I am delighted to announce that two of my favorites in furniture and home decor are doing a partnership. CB2 and Novogratz have put together a visual feast for the home in theBrasil Collection. To celebrate this fusion of 2 great artistic expressions, CB2 and Novogratz have commenced the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes. Get 3 of your friends to join you and win a one week stay at the vacation home of no less than Bob and Cortney Novogratz. Can you believe that? You and your friends will get to call this beautiful house in Transoco, Brazil your home for a week!

There will be 10 other lucky winners who will receive a $100 CB2 gift card and a personally signed copy of the book “Home by Novogratz”. Enter the sweepstakes which runs from May 2 until June 3.

I will always remember CB2 for their modern lines. It helps you upgrade the look of your home to something chic and definitely not outdated. I remember how I wanted to find a piece and was so confused while looking through the catalog so I went to the store and ended up more confused since I couldn’t decide what to get. On the other hand, husband and wife team Robert and Cortney has a homey feel in their choice of pieces. You look at their items and you can say to yourself whether this is me, or this is not me. And I like it that way. It just shows the wide array of personalities that they can relate to. When you put their piece in your house, it immediately becomes part of your home. For me, the CB2 and Novogratz partnership put together the modern feel of home décors along with bold colors that warm your spirit. The collection is definitely not intimidating and the energy of the home reverberates through each accessory.

If you’re looking to transform your house into a dwelling that you would like to come home to, the CB2 and Novogratz Collection is a good initial step. I look through their collection and I immediately see how my family will be interacting among ourselves with these pieces around us.

I can already imagine my kids rushing out of their rooms in the morning past the quadrado rug on our wooden planks, all because they want to know who can reach the Figueira swing chair first.

While taking turns on the swing, they would turn to wave while my husband and I are having breakfast on the rouge coffee table .

Since we can’t leave the children on the swing unatteneded, we’ll come over and play with them on the swing before they join us for breakfast. Made by hand, the swing is definitely my favorite piece and its radiant colors and clean finish makes it more beautiful.

I have also pinned my other favorites from the CB2 and Novogratz partnership in my Pinterest board.  Go ahead and take a look and don’t forget to pin your favorites!

I couldn’t wait to hold my baby when I was pregnant. I just wanted to pull each day closer to my delivery date. I think all mothers have a certain connection to each other because we all share the extreme joy and pain that pregnancy and child rearing can bring.

When I started watching I’m Having Their Baby last year, I felt an ache in my heart. I realized that for some mothers the delivery date is something that they are probably trying to push back. Sometimes, you end up pregnant but you are just not ready to become a mother. The variety of the resources needed to raise a healthy and happy child hits you and you recognize that love is not enough. Seeing how bad it can be when families do not have the resources to raise children, I felt that I wanted to reach out to each mother and comfort them in their pain.

Thinking about adoption can be an exhausting journey. I imagine these mothers being pulled from many directions. Though they have different circumstances, they all share that self-inflicted guilt.  Am I being a good parent? Rather, am I even being a good person when I give up the baby? The father may or may not be involved but tension from him can also build up. There are also family members who may be pressuring you to make a decision that you are not too comfortable with. Ironically, these are the same people that the birth mother needs support from.  These mothers need all the love and support from the people they love, value, and hold important to them.

There was one point there that really made me cry. I mentioned the different people who can affect their decision but there are other people involved who may not be aware of everything that is going on yet. I felt sad for the older sibling who seemed to bond with the baby so naturally. He was doing a high five with the baby sister! I just couldn’t forget that scene. One consolation there was that the adoptive parents were not planning on whisking away the baby. In fact for some episodes, the birth parents can still visit the baby. I feel that this kind of openness will give everyone a chance to live better and be happier.

Revisit Jamie’s story from Season One with the “I’m Having Their Baby:Raising Nayamah” webisode here!:

GIVEAWAY

Watch the Nayamah webisode & tell me what you enjoyed most about it! I’ll announce a lucky winner of a $50.00 AmEx gift card on 6/12!

Season 2 is coming up very soon , and you can watch at Oxygen.com/baby.  It reminds me of all those mothers who have shared their lives with us. Become sad with them, become happy with their decision, but above all, become hopeful. Remember them by catching the full first season of the series. Be sure to catch up on the full first season of the series, the web series, and get a sneak peek of season 2 at oxygen.com/baby .

 Oxygen Media premieres season two of the powerful docu-series I’m Having Their Baby on Wednesday, June 12 at 10 PM ET/PT!

 Will You be Watching?

 DISCLOSURE – This post is sponsored by Oxygen. Thoughts are my own.

Welcome to Cocktails with Mom’s ….Thursday Giveaway Link Up Party!

Do you have a Giveaway going on? Feel free to join in on the party!

Share with us your Fabulous Giveaways and enter a few while you’re at it. Be sure to come back next Thursday, same time same place.

To help spread the word of this giveaway linky and to drive more traffic to your giveaways, please Retweet:

Are you having a #giveaway on your blog? Add it to the @momcocktails giveaway linky page tinyurl.com/8pwpup8

—Cocktails With Mom (@MomCocktails) September 6, 2012

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Aside from diamonds being a girl’s best-friend, shopping can stand second on the list. But if you cannot find what you are looking for, that very exciting activity can turn into a reason of despair. Going through Sears and their versatile collection, I felt the immediate urge to purchase this beautiful top that I simply couldn’t live without, even though I just saw it only a few minutes ago. I couldn’t bear the thought to be parted with it!

I know-adorable right!

Shopping somehow always puts me in good mood and it really doesn’t matter whether it’s in store shopping, online shopping, or whatever. I just love to shop. What I do not like however, is when I have my eyes set on something and the store just doesn’t have my size. This is when I come to appreciate online shopping.

Online purchasing however sometimes follows with the thought of getting late delivery, but not with SEARS! They offer a store pickup within just 5 minutes, Yes 5 minutes only! And if they fail to retain that, more good news for us as they would give a $5 coupon from the store.

Now who can turn this offer down! But the privileges does not stop there, checking the featured marketplace offers brought my shopping excitement to a whole new level. So funny how shopping can bring on a jaw dropping effect. In addition to having more colors and sizes on the website, Sears carries more brands and styles than they do in the store! Brands like Ray Ban, Michael Kors, DeWalt Tools, Steve Madden, Nike, Vince Camuto, Tory Burch, L’Oreal, Olay, Lumene, Cover Girl, NYC, IMAN, Essie, Kardashian- the list is long. Where else would we find so many brands merged together in the same site?

They certainly do not limit their collections into only one or two genres rather they have it all, from clothes to beauty products, kitchen appliances etc. Some of their newest arrivals are designed in a fairly modern way that would surely blow your mind away.

Some of their products are rather unique and gives you a provocative opportunity to treat your-self at home, like this foot kit. Seeing this kit reminded me I can take care of my feet like the professionals do but in the comfort of my own home.

Now you no longer have to go to the super-shop and have a nightmare getting everything off your list, just do it with Sear’s virtual cart.  If you haven’t already, head over to sears.com to see the new lineup for yourself and tweet about it to your friends and family.  It’s now time to restore your tranquility, as shopping was never this easy and fun.

A loved one getting sick drains you of your resources. It’s not just the financial aspect but the emotional roller coaster that family members go through. It’s definitely an advantage when the sick family member is covered by healthcare. However, there have been so many disappointing stories about healthcare coverage that it merits one to look closely at the premium he is paying for and what that premium covers.

During a medical emergency, you get to your hospital, talk to the doctors and work with them the best way to get better. They talk to you about diagnostic tests and procedures which your health plan covers. Sometimes, what they recommend is not necessarily what you think is the best but you eventually give in because that’s what your insurance can afford. It can be a disempowering experience when you learn that the best care that is available is not necessarily what you and your insurance coverage together can provide.

Sometimes, you’re left in the cold. If you pay for it, you can avail of it but the consequences after a certain test or procedure will not be covered because that is not what was advised by your HMO. Or maybe you realized that only your hospital stay is covered and the rest of your medications are not. Or how about the amount of time you cannot work because you’re sick. Who’s going to cover that? Another scenario is when your insurance has a ceiling for the amount you can avail of per disease. If you develop a complication from your original disease, you are only left with a few hundred dollars to cover it.

Aflac’s Real Cost Calculator

When I read about Aflac, I felt relieved. Here is a supplemental insurance company that fills the gaps. It actually covers the expenses related to medical emergencies, but not necessarily covered by traditional medical insurance.

I tried the Real Cost Calculator and realized the true impact of a medical emergency to the patient and his immediate family. I appreciate that it considers mortgage and transportation expenses.

When my grandfather fell ill, his healthcare covered his entire hospital expense. Aside from his medicines though, the doctor recommended some supplemental drinks and a strict healthy diet. I’m not complaining about the healthy diet, but those additional recommendations were not necessarily covered by any insurance. After the hospital confinement, his children and older grandchildren all took turns to bring him to the doctor for his regular check-up. Again, I’m not complaining about the time spent with him but the transportation costs definitely added up. I remember making a spreadsheet just to track the expenses. I was actually shocked to see how much it all accumulated and how much was only covered. On top of that, my mother sacrificed a freelance job which meant a decrease in income of a family member.

We can say it’s disappointing or heartbreaking, but I guess that’s what reality is. Now that we are armed with this information, we don’t have to remain scared of a medical emergency. It’s time to plan while we still can with the help of Aflac. I suggest you try the Aflac’s Real Cost Calculator and see for yourself. Learn as much as you can so you can act accordingly.

Welcome to Cocktails with Mom’s ….Thursday Giveaway Link Up Party!

Do you have a Giveaway going on? Feel free to join in on the party!

Share with us your Fabulous Giveaways and enter a few while you’re at it. Be sure to come back next Thursday, same time same place.

To help spread the word of this giveaway linky and to drive more traffic to your giveaways, please Retweet:

Are you having a #giveaway on your blog? Add it to the @momcocktails giveaway linky page tinyurl.com/8pwpup8

—Cocktails With Mom (@MomCocktails) September 6, 2012

Coming in the color “Diva Pink with Dazzling Blue & Purple” the New Balance Rainbow 890v3s are, unfortunately, available just for grade school, preschool and infants (and I say unfortunately because I really wish I could have one pair myself, they are gorgeous! Sometimes the kids get all the fun).

What it is made of

Made of a seamless synthetic/mesh upper they are light and graceful. The interior cushioning make they confortable and contributes to an exceptional shock absorption as the solid outsoles gives it the durability that kids’ sneakers must have to deal with all their running, jumping, climbing, dancing and biking.

It gets better

And it gets better and better! Now, New Balance is partnering with Chop Chop magazine to encourage families to “Run the Rainbow/Eat the Rainbow”, aiming to promote the importance of health habits, as a balanced diet and exercises, to improve the life of the whole family. We know that the kids never want to eat all their food and sometimes is really difficult to take they out the computer/videogame/tv and send they to play outside, but being picky and making them eat real, fresh and colorful food is your best chance to provide a balanced meal and making them do physical activities is extremely important to improve their reflexes and coordination, make them stronger (building stronger bones, muscles, lungs and hearth), manage their weight and even help then to calm down, sleep better and get better grades at school.

You have until May 31st to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to receive a Grand Prize of a $400 gift card of your favorite local grocery store, a pair of New Balance kids’ Rainbow 890v3s and a 1-year subscription to Chop Chop magazine. Also, you will be entering for a chance of win monthly prize packs including 1-year subscription to Chop Chop magazine and a pair of Rainbow 890v3s! It is 1 winner every month!

How to get them?

All you have to do is to head over to newbalance.com/rainbow and click “Enter Now.” A new window will open up so you fill out the simple form with your name, email address, phone number and birthday, check the case confirming that you have at least 18 years of age or older and agree to the official rules and then click “Submit.” And that’s it, you have entered to win and all you have to do now is cross your fingers and wait.

Good looks for all of you!

WIN THEM HERE!

BUY IT!

Purchase New Balance 890v3 sneakers for the SRP of $57.99 at NewBalance.com and stores such as Sports Authority nationwide.

HOW TO ENTER:

Tell me what kind of steps you take to make sure your kids are living a healthy lifestyle.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above. Please note the changes to the entries and frequency, entries that don’t follow rules may be disregarded/ignored/deleted.

• SUBSCRIBE to Cocktails with Mom! via Email Subscription
• SHARE this giveaway on your social networks such as Facebook , Google +, Pinterest, Stumble Upon or Other (let me know where you shared)
• FOLLOW  Cocktails with Mom  and New Balance on Twitter and TWEET this giveaway (1 time per day), please leave your twitter link each time: I’m entering to win @NewBalance #RainbowShoes from @momcocktails http://tinyurl.com/c9f5n6p
• FOLLOW  me on Pinterest
• LIKE New Balance on Facebook
• ENTER another Giveaway – let us know which one in the comment
• COMMENT on any other Non Giveaway Post, let us know where to find it

Rules:
Open to US only
Winner will be chosen by random
Giveaway ends 5/31/13 at 11:59 CST
Winner will be emailed and must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be selected.
Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes.

I remember when I was learning how to do the perfect pan fried chicken. I couldn’t get a decent chicken on our plates because the correct temperature was avoiding me. Whether I use stainless steel or nonstick, my fried chicken was just not up to par. I was afraid of having raw portions near the bone such that I ended up with overcooked and gummy chicken. Unfortunately, my children know how to complain. Mom just can’t get the chicken right.

When I was introduced to the AccuCore Stainless Steel cookware, my kitchen experience turned a new leaf. Any new cook or even those with a bit of cooking experience will find cooking in stainless steel daunting. Not just that, washing it can be a pain. Baking soda please! (Well, that’s for a different post actually). When the pan is too cold, the food sticks. When it’s too hot, the food burns. When done properly, it can be quite satisfying. The AccuCore Stainless Steel Set allows for even heating to reach optimum cooking experience. The internal copper core also eliminates hot spots for consistent cooking performance.

That’s why I’m so excited when I learned about this new program called Your Set by Calphalon. This is like a playground for foodies and home chefs. Two premium cookware lines allow you to choose your pieces and customize your very own personal cookware set. Your Set by Calphalon allows you to mix and match AccuCore Stainless and Unison Nonstick Cookware. On top of that, you save up to 40% off MSRP. The base set comes with basic pieces that every cook cannot refuse.

First, choose your base set between the AccuCore Stainless Steel or the Unison Nonstick set. This is a 5 piece set comprised of a 3 qt saucepan with lid, a 3 quart sauté pan with lid, and a 10 inch omelette pan. The next step lets you choose additional pieces at bargain prices.

I chose the AccuCore Stainless Steel as my base set. This is really practical because even if I use stainless steel for most of my cooking, I know that I need nonstick cookware for specific dishes. Take eggs for instance. Since I prefer my scrambled eggs to have the least amount of oil, Unison Nonstick Slide 12” Omelette Pan is the best for our family’s breakfast eggs.

Still, fried chicken is my children’s favorite with any soup or vegetable dish. With the AccuCore Stainless Steel base set, I can fry the best fried chicken ever and even make tasty gravy using the3 qt sauté pan and the 3 qt sauce pan respectively. Pan fried chicken that is crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside is just not the same on other types of cookware.

Best of all, stainless steel is scratch free so I don’t need to be cautious about my turner scratching my pan.

Your Set by Calphalon is now My Set by Calphalon. It’s definitely a match made in heaven.

Disclosure:  As a thank you for sharing this information with my readers, I was provided with a promotional item for my participation in this review.

Samples of these products were received for the purpose of this review.

The month of May is the best time to experience two of the best seasons. I have always loved both spring and summer. Spring has always been my favorite season, everything is blooming and the weather’s perfect. This is the best time to go out with friends, tour the city or visit nature. While summer is still up next month, the sun is already up, but not as much heat as during the summer. Since during this month that I get to go out and enjoy the outdoors, I have to prep up and keep myself looking good. As a girl, I like using things that brings out my inner glow and honestly, these are things that I can’t live without. Let me share to you some of these things, I’m sure that you will love them as well.

1. IMAN Cosmetics New BB Crème

BB Crème originated in South Korea but women all over the world now has at least one in their purses, but I noticed that BB Cremes shades are only for women with fair skin who wants it even toned. Not until I found IMAN Cosmetics New BB Crème. The Skin Tone Evener BB Crème SPF 15 is specially made for darker skin tones. I recommend this as your all-in-one beauty product. It complements the skin, evens out your skin tone, and keeps you safe from harmful sun rays. The BB Crème has a unique blend of Skin Tone Evener Complex, SPF, essential botanical extracts and multivitamins. It keeps my skin smooth, clear and healthy!

2. Biore’s Skin Balancing Cleanser

Before going out and after a very tiring day, giving your skin a break and a clean wash is important. I use a skin cleanser that cleans thoroughly while leaving my skin smooth. Unlike other cleansers that dries skin, the Biore’s Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser ($7.99) strip away dirt and impurities without stripping skin’s natural moisture. What’s great with this cleanser is that it both cleanses the oily parts and the dry parts while balancing the moisture, giving the skin clear and oil-free. For two weeks of use, my T-zone which is a bit oily and my pimple prone areas have felt more balanced smooth and clean.

3. Dials New Body Wash

I’ve always believed in the wonders of coconut as a beauty product and health option, that’s why I’m very happy that Dial has created a body wash made from coconut water! Coconut Water & Bamboo Leaf Extract, Ultra Fresh Hydrating Body Wash. Drinking coconut water is so refreshing, much more if you wash your body after a busy day with it! I always use this and my skin has never felt more hydrated and healthy. I recommend that you use the Skin Therapy Body Washes with their 7-day moisturizing lotion for better results.

4.  Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal by Reader’s Digest.

I love reading books, particularly those that gives guide and tips about beauty and health. I recently reviewed this book called Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal by Reader’s Digest. I read it and I found very helpful tips in picking the right food choice and diet. In this book you can find over 170 healthy food options plus how to eat, cook and store it to maximize its probable healing effects. The book also discusses over 100 health conditions and gives tips on food that could cure or prevent it. There are also special features such as benefits of vitamin D and overview of nutrition and food safety. I found this book very useful; I actually bring it when I pick food from the local grocery!

5. Dial 7-Day Moisturizing Lotions

For people like me who like to go outdoors especially during this month when the sun is always up, keeping our skin hydrated and moisturized is important to keep it looking healthy. My pick to do this job is the New Dial 7-Day Moisturizing Skin Therapy Lotion with Himalayan Pink Minerals and the Extra Dry Lotion with Shea Butter. Just like its name, it keeps my skin so soft and hydrated for up to seven days. It has nutrients and minerals that penetrate deeply in the skin giving better results. I’m always a fan of Dial’s products because I’m assured with its quality and effectiveness as it really made my skin radiant, smooth and looking so fresh. Plus this moisturizing lotion is non-greasy so it looks like nothing was put in my skin. These lotions are available in dry and firming formulas and also in men’s variants too!

WHAT ARE SOME PRODUCTS YOU ARE LOVING THIS MONTH?  I’D LOVE TO KNOW!

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