The DQ® brand today launched The hAPPiest Sweeps Ever™ — a mobile game and sweepstakes created with The Coca-Cola Company (NASDAQ: COKE). Fans can enter daily at any DQ location, excluding locations in Texas, for the chance to win DQ gift cards and epic family vacations, including NASCAR® VIP Race and Universal Orlando Resort™ experiences. 

"This sweepstake embodies summer with games, adventure, and lasting family memories," said Maria Hokanson, Executive Vice President of Marketing for American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ).  "We're helping fans embrace the playfulness of the season, as well as giving some lucky families once-in-a-lifetime experiences." 

Happy at Your Fingertips: How to Enter

From now through June 30, fans ages 18 years+ can enter The hAPPiest Sweeps Ever™ by following three easy steps:

The hAPPiest Sweeps Ever™ gives fans the chance to win delicious and family-centric prizes, including hundreds of daily giveaways of $5 DQ gift cards, and weekly epic vacation packages, each of which is for up to four people:

Two (2) NASCAR® VIP Experience Trips: A four-day, three-night trip to the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, plus two-day Grandstand tickets and four passes to the NASCAR® Hall of Fame.

Two (2) Universal Orlando Resort Trips: Includes 3-Park 3-Day Park-to-Park tickets, which entitles guest admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure AND Universal’s Volcano Bay on the same day.  Stay at one of Universal’s onsite hotels and this package also includes ground transfers to and from the airport. 

Each trip includes roundtrip coach airfare for four, hotel accommodations, $1,000 for meals and incidentals, and a prize check for up to $1,500 to offset taxes.

Participants are eligible to win the daily prize giveaways more than once, but only have the chance to win one of the four weekly grand prizes. The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the U.S. or District of Columbia, who are 18 years or older. Official rules can be found at DQ.com/happiestsweepsever/rules

For more information on the DQ brand, visit DairyQueen.com and connect on social media using @DairyQueen and #HappyTastesGood.

Hey guys!! My name's Yaslin I'm Tainas Daughter and today I'll be taking over the Blog :) 

Today I'll be talking (writing hehe) about my struggle with acne

Ever since I can remember I’ve always had problems with my skin. During my early teens, I would get pimples in my forehead which made me feel like I was growing little horns. Then during my later teenage years, my forehead was filled with little bumps that would not go away no matter how much I tried. Finally my last two years of high school my face was completely clear I could go out and not be self-conscious about what people thought, and I was happy. 

But then I started working in fast food and everything went downhill. I would get pimples in my cheeks, something that hadn’t happened before. I wanted to hide my face and started using makeup which made my pores more clogged. It was a struggle between choosing to go out and let everyone see me without makeup and using makeup and making my face worse. I didn’t want to go out and face the world bare-faced so I started going to the dermatologist. After about two months my face was pimple free, unfortunately, I was left with hyperpigmentation. 

I tried everything; face masks, bleaching Creams, toners, and nothing worked. But one day I came across Banish and I decided to give it a chance. Nothing had worked as well as the Banish derma-roller, it made my hyperpigmentation lighter and my scars less visible. I was amazed by the results. The way a derma-roller work is by creating micro tears into your skin which tricks your skin into creating collagen. 

Every two weeks during the night time after I shower I soak the derma-roller in alcohol for about five minutes while in the meantime I clean my face with toner. After the two minutes have passed I begin derma-rolling by gently pressing it against my skin. It can be moved in either direction as long as you are lifting it off before every roll. after rolling it five to seven times I apply vitamin C serum or Rose-hip Oil. After I am finished using my derma - roller I soak it again for about 5 minutes and let it dry before putting it back in its packaging. 

As a college student, I am saving my own money to buy my products and I truly believe that everything I’ve spent on Banish products has been worth it. 

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE DERMA ROLLER I'VE USED.

Back in October, I've shared with you how U by Kotex and the Alliance of Period Supplies were helping women in need by donating two product for every purchase made through Walmart in-store or online, and the most amazing part was Walmart was donating $25,000 to the Alliance for Period Supplies. 

The main objective of this campaign was to build awareness of this issue. It's unbelievable that 1 in 4 women have struggled to purchase period supplies products in the past year due to lack of income. 

I am glad to say that thanks to your help and the amazing help of U by Kotex® and Walmart - 5 Million Period Products to women in need and  $25K to the Alliance of Period Supplies has been donated. HOW AWESOME IS THAT! 👍💕

As a THANK YOU for your amazing response to this wonderful campaign, you can now take advantage of the Motrin +UbK Ibotta offer.

What's Ibotta?

Ibotta is a smart new way to earn cash when you shop. It's better than coupons - giving you cash back offers at your favorite grocery and retail stores.

But wait. The campaign isn't over! 

You can still support this cause and women in need.  When you buy period supplies for yourself U by Kotex will donate 2 products.

Every woman at some time of age begins their periods. But did you know, 1 in 4 women have struggled to purchase period supplies products in the past year due to lack of income.

Can you imagine that something so basic and so essential for every woman is something that many women are struggling with? It's so sad that these women in need are affected in their daily routines by a product so basic that we should all be able to have at hand.

This is a product that we don't give much importance to and we don't realize that many women do not have this benefit. 

That's why something has to change ! And today you and I have the opportunity to help.

I am glad to partner with U by Kotex® the founding sponsor of The Alliance for Period Supplies. This new national organization that was founded in May 2018, is helping to ensure that individuals in need have access to essential period products required to participate fully in daily life. 

Their mission is to raise awareness of the millions of women living in poverty who miss out on daily life because they lack access to period supplies. 

“Find out who we can help contribute 5 million period products to women in need” 

Si hay algo que me hace gritar como una niña chiquita desesperada son los roller coasters. No son las subidas lo que me da terror, sino las bajadas. No tengo ningún problema para subir, si no para bajar.

Así es la vida real, todos queremos vivir en la cima, en la fase del éxito. Pero... podremos vivir en los momentos bajos. Puedes tu soportar la presión al momento de bajar? 

En alguna ocasión leí sobre un puente que cedió bajo la presión, y se derrumbó. Veras la presión es buena hasta cierto punto porque nos saca de nuestro lugar de confort.  Es como una manguera, presiona el orificio y veras como sale disparada el agua con presión y llega mucho más lejos, lo mismo sucede en nuestras vidas, si ejercitas la cantidad necesaria de presión llegaras más lejos, nos llevara a otro nivel. Pero en ocasiones demasiada presión, a sí como el puente, nos hará derrumbarnos. 

¿Alguna vez te has sentido presionado más allá de la medida que puedes soportar?

Yo sí. 

En algunas ocasiones de mi vida la presión ha sido tanta que lo único que he podido hacer es gritar como esa niña chiquita asustada que va de bajada en un enorme roller coaster. 

Tratar de complacer a todo mundo siempre ha sido esa presión que me ha hecho sentir como que el puente se va a derrumbara en cualquier momento. Escuche a alguien una vez decir esto" No sé cuál se la receta para la felicidad, pero tratar de complacer a todo mundo en la receta para el fracaso". Cuanta verdad ! 

Para mí fue triste ver como a una persona que respete y valore demasiado, le di todo mi apoyo incondicional y trate de complacer en todo momento, me diera la espalda y desechara todo por la borda. 

Tiene que haber un punto en nuestras vidas donde digamos, No, ya basta, es suficiente. Tenemos que dejar de vivir bajo las expectativas de otra gente, y comenzar a decir, no, no puedo hacer eso. 

Toma bastante valor decir "NO". Es muy difícil dejar de ser el héroe de todo mundo. De tus hijos, de la familia, de los amigos. No somos superwomen, no somos de hierro, somos de carne y hueso, atravesamos dificultades y la presión nos ahoga igual que a cualquier otra persona. 

No dejes que la presión derrumbe tu puente, toma un tiempo para reflexionar que/quien es lo que te está haciendo daño, que/quien es lo que te está causando dolor y comienza a pensar en ti. 

Mira Cuántas personas te miran y luego cuentan Cuántas personas están...

XO
Taina. 

1 Corintios 12:12-27
17 Si todo el cuerpo fuera ojo, ¿qué sería del oído? Si todo fuera oído, ¿qué sería del olfato? 18 Ahora bien, Dios ha colocado a cada uno de los miembros en el cuerpo según le agradó. 

Salmos 100 :3 Reconoced que Jehová es Dios; Él nos hizo, y no nosotros a nosotros mismos; Pueblo suyo somos, y ovejas de su prado.

XO
Taina. 

A lot of joy comes from parenting…but a lot of stress comes with it as well. Especially when you have fingers pointing at you, seeing every movement or decision you make. The stress and desire to be approved parents by society or by our family always end up overwhelming us.

It's hard to know what to let go of as parents, as we want to accomplish it all, often to the detriment of ourselves and our children. 

You want to be a happy parent—but your countless responsibilities make this goal challenging! Don’t lose hope just yet. 

I invite you to read a list of 15 things that keep you from happy parenting. Read through them. Be honest with yourself. Then let them go. Allow yourself to be a happy parent for your child—and yourself!

The below article was written from parenting expert, mother of 5 and former teacher, Carol Tuttle,  author of  The Child Whisperer 

"15 Things You Should Give Up to Be a Happy Parent."

Here's the list of 15 things you should give up—and then watch your happiness take off:

1. Give up “supposed to”

We were conditioned by our own early family experiences to believe that parenthood or childhood are supposed to look a certain way. But if you hold onto the way things are “supposed” to be, you may miss enjoying how they actually are. Be willing to question what you prioritize as a parent and why.

2. Give up keeping score

What does your mental score-card keep track of: which parent does more? Who’s most consistent? Which mom contributes most in your child’s class? Who’s most involved in your homeschool group?

Keeping score wastes energy. Just do what you feel inspired and able to do. Don’t feel obligated by others’ contributions. Don’t obligate them to live up to yours.

3. Give up force

As a parent, you have a responsibility to set boundaries. But if a child consistently resists a certain boundary, don’t just force them to comply. Ask yourself and your child, “Why?”

Think of yourself as your child’s trusted and effective guide, not their dictator. When they experience you as their guide, they’re more likely to listen, which means less struggle and frustration for both of you.

4. Give up yelling

If you’re not a yeller, this one isn’t for you. But if you tend to yell when you’re feeling upset, consider this question: has yelling strengthened your relationship with your child—or not?

Yelling usually happens in anger, and it often frightens and intimidates children. It destroys trust and a child’s feeling of safety. Pay attention to times and circumstances when you yell and then commit to changing those scenarios in the future.

5. Give up your need to look perfect

Hear me now: there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Embrace your imperfections. Laugh at yourself. The best parents are willing to always learn, change, and improve.

6. Give up worry

Compulsive worrying doesn’t make your child any safer. It doesn’t make you any happier. And it teaches your children to live in fear. Release your worries, and cultivate gratitude for your child’s safety in the present moment.

7. Give up one-size-fits-all rules

Every child is unique. What works for one won’t always work for another. Certain standard rules apply across the board (for example, everyone needs to speak respectfully). But consider the possibility that being a fair parent doesn’t mean doing the exact same thing in the exact same way for every child.

8. Give up the food fight

If you demand a certain number of bites from your children, you set yourself up for struggle at the table—and you set your children up for struggles with food later in life.

Guide, direct, encourage and prepare healthy food. Let your child voice their preferences. Focus on healthy overall patterns, rather than forcing a certain regimen at a specific meal.

9. Give up your role as events coordinator

If you feel like parenthood is a treadmill you can’t keep up with, you may be taking too much responsibility for your children’s time. Make plans that support your children’s development, but don’t map out every minute for them.

Downtime is supportive for many children. Moments of boredom allow children to take responsibility for their own time. Make resources available, and then let your children create the experience they want. You’ll all be happier.

10. Give up unhealthy self-sacrifice

As a parent, you generously give love, time, and attention. But you shouldn’t give up your core self just because you’re a parent. When you ignore your basic needs, you teach your children that when they grow up, they shouldn’t take care of themselves.

11. Give up guilt

Parents sometimes fall into the self-sacrifice trap because they feel unnecessary guilt. Guilt can be useful if you use it to recognize where you need to make changes. But overwhelming, paralyzing guilt that makes you feel worthless as a person or parent doesn’t accomplish anything. You are enough, just as you are.

12. Give up one-sided decisions

As the parent, you often have the final say. But you and your child will both be happier if it’s not the only say. When it’s appropriate to do so, involve your child in decisions that will affect them. By enrolling children in the decision-making process, you’ll empower them to make their own good decisions in the future.

13. Give up negative messages

So many messages are repeated to children: you’re too loud, you’re too quiet, you ask too many questions, you’re exhausting, you’re demanding, you’re too talkative, you should make more friends, quit moving, speak up, settle down, smile more.

Try this instead: comment on the exact same behavior in a positive way. For example, you can see the trait of, “You’re too talkative,” as “You really make friends easily.”

14. Give up your own childhood story

What did you experience that you most want your children to avoid? Being teased at school? Lack of money? Feeling not-enough? Your fears may actually set up that same pattern to be re-created. Don’t trap your children now in your fears of the past. Let them go. Create what you want, not what you don’t want.

15. Give up on giving up

I’ve heard from parents who worry that they’ve damaged their child, or that they’ve made a mistake that will last a lifetime. I’ve said this many times:

It’s never too late to be a better, happier parent.

Whether your children are 4 or 40, they respond to genuine love from their parents. The effects of mistakes may take a little longer to overcome if your child is older, but it’s never impossible to show up as the happy, supportive parent that you are meant to be. Don’t give up! You have everything you need to be a good parent.

Ok, deep breath. It’s time to let go of whatever keeps you stuck and let the happiness in!

Carol Tuttle is the CEO of Live Your Truth, LLC and author of the best-selling parenting book, The Child Whisperer: the Ultimate Handbook for Raising Happy, Successful, Cooperative Children, which has sold over 75,000 copies worldwide. She also hosts an immensely popular parenting podcast, that hits weekly on important parenting issues commonly experienced by families of all backgrounds. For more information, please visit, www.thechildwhisperer.com.

XOXO
Taina.