Fitness Friday-Viva La Color 5K

This year we are trying new things with my kids.  Previously my son and I participated in a color run with a big group of our friends.  We had not participated in another one since then.  My Lil Bit had yet to experience this fun and energetic run.  I feel that at five years old she could handle all the fun.

Did you know Viva means to live or to be alive?  This is how we should live life like we are alive.  This is what I am teaching my kids this year that life is meant to be lived. 

 The weather was being brutal this morning as it was in the low 60s and the wind was not dying down at all.  We were freezing.  Luckily my daughter's sweater was in our vehicle.  We had brought towels for after the race that we ended up wrapping her in.   She stayed warm before the race in her wagon.

 How did our race go?  Well a 5K is a little hard for little feet.  It is a long distance if they have never done this distance before.  A color run is a lot of fun but there are no water stations, no porta potties along the race route, and other than the few color stations; it is still a race. 

Right from the start my daughter wanted to go potty.  I think it was the cold weather because I got the urge as well.  I have to give it to Lil Bit, she hung in the entire time.  I ended up carrying her (all 36 lbs) on my shoulders and piggy back from color station to color station.  I asked her if she wanted to quick at one point where it looked like we could just cut through but she said no.  She loved getting the colors squirted at her.  I loved watching her go through the color stations.  I loved how so many people were so encouraging and were cheering me on as they past me up.  I heard things like:
"Way to go Mom", "You got this", "Yall almost done, keep it up", etc...

 At the end, I put her down and she bolted to the finish line.  She is really fast like her brother.  I can see some Cross Country or Track in her future.  Daddy caught the finish line picture.

 My son started and ended the race like a champ.  This was not a timed race but my husband said my son finished within the first 10 people.   

I pulled the rear like always.  Check out my tutu, yeah that's the wind still blowing like crazy.

Everyone who finished got a medal at the finish line.  We had a blast on the run.  The after party was a big dance, color party that my daughter did not want to leave.  Viva la Color!

Giveaway-MOANA

Have you seen the movie MOANA?

This is a sponsored post.  Any opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

MOANA will release on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 7, and is currently available in Digital HD.  It is the story of a spirited teenager who sets sail on a daring adventure to save her people, starring newcomer Auli‘i Cravalho as the voice of brave and tenacious Moana and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the larger-than-life demigod Maui, has dazzled both critics and audiences.

According to directors Ron Clements and John Musker, the story of “Moana” was inspired by the great explorers who masterfully navigated the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania.  “Voyaging is a real source of pride for many Pacific Islanders, a part of their identity,” says Clements.  Many experts believe that about 3,000 years ago, those deep-sea exploratory voyages halted for about a millennium before resuming.  This rebirth of exploration sparked the filmmakers’ imaginations, and the heroine at the heart of the story.  “The idea of a teenage girl who dreamed of becoming a navigator—considering the abilities of her ancestors—was so appealing,” explains Musker.  Moana’s quest to become a wayfinder also serves as a journey of self-discovery, empowering her to find her own identity – a beautiful and powerful message for audiences of all ages and genders.

Want to win your own digital copy?  Enter now:

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US only.  The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize.  1 winner will be randomly selected.  Fulfillment of prize will be done by sponsor. 

Cinderella Birthday Party

I am a little late with sharing my daughter's birthday day from December but I have to share.  I love how everything came together.  The day was magical and my daughter was so happy.  My daughter was not even one when I decided that her 5th birthday party theme would be Cinderella.  I want it to be magical.  Years ago when my son was five a mom was sharing her birthday party plans for her daughter with me.  She said in Mexican tradition they celebrate their daughter's at age 5 by throwing them a huge birthday party like a Quinceañera but it is called a Cincociera.  I was sold.  If I ever had a daughter, she was going to have one.  Years went by and I finally had my baby girl.  If you don't remember I call her my miracle baby because I almost lost her at 15 weeks when I was having a miscarriage.  Each year we celebrate this beautiful gift we received.

For the party decorations, I want to take everyone on a journey of her five years of life.  Flashback of some of our favorite memories we have had throughout the years with our Lil Bit.

Entrance-I had this sign cut out of corrugated.  We spray painted it silver.  We had blue birds cut out as well.  I added blue strips of ribbon for each year she has lived.

The main table had the cake, cake pops, and candy.  I had several candy stations throughout the house for everyone to enjoy.  I made candy centerpieces that everyone got to take home.  I did not even get a change to take a picture of those. 

I used paper flowers for the background, thanks to Joanna from Flores De Madame Mariposa. 

The birthday cake was made by my coworker.  Her cakes are delicious.  All the kids enjoyed the Cinderella cake pops.

We even had a photo booth section for all the guests to take pictures with Cinderella and Prince Charming.  The crown we had cut out and used for a previous birthday party.  We spray painted it gold for this party.  We also cut a carriage out and spray painted it with the theme colors.  It took many coats of glitter to get this affect but it was perfect.  Everyone enjoyed taking pictures with our Princess.

We set up a tent to keep the cold out.  The centerpieces were fabric pumpkins I found at the At Home Store right after Halloween.  They were the perfect color.  I had enough to give each Madrina/Padrino (sponsor).  I also printed pictures of the birthday girl that I put in silver and gold frames that we also gave to family members with thank you cards my daughter had personally signed.  I had big glitter blue bows on the columns of the tent that I got from the dollar store at Christmas time.

Even the piñata was a life-size Cinderella.  It was custom made for my daughter's birthday party.

Our princess loved every part of her birthday party.  She did not want to take her dress off even after the clock stroke midnight.  I think the best gift was daddy being her Prince Charming.

It was a lot of hard work to pull this off.  The vision I had in my head came to life.  And seeing how happy this made her was all the thank you I needed.  This was my gift to her. 

Let The Good Times Roll at Galveston Mardi Gras

Happy Fat Tuesday!  According to Wikipedia, Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. 

This past weekend, we headed South to Galveston to check out the children's parades on Sunday.  We did not have to go too far.  My kids had never been to a Mardi Gras parade.  When I was younger, I participated in the parades with our high school marching band.  It was always so much fun to perform.  The music gets the people going.  Believe it or not, it had been over 20 years since I had been to Mardi Gras in Galveston. 

If you did not know, there is a children's parade that is very kid friendly.  I did not know there was also a pet parade.  On Sunday, there were three parades that were perfect for the kids.  There was plenty of parking and we got a perfect spot right at the front.  We did arrive early.  There was people throwing beads from a second story building even before the parade started.

My favorite parts from this parade were:

Clowns-Very friendly

Animals-There were so many animals that you could pet during the parade.  From little dogs to cats, ferrets to a big snake, and of course, my daughter pet them all.

Parade De Ja Vu-We thought the first parade was over but it was not.  It came around twice.

Beads Galore-The best of all was collecting all the beads.  One warning, when the beads are getting tossed they could hurt.  Even though it is fun for the kiddos to catch them, be careful they could get hit by falling beads.

Now what to do with all those beads?

Easy Chicken Salad Recipe Featuring Keystone Meats

I am always looking for quick and easy recipes.  Simple meals that we all can enjoy.  Dinner time sometimes can feel so rushed.  It does not have to be that way all the time.  We can plan ahead and find quick meals that can be easily prepared during the week for dinner.

Thanks to Keystone Meats for sending samples for review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

I found a dish that we all like.  Something that is easy to make and you can it eat any way you like.

Chicken Salad

Ingredients-

1 can of Keystone Chicken

1 tbsp Mayo (I use Olive Oil Mayo, but you can leave this out)

1 tbsp Mustard

1 cup Shredded Carrots

1/2 cup diced Pickles

Normally I do not use measuring cups or spoons, I play it by ear.  Do you do the same.  I like using the carrots for a crunch.  I have used the pickled carrots before too.  You can choose to use cooked carrots if you have little ones.  Basically, you just mix all the ingredients together.  Anyone of you family members could make this recipe.

The rest is really up to you.  How do you want to serve it?  For dinner, I served it on BFree Gluten-Free sandwich bread with veggies on the side.  And the left overs, I packed up and ate with crackers the next day. 

The Keystone Chicken Salad made enough for 4, plus bonus left overs for me.  You cannot go wrong with this all natural chicken as the ingredients are chicken and sea salt.

For more information, go to keystonemeats.com.