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VIPKID: Most Frequently Asked Questions

Many people are interested in joining our company, but find themselves unsure of what that might mean. Thus, I put together a quick list of the questions I am typically asked. If your question is not included, please follow-up with me regarding your inquiry. Here are the most common queries, in no particular order:

1. How much can you make?

When you join VIPKID, you can make anywhere between $14-$22 per hour, and the rate is based on your first interview with the company (make it a good one!). There are incentives for basic actions, like showing up to class on time and ending on time, too. Thus, if you are hired at $16 per hour, for example, but manage to teach two classes in that hour well, you really walk away with $18 for that time block.

2. What is the teaching like?

The classes are each 25-minutes long, one-on-one. There is a sister organization you can apply to join, the Jack Ma Foundation, which teaches classes of students in rural China. In this case, you do teach whole classes. Most of our VIPKID clientele are affluent; the children have access to computers and technology in their homes. In the rural education project, that is not the case.

Teaching my precious Jack Ma Foundation students.

3. What are the teaching hours?

Because of the time zone difference, optimum teaching hours are between 8 pm and 8 am our time. We are considered independent contractors, not employees, and we can pick our own hours (when we teach, how often and at what times). “Peak Peak time slots” (those that are most likely to be booked) are currently 6-8 am. This will change to 5-7 am when daylight savings time ends.

I know teachers that instruct most of their classes in the mornings, and others that prefer evenings. Currently, I do a small mix of both. It’s really up to you and what works best in your current situation.

4. Do we have to lesson plan or grade?

Not at all. All the curriculum is provided, and at the end of every lesson, you type a brief review of how your student did. At the end of assessments, rubrics that you can easily fill out are provided.

There is no grading of papers, either. Everything is done 100% electronically. Hooray for saving trees, am I right?!

5. Is there accountability?

I’m so glad you asked! Of course there is. Each lesson is filmed from the moment you begin until you finish. Parents are encouraged to rate teachers on a scale of 1-5 apples. In the event that you receive less of a rating than you think you deserve, you are able to playback the video, watch yourself, and contact the company.

6. Are my taxes automatically taken out?

They are not, but they will give you a 1099 at the end of the year. You will need to pay taxes on it, so depending on what bracket you fall into, be prepared and plan accordingly.

7. Do you enjoy it? What are your least favorite parts of the job?

I LOVE it! I get to teach and contribute to our family financially in the comfort of our home. Most mornings I teach in my pajama pants and a t-shirt (they only see our torsos). The children are precious and eager to learn! The bonds I have formed with them and their parents are unique and special. I especially enjoy working for the Jack Ma Foundation, and seeing 35-40 beautiful Chinese faces on my computer screen twice a week.

The hours can be challenging. In fact, when I have referrals that do not continue with us, it is because they found the time difference too taxing. I am (currently) slowly transitioning from teaching in the wee hours of the morning to evenings. I’ll let you know how that goes.

8. What does my online classroom need to look like? What if I don’t have space in my house to sacrifice?

There is no need to reinvent the wheel. We have teachers all over the world, since it is a remote job. Some that live in apartments in New York City literally use shower curtains as their backgrounds. Traveling educators use a science project board as their background.

Keep it simple. You are the face of the business you are building. This also goes for props. The main items I use are flashcards, and occasionally a small white board. Since I work with 4 and 5-year olds, I have characters that I have printed (the company and fellow teachers provide us with helpful links) and glued onto popsicle sticks. That’s it!

9. Can I do this full-time, and are there benefits?

Yes, you can certainly work for VIPKID full-time, but the job does not come with benefits. I have heard of instructors leaving their traditional brick and mortar schools when they join our company. I’m not sure when they sleep, but they do very well, earning up to $56,000 their first year.

Most of us working for VIPKID do it as a part-time job in order to earn supplemental income.

10. What are some of the biggest learning curves you have experienced?

There are many cultural differences between the US and China that become apparent as you work for VIPKID. And that’s because China was a country I was already familiar with and loved! Even so, sometimes the rigidity of working for them takes me by surprise.

Learning how to teach via my computer posed some new challenges. I would liken it to teaching while looking in a mirror; everything is backwards and you need to get used to presenting and holding items up to the screen. It is imperative that you have a strong internet connection at home. There will be times that you or your student experience technical difficulties. If it happens on the student’s end, you are not penalized. You can be if it happens on yours.

As I stated in the beginning, please do not hesitate to contact me if I did not cover your particular question. There is never any pressure from me when you apply. I come alongside you as you need me to. This is my referral link. My code is GIANA0001 (those are zeroes). I look forward to you joining us!

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Dear Mr. Miller and Zach Brooks

Mr. Miller

As happens more frequently than I’d like to admit, I was shopping at H-E-B recently in my workout clothes (which may or may not result in actually working out) when I ran into someone of utmost importance. Purse in hand, I glanced at the plants in the entryway of the store, checking for sales, when I saw a familiar figure out of the corner of my right eye.

It was Mr. Miller, my beloved 8th grade Science teacher, at Cummings Middle School. I had run into him a few times over the years, but on this day, he looked quite different. “Mr. Miller!” I waved. “Oh, hey…” he responded, smiling with a hoarse voice, and giving me a side squeeze. He felt quite thin under my arm, and somewhat frail. I glanced up at him and saw he wore a bandana over his head, covered with a cap, and he was missing his typically thick eyebrows.

We began conversing like two old friends. I asked how he was, and he honestly and graciously told me the truth: he was not well. He had just finished about 6 rounds of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with throat cancer. “Oh, no” I lamented,”I’m so sorry.” He shared that his prognosis was good, but the treatment had been harsh. As he continued talking, I listened through a sort of haze. I had a hard time accepting that he, Andy Miller, a lifelong Yoga practitioner and eater of all good things, had cancer. “I know,” he said, “I tried doing things right and still…”

At the end of our brief visit, I told him I would keep him in my prayers, a sincere gesture that seemed so small when spoken out loud. He thanked me and we went our separate ways.

I spent the next several minutes in the grocery store trying not to run into him again. My out-of-body experience clouded my pressing need to purchase food and other essentials. I read through my list and placed items in my cart with a heavy heart. It was not until I drove away from H-E-B that I allowed myself to cry.

Visions of 8th grade rushed my memory. My classmates and I sometimes ate lunch in Mr. Miller’s classroom, because that was the cool thing to do, while munching on Flamin’ Hots, licking the red powder off our fingers. I hated science before being his student and was not especially fond of it afterward. He made lessons relevant, told great stories, was funny and treated us all with respect.

Once my middle school career came to an end, we loosely kept in contact over the years, in large part because my younger sister, Erin, was good friends with his daughter, Rossina. We occasionally visited them in their home, and together with his lovely wife, it was a perpetually peaceful environment.

Zach Brooks

I fell in love with teaching by accident and fell even harder when I met my first group of 5th-grade students in August of 2005. 23-years young, fresh and a possessor of a heal the world mentality, I was ready to inspire my children to dream and chase down their biggest goals.

What I did not anticipate was how much they would inspire me. Originally trained not to show emotion as an educator, there were quite a few times I shed tears that academic year: tears of joy, sadness, frustration, and confusion. Some I couldn’t help but share in front of my pupils, too.

One such student was Zachary Brooks. A handsome fellow, with dark hair, light skin and hazel eyes, he walked with a bounce in his step, had a slightly raspy voice, and was quite the charmer. He also possessed an old soul, which I appreciated (takes one to know one), and we talked all things Rolling Stones, books, life and even The Wiggles (who remembers the “Fruit Salad” song?).

That class was nothing short of magical. I managed to choke out a graduation talk, in between sobbing, on the last day of school. Single and away from family in the state of Iowa, those children were mine. The thought of them moving on to another school was painful. Because of the stage of life I was in, I gave them everything: all my time, love, attention, affection and energy.

The Reunion

Zach Brooks (to my right and your left), and another beloved student from my first class, Michael.

My family and I decided recently it was time to introduce our children to Iowa. Thus, in February, we all boarded a plane and enjoyed a week in the Midwest. Prior to our departure, I posted an all-call on Facebook, inviting friends and former students in the Des Moines area to drop by a small reception a dear friend was hosting for us. Zach was one of the first to respond. “Boom!” he wrote, “count me in.”

He showed up with a cake, some of the best beer in Iowa, a book and a card. I wouldn’t open the card for a couple of days. After tucking the children in for the evening, I sat on the edge of an antique bed in the master bedroom of our AirBnB, and read the following:

Mrs. GH,

First things first, I’m not sure my handwriting has improved much since the 5th grade. Heads up!

When I think back to past educators, mentors and individuals who helped influence my life, very very few had your level of impact.

It’s hard to believe that I can recall so many memories from when I was ten (that was 13 years ago, by the way), but over these past few days, I’ve been able to identify a number of conversations and events from that school year that I’ll never forget.

Whether it was invading Southridge Movie Theater for an early viewing of The Chronicles of Narnia, learning what the word “zany” meant, attempting to bust into a pack of fruit snacks during the ITBS, or the incredible amount of LOVE you had for each and every one of us; all of those thoughts flood my memory with ease.

What an honor it was to be part of your very first class EVER! Thank you for going above and beyond. You’re the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)! Your favorite “Rolling Stoner,” -Zachary Brooks

In the End
 
When I’ve done public speaking gigs to encourage educators, I try to remind them that we have the best job in the world! We can make a rap sheet of why it’s difficult, and argue about how we’re underpaid and unappreciated, but too many have already written and spoken about that.

Bottom line: what we do matters. Few other careers have the potential to inspire whole generations like we do. These two stories I shared belong to a collection engrained in my memory and heart (and sometimes, my computer). I know I’m not alone. So teachers, thank you. Keep fighting the good fight, and please, enjoy summer break!

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Behind the Scenes: Stories by the Seashore

My book, Stories by the Seashore, has been on the market for a little over a week now. I am honored by the support you all have shown: from liking my author page to sharing links, writing reviews and purchasing and reading my stories. Thank you so much!

Within a few days of my book release, I had three people approach me on different occasions and tell me that they, too, would like to write a book one day. Thus, here are my top five steps for making that dream a published reality!

1. Eliminate distractions

I was inspired to write my first book in December of 2017. I decided, shortly thereafter, that if I was serious about accomplishing this goal, I had to get rid of major distractions. In January of 2018, I quit social media cold-turkey (Facebook and Instagram, my main vices).

I didn’t announce it, so some wondered if something happened. I was off of Instagram for about 6 months, and Facebook for 10. It was a rewarding, peaceful time, with those extra, weekly hours going towards my book. Looking back, I have absolutely no regrets.

2. Time is on your side

When I began working on my 40-day devotional in December of 2017, I told myself it would take me a year to complete it—the book would be edited, published and put on the market by December 2018!

Christmas-time rolled around, and I realized that was not a realistic deadline. While I was finished with all 40 entries at the beginning of the month, I still had not sent them to an editor or thought about the book cover. If it was going to be a work of excellence, I needed more time. Ultimately, it was ready and available for purchase on Monday, March 25, 2019.

3. Get help

Those that have gone before you are your friends. Reach out to people that are already published. A cousin through marriage, Sonya, was a lifesaver! She literally saved me thousands of dollars. An author of a couple of books, she told me self-publishing (through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing) was the way to go! (I had researched going through various publishing houses, too.)

She also encouraged me along the way, and reminded me that my book was meant to be read. She went above and beyond, periodically checking in on my progress. “How’s your book coming along?” she’d ask, “I can’t wait to read it!”

4. Find an editor

I cannot stress this point enough. As a writer, I am constantly rereading and editing my work. I call my husband, a voracious reader and excellent writer, my first editor.

We knew this project was big and important enough to merit a professional editor. I had previous writing project experiences where I enjoyed being edited, and others where an editor stripped me of my voice, resulting in my entry sounding quite different.

Sonya reassured me that this was part of the process each time. I was delighted when my highly-qualified editor, Luci, made me sound superb while keeping the overall feel and tone of the book.

Editors make us look good! We would be lost without them.

5. Let go of perfection

That was a difficult phrase for me to write. Once my husband uploaded the manuscript onto Kindle Direct’s program, we constantly went over the entries, introductions, and acknowledgments, tweaking parts each time. We took turns feeling frustrated and wanting to pull our hair out!

We had to get to the point where we said, “We’ve (our whole team) all done our best. It’s ready.” I would like to say this resulted in an absolutely perfect book, but it did not. It is, however, a good book.

Overall, I found self-publishing to be a user-friendly experience as a first-time author. I could not have done it without help, though! If you, too, have a dream to write a book one day, my question for you is, “How can I help?”

Here is the link for my book, Stories by the Seashore.

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The Epitome of a Ninja

In February 2017, my son and I walked into Galvan’s Martial Arts for the first time. They were hosting a free Anti-Bullying Seminar, and I took the opportunity to take my then 5-year-old oldest child on a date. He participated in the self-defense seminar and gushed about the “Ninja Turtle Weapons” (translation: nunchucks, swords, kamas and bo staffs…) displayed on the wall. Typically quite reserved, he had a huge smile on his face the entire time. At the end of our date, he looked at me, and said, “I want to do Taekwondo.” Two years later, he has not lost his passion or drive in studying martial arts.

Run by Emmanuel “Manny” and Martha Galvan, 5th degree and 2nddegree black belts in Taekwondo, respectively, Galvan’s is a medium-sized mixed martial arts school in Brownsville, Texas, that also offers classes in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai Kickboxing. A self-defense student since the age of 3, Mr. Galvan grew up studying the martial arts along with his older and younger brothers.

A lover of stories, Galvan remembers taking an aptitude test in high school. “Every answer I gave, at the end said: You should look into being a Martial Arts instructor,”he continued, “If you do not know martial arts, start doing it now.”

Master Manny, Martha and Alex with Jack at a previous test day.

Martha adds, “When we did start at the beginning, our old school was really small, and it had a window. Meme (the oldest Galvan brother) and Manny were the head instructors,”she smiled, “and Alex (the youngest Galvan), my little sister and I would line up in the front (of the window) as students until we started filling up the school.”She added with a chuckle,“Everyone would come in and we would ask, ‘Oh, how did you hear about us?!’”

Together for more than half of their lives, the Galvan’s display true partnership on and off the mat. As a parent and educator, I am impressed by the discipline displayed by all the students in class, and the ease and organization with which the school is run.

A traditional firstborn, our son toes the line, but if reinforcement is ever needed, all I have to do is say, “Maybe I should talk to Coach Manny. . .”And it is met with a desperate cry of, “No, no!”I know I am not alone in this as a parent.

When we first enrolled Jack at Galvan’s, there was a questionnaire that asked which skill (of those listed) we wanted him to gain. My husband and I quickly agreed: confidence. Comparing our current 7-year-old to a then 5-year-old that started, in many ways, is like looking at another little boy altogether. Where he was slightly cluttered and disorganized, he now keeps a clean bedroom. Where he was nervous and shy, he now takes more initiative and is brave. Teachers at his school have also taken note, sharing fun stories with us.

My husband and I attended our first ultimate fighting party in December with some friends. One of our buddies, Chris, and a guest, both martial arts students, kept swapping stories about a local legend. We listened intently, eyes wide and mouths agape. “Who could this person be?” I thought to myself.

Tales of a man taking down opponents with a single kick or hand strike were swapped. It wasn’t until later in the evening that it was revealed: the person they were talking about was Manny Galvan, our son’s head instructor.

“You would have never guessed, right?” Chris continued, reacting to my face, “he doesn’t go around bragging about how good he is or how everyone is afraid to fight him. He’s humble. He’s the epitome of a ninja.” 

As the African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I am forever thankful that Galvan’s Martial Arts is part of our village.

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How Giana Got Her Grin Back

When I was in the 5th grade, I had a crush on a boy with the longest and curliest eyelashes I have ever seen. A couple of girlfriends approached him and asked if he liked me. He confirmed that yes, in fact, he did like me, but he did not like my teeth or my laugh. As someone who has been fond of laughter since birth, his comments crushed me. They did not, however, keep me from smiling. Our relationship was short-lived.

I wore braces for two years as an adolescent, crossing the US-Mexico border with my mom each month to receive tightening. Orthodontics were much more affordable in Mexico, and I grew up frequenting Brownsville’s sister city, Matamoros, when needed. The result: near perfect teeth! (See photo on right.)

I wore my retainer religiously for many years, and then lost it! I became pregnant soon after with my first child, and did not feel comfortable crossing the border to visit my orthodontist as I did in my younger years. Over time (10 years), my teeth began to shift. (See photo on left.) Three children later, I was finally ready to do something about it. Insert: Smile Direct Club!

Smile Direct uses invisible aligners (see photo on right) to put your teeth back in order! I love that you can’t tell I’m wearing them! I was surprised at how gentle the process has been (it takes 6 months, on average, from start to finish). Of course, there is some discomfort since your choppers are being relocated, but it was nothing Ibuprofen couldn’t handle in my case.

The company had everything I was looking for: affordability ($80 per month-roughly $2,000 overall), versatility (you take off the invisible aligners every time you eat) and legitimacy (I read countless success stories online).

While I cannot speak for what the process would be like for someone that did not wear braces as a child, this process has been much easier than the two years I endured metal and rubber bands on my teeth.

You receive all of the aligners upfront, once you are approved. The process of being accepted involves taking two molds of your teeth and sending in those samples. The step-by-step process is user friendly, and you need the help of one other person to complete it. After that, a state certified orthodontist and dentist work closely at personalizing your aligners! That’s it!

If you have been wanting to take the plunge but have been hesitant due to lack of information, please direct any questions or inquiries to me! I officially became an ambassador last semester (which sounds fancy, but simply means I can represent our product).

If you are ready to begin your journey, click here.

I would love to help you get the smile you’ve been dreaming of!

P.S. I would have totally rocked the gap had I not found Smile Direct!

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VIPKID: My Year in a Nutshell

Last month, I celebrated one year of working with VIPKID!  13 months in, I still feel like I landed my dream job!  Below, you will find a quick explanation of what our company is, a series of highlights from my job, and why you, too, should join VIPKID.

VIPKID is a Chinese company that hires teachers to teach ESL to students.  Though it originally started in China, we employ teachers all over the world (more than 40,000 presently!).  We also have young participants from other countries.  Most of us work part-time, earning anywhere between $14-$22 an hour with added incentives (for showing up on time and ending class on time, etc).

Though I was originally hired to teach one-on-one, the other opportunities I was given were nothing short of life-changing!  Through our company, I applied for the Jack Ma Project, a sister organization that helps bring educational resources to the rural areas of China.  With VIPKID, most of our students live in large cities and have access to technological resources.  Some of the pupils in our rural projects live in mountainous areas and walk a couple of hours to get to school (see video of my precious Jack Ma students below).

Our community and leaders are constantly working to improve the experience on both ends, for the educators and the educated.  Occasionally we are sent updates that include new ways to work for the company.  I seized one months into being employed, and my husband and I went on to make a series of educational videos for VIPKID.  I enjoy teaching, my husband likes filming, and we were paid to boot!

The bonds I have formed with my students and their parents is a pleasant surprise.  I was not sure how that was going to work with the distance.   As it turns out, certain themes, like love, are universal.  Bonuses have included:  international friendships for my children, my multitalented students making great connections, and the use of fun props (see photos).
If you are interested in applying for VIPKID, please click here (requirements are a 4-year degree in any field and teaching experience).  I have successfully referred 7 other teachers and would love to add you to the list!  Come help us, “change lives without uprooting your own.”

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What NOT to Do When Buying and Selling a Home

Months ago, I envisioned writing my first blog entry (post social media break) on the ins and outs of executing a contingency buy (selling our home in order to purchase another).  I read through all the necessary exchanges, pinned a variety of sources and ecstatically entered the world of listing my home for sale.  Staging?  Check!  Decluttering?  Double-check!  Shared to social media outlets?  Yes!

Instead, I will share about what not to do.  Though we did, thankfully, accept an offer on our home within three weeks, the process was not nearly as clear-cut as I anticipated.  There were plenty of hiccups along the way.  I present the top four DON’TS of selling and purchasing a home:

4. Purchase another home before selling yours.

The idea sounds terrible.  Because it is.  We did things backwards in this regard.  We fell in love with a home, presented the offer of a contingency buy through a realtor, and then began the process of staging and listing our home for sale.  We were under contract with the new house and all parties were on board.

The owners of our new space decided to make an offer on a dwelling in the midwest.  They attempted a contingency buy within a contingency buy (Inception, anyone?!).  Two weeks passed and because we did not have a buyer for our house, we released said owners from the contract.

Our hearts were broken, and so were theirs.  While we agreed the whole process was not in vain, it likely could have been avoided had we sold our home first.  

Lesson:  You are the rightful owner of a home when you have the keys in hand.

3.  Let your perspective rise and fall based on consumer and/or realtor feedback.

Shortly after listing our home, our realtor began setting up showings for potential buyers.  This was absolutely thrilling! (the first three times…)  Homemade Cinnamon-Sugar Bread?  A must!  Water set out?  You betcha!  Classical music playing in the background?  Check!  Essential oil favorites being diffused?  Of course!

We had about fifteen showings before receiving (and accepting!) an offer.  The two to three weeks in between proved to be a sort of waiting game: waiting for feedback from the other realtors (if they submitted it), feeling ready for someone to bite at a moment’s notice, and praying that the right family would take care of our space.

One of the first feedbacks we received said something to the effect of: “Cute home.  Might want to have crack in the living room inspected; it could potentially scare clients away.”  “What?!”  I thought, “I love that crack; it gives our home character.”  With stained concrete floors throughout, we knew it was nothing to worry about, and that the agent meant well.

Still, the comment stung, and I immediately panicked.  “What if no one wants to purchase our home?!” I lamented to my husband.  “Then it will mean God doesn’t want us to move,” he replied.  Ouch.  Though I knew he was right.

Lesson:  The right people will purchase your home.

2.  Settle for an “alright” home.

I will miss the excitement of looking for the right home.  Truthfully, the search can be downright scary, too!  We looked at a little over ten houses; they appealed to us online.  Many left much to be desired in person.  We began to doubt selling our first home and wondered if we would find one we loved more.

Unless you’re looking for an investment property, or you are into flipping spaces, you want something that is move-in ready.  Don’t settle for a house that is less than what you envision for yourself and/or your family because you fear running out of time.

If any of us (myself, my husband or our realtor) had a “meh” attitude towards the potentials we saw, they were immediately taken off our list.  No questions asked.  This is one of the most important investments you will make; do not settle.

Lesson:  You will buy a home you love.

1.  Take the children to potential homes.

Remember how we did things in the wrong order?  We took the children (all three, ages six and under) to the first home we loved.  They played on the swing set outside (which was a nice bonus!) and were immediately sold, too!

This made it especially confusing for them when things did not work out as we hoped.  We did things differently later. Once all our affairs were certain, and the contracts were in order, we blindfolded them, drove them to our new property and surprised them!  It was a great moment.

Lesson:  Take the children to the new house once it is yours.

We hope you learn from our mistakes and find your dream home.  We give thanks for the new experience of selling our first home and purchasing another.

Now, we move!

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Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Part Deux

Brownsville, can I be honest?  We love our food.  We also enjoy our pachangas. If we were ever forced to (gasp!) choose between the two, I am fairly certain we would keep our delectable treats.

Chain restaurants and taco stands are sprinkled throughout our city.  In recent years, we have taken charge of our health, creating bike pathways that run throughout our municipality, adding exercise equipment to local parks, forming running clubs and bringing in healthier dining options.  Enter: Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

I highly recommend the Chicken Pesto (on flatbread)!

With an “Eat Better, Feel Better” slogan, the cafe is everything it claims to be.  My husband and I enjoyed a rare date with the option to choose any two items on the menu (each).  I chose the Chicken Pesto on flatbread with tomatoes, and a Kale Apple Slaw on the side.  The Cranberry Truffle Smoothie was the perfect choice to balance my taste buds.

The moment I opened my slaw, the strong and delicious smell of kale confirmed I made the right choice.  Each bite was also flavored with green apples, carrots and honey dijon.  A super fan of strawberry banana smoothies, I have no regrets over trying the seasonal Cranberry Truffle.  Just sweet enough, each sip left an essence of white chocolate in my mouth.

The Chicken Apple Club on flatbread is also delicious!

My husband opted for the Chicken Apple Club on flatbread with the same side, and a Pomegranate Plunge to drink (read: a superfood smoothie packed with pomegranate, bananas, strawberries and cranberries).  When asked about his meal, he remarked, “It tastes fresh and healthy, and it’s filling.”  Especially fond of the kale slaw, he added, “It has a good kick.”

My daughters and I attended the grand opening of the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe located at 2715 Boca Chica Blvd (Suite 1), in Brownsville (in the plaza in front of Wal-Mart, next to KFC).  It was encouraging to hear that the commitment to wellness is something many of our city leaders share.

Someone drank most of our Cranberry Truffle smoothie… I’m not mentioning any names.

To celebrate, the cafe will sell 99¢ smoothies all day, in store and at the drive-thru.  “We strongly believe that with simple, high quality ingredients you can eat healthy, and it’s something you enjoy.  We have something for everyone,” shared Marketing Director, Luis Gutierrez.  He continued, “We have 25 different smoothies on the menu; all of them are gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly.”

To access the menu and order online, follow this link.

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National Pasta Day at Russo’s

National Pasta Day

Tuesday, October 17th, is National Pasta Day– as if most of us need an excuse to celebrate the noodle and its bff, marinara sauce!  To encourage a carb-induced coma, I endorse Russo’s New York Pizzeria as your venue.

My husband and I enjoyed a rare treat this weekend.   We went on a double-date with some dear friends that had just renewed their vows after 15 years of marriage.  What better way to celebrate than at the best Italian place in town?

Quality of Service

Our server, Laura Patricia Padilla, made us feel like royalty.  Our complimentary bread (or focaccia) basket was filled until we were content.  The oil we dipped it in was sprinkled with crushed red pepper, a surprise detail I enjoyed.

I ate slowly, savoring every bite, taking in the ambiance of the warm bistro. All around me people chatted.  I relished every part of the meal, especially grateful that littles hands were not clamoring for my attention (or my plate).

At Laura’s suggestion, I ordered the Shrimp Fra Diavolo (read:  shrimp served with spaghetti and spicy marinara sauce).  The shrimp added just the right amount of crunch to balance the soft pasta.  My hubby opted for the New York Village Pizza (think meat and veggie lovers all in one).  When asked about it, he remarked, “It was delicious.”

Padilla prides herself in matching dishes with the perfect wine, while listening to the needs and desires of her guests.  When asked why locals should choose Russo’s for National Pasta Day, she said (in Spanish), “We make the pasta from scratch—it does not come prepackaged or frozen.  Each sauce is made fresh to order, and each plate is individually cooked based on the preferences of each person.  I am committed and trust the products we have here.”  An avid traveler well-versed in eateries, she loves serving people.

Eat at Russo’s 

All week (Monday, the 16th-Friday, the 20th), Russo’s will celebrate National Pasta Day with a Buy One Get One Free on Classic and Specialty Pastas. Check their Facebook page for details.  If you like to plan ahead, here is their online menu for your viewing pleasure.

“Tuesday is going to be a special day at Russo’s,” Padilla concluded, “and we invite you to come taste.  It’s always going to be a pleasure for me to serve you here at Russo’s.”

Ask for Laura Padilla when you go, and tell her I (Giana) sent you.

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Birthday Parties on a Shoestring Budget

I live in a land where children are worshipped.  We Latinos are a fruitful people, and we enjoy any excuse to throw a good party!  Now the mother of three children, huge pachangas where my husband and I shell out anywhere between $500-$1,000 (not exaggerating, this is the norm here) are not feasible.  (And truly, not necessary in our books).

It seems every corner in our city has either a taqueria (taco stand) or a party place.  They seldom run out of business.  Below, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite ways we have celebrated our tots’ birthdays without breaking our budget!

  1.  Family Photos

The cultural norm is to host a monumental party for a little one’s first birthday. While I enjoy an introductory fiesta as much as the next person, my perspective is this:  they are not going to remember.  The celebration is more for the family and to preserve memories than it is for the actual child.

For my firstborn’s first birthday (Jack), we decided on family photos, a cake and  only immediate family members.  Our children have five grandparents that all live in the same city we do (they are extra blessed!), so we had them celebrate the occasion with us.  They wrote letters to Jack with their favorite memories of him from that first year.  It was special, and looking back on the photos and letters warms my heart.  We also had family members come in shifts, so as not to overwhelm our little tike, and it helped us plan around his nap time.

2.  3 is a Big Deal!

Because Jack is the oldest, he sets the precedent, in many ways, for his younger sisters.  Thus, 3rd birthday celebrations are huge in our house.  We invite extended family members and friends.  The idea is that this is a celebration they will remember.  If not, there are plenty of pictures.  Our theory has been proven true with our two oldest kids.  Ceci still talks about her Princess Party we hosted back in March!

3.  Keep Them Busy
 As a former elementary school teacher, this is my motto when working with little ones.  With parties we host, I often implement stations to keep them entertained (on their own).  Favorites include:  sidewalk chalk, lego building centers, nail painting stations, Play-doh and coloring areas, and a cookie decorating table.  Most of these call for supplies we already have in our home (score!) and require little to no prep and maintenance (bonus!).

Plus, it’s fairly easy finding that older child or younger relative that doesn’t mind manning said areas to make sure things don’t get out of hand.

4.  Age=Number of Invited Friends

This is one of the best pieces of advice on birthday milestones I received from a dear friend.  She suggested that the number of friends a child invite be equal to the age they are turning.  For example, when our son turned 5, he invited 5 classmates to his social gathering.  Of course, we had more than 5 guests total, but it was a great strategy.  He insists on doing this for his 6th birthday celebration this year, too!  (This does not include their big 3rd birthday social gatherings).

5.  Pick a Theme and Stick to It!

This is my favorite thing to do in the way of planning.  With one son and two daughters, we
have had quite the array of party themes:  Thomas the Train, Princesses, Voltron (I blame my husband) and coming up:  Ninjago!  Pinterest has been a lifesaver when looking for creative ideas on a budget.

You can dress up, bake, order, and plan games and activities all around the main idea.

And there you have it, folks!  No need to break the bank in order to make special memories with your children.  What are some
ways you celebrate your little ones?

Cupcakes in the classroom are always a hit, too!