socks, psychedelic neons, tie dyes, or whatever you wear back in your day and join in the Flashback fun by signing up to do the 5K fun run or 10K.

Flashback Fun Run EVENT FEES: 

Early/Race Day-

Kids 1K                 $20.00 / $20.00
5K Walk/Run       $40.00 / $45.00
10K Run               $45.00 / $50.00

Want a discounted race entry or even a free entry? Enter now on all the Flashback fun online at the Flashback 5k/10K Facebook page were they have several giveaways or enter here for the below giveaway:

Grand Prize – 1 Winner

Astros 4 tickets value $65.00 per ticket Mariners game, Sunday, May 4th Value - $260.00

4 All day passes to the Downtown Aquarium (Value $67.00)

2 $10 Gift Cards to Landry's Restaurants (Value $20.00)

2 $15.00 Discounted entries to the 10K run (Value $30.00)

Total value Grand Prize Pack - $377.00

Second Place Prize Pack - 1 Winner

4 All Day Passes to the Downtown Aquarium (Value $67.00)

2 $10.00 GC to Landry’s Restaurants (Value $20.00)

$25.00 Gift Card to Toys R Us ($25.00)

2 $15.00 Discounted entries to the Flashback 5K run ($30.00)

 Total value Second Place Prize Pack - $142.00

Third Prize Pack- 1 winner

4 All Day Passes to the Downtown Aquarium (Value $67.00)

2 $10.00 GC to Landry’s Restaurants (Value $20.00)

2 $15.00 Discounted entries to the Flashback 5K run  (Value $30.00)

 Total Value Third Prize Pack $117.00

Fourth Prize Pack - 1 winner

2  VIP Tickets to the Flashback Fitness Expo (Value $50.00)

2 Passes to the Aquarium (Value $34.00)

1 $25.00 Gift Card to Toys R Us (Value $25.00)

1 $10 Gift Card to Mario’s

Total Value Fourth Prize Pack $119.00

Fifth Prize Pack - 1 Winner

2  VIP Tickets to the Flashback Fitness Expo (Value $50.00)

2 $10 Gift Cards to Landry's Restaurants (Value $20.00)

1 $25.00 Gift Card to Toys R Us (Value $25.00)

Total Value Fifth Prize Pack $95.00

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Disclosure:  This campaign is part of sponsored campaign with New Creative Media and sponsors of the Flashback events.  Any opinions stated are my own based on my own experience.

NaBloPoMo March Day 1-5 Interesting Things About Independentmami

I have recently taken on a new challenge for the month of March-NaBloPoMo.  What is that?

National Blog Posting Month, frequently abbreviated as NaBloPoMo, is a month-long writing exercise.

I will be participating this March and it looks like the topic is SELF.

Today's topic-Tell us five interesting things about yourself?

Well I am pretty open to tell you about myself and it is really hard to thing of 5 different things to tell you that I already have not spoken about in the past but I will give it a try.

#1-  I am an OCD cleaner.  When my now husband-then boyfriend and I first started dating is the first time I really think this became an actual OCD.  On Thursdays, I would come home from work and started cleaning everything.  I made sure the house was spotless.  I never really have been a clean freak as my mom kept our house squeaky clean when I was growing up.  She would be up at 4 am and you could smell the house being cleaned.  I did not think I would ever see myself acting like this but I have become my mother's daughter when it comes to cleaning.  To me everything has a home, and if everyone does their part-it will go smoother for the ones who clean.  Don't get me wrong I do not use a white glove to check my house but I do get on my hands and knees to scrub my floors.  But what is even crazier is that I like to clean, what??  I know.  I go in the ZONE.  It is kinda therapeutic for me.  I can be having a bad day and I will go an organize my closet, clean the cupboards, or start cleaning out the pantry.  So there you have it, I admit, I like to clean!

#2-  I am cheap.  I am super cheap.  I think of it as being thrifty, budget friendly, and frugal for the future but my husband plain old calls it CHEAP.  But my cheapness has rubbed off on him as well.  It all started when I worked retail.  I saw how much the clothes was being marked up, and then discounted.  I started to shop on the clearance racks and used my discount.  Now, I do not even look at anything in the front of the store.  I look for the RED or YELLOW signs calling my name.  I like anything above 70% off.  I really enjoy going through the racks and finding items under $10 or $5.  If it is higher than that, I think about the need I have.  Do I need this item or do I want this item?  Then I make the decision for purchase or to put back on the rack.  I love end of season sales.  My favorite stores to shop at are Garden Ridge (Christmas 90% sale in January), Walgreens (75% after each holiday clearance sales), and outlet stores (they sometimes offer extra discounts on items you were already going to purchase).

#3-  My name means THE DAWN OF LIGHT but I hate mornings.  I would rather sleep in on days I have to be up, and on days I don't have to be up-stupid self decides to wake me.  Don't get me wrong I have had to wake up early for work and school, etc... but I prefer late start.  My body takes awhile to adjust when it is not daylight outside.  There you have it...I, Alba, and not the Dawn of Light you expected.

#4-  My middle name was my delivering nurses first name.  My mom picked it last minute.  I prefer it to my first name since people sometimes don't get 4 letters and always mess it up.  People think I am a guy from reading my name.  And it just rolls of the tongue better-Ca-Ro-Li-Na.

#5-  I hated English writing, and essay assignments and yes I like to blog.  Weird, huh?  I think it is because I like to talk but my circle seems to think I talk too much.  So If I write my thoughts here who ever wants to read it does, and they can stop when they want to.  But I get to say what I want and no one can stop me.  I will say I do not to spell check and proof my writing because what I type and say in my head sometimes are not the same.  Hopefully you get what I say when I do that and miss the correction.

So these are my 5 maybe not-so interesting things about the mami behind Independentmami.