Making A Difference

Hey Treasures, thank you for visiting the blog today and for following along with Life as Mrs. Aguila. I am sorry I have not been posting much. I just really have had no time to just sit and write (well type).  I have a lot of ideas for posts so stick with me please.

As you may have heard me say, I want to make a difference.  I want to BE a difference. Have you thought about how you can make a difference?  I think about that often. I believe that as we help others, we help ourselves and as we make a difference for others, we also will be made different but from the inside. 
I heard about Operation Smile through being contacted by CampusBookRentals.  I visited there website to see what it was about and on the side bar were these words, "You can make a difference in a child's life."  Helping others can be fulfilling but helping children has to be one of the greatest feelings.  I knew I had to check out what Operation Smile is doing.

I read this from the Operation Smile website on the “Who We Are” section and just loved it.

“Every child deserves access to safe, quality surgical care. Every child deserves a future filled with hope.

That's where we come in as the largest volunteer-based medical charity providing free cleft surgeries. Since 1982, Operation Smile — through the help of dedicated medical volunteers — has provided more than 3.5 million comprehensive patient evaluations and over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with facial deformities. Our work creates a lasting global impact. We train local doctors in developing countries and strengthen healthcare systems so more children in some of the poorest areas in the world can be treated.

As one of the most prominent charities for children in the world, we work in over 60 countries to heal children’s smiles and bring hope for a better future. Together, we are saving children’s lives.”

You can also see lots of pictures of what Operation Smile is doing on their Pinterest boards. The smiles they are bringing to these children are seriously priceless.

CampusBookRentals (www.campusbookrentals.com) and RentBack (www.RentBack.com) donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented with their “Making a Difference” program.

Making A Difference

Our Making a Difference program is an important part of what we do.

We’re keeping our partnership with Operation Smile and have committed to donate a minimum of 80 additional surgeries between June 2013 and June 2014.

They are an incredible organization that forever changes children’s lives through reconstructive cleft lip surgeries. The long-term improvement in quality of life for the children that receive these surgeries is almost incomprehensible.

We’re honored to support the children of Operation Smile.

Some perks for renting your college textbooks from CampusBookRentals instead of buying are:
-save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-free shipping both ways
-you can highlight in the textbooks
-flexible renting periods
-they donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

"Renting textbooks can save you a lot of money, and is a far superior alternative to buying your books. You can rent your textbooks without the risk of your books becoming devalued by the end of the semester and of course, you can easily rent them online. Over 1 million customers rent textbooks from us at over 5,800 college campuses across the nation. Join the movement, pay less for your college books, and save your hard-earned money."

Here is a video with complete details on how CampusBookRentals works

RentBack is a new initiative that allows college students to rent the textbooks they own to other students which is great because it makes them 2-4x more money compared to what they'd make through buyback options (Selling your books back at the end of the semester). After all the money college students spend on books, making some money back on them sounds like a great idea to me, don’t you agree?
 

Here is a video with information on the RentBack


College students are you already saving money renting your books OR making money by renting your books?  How about making a difference?  You can do all of thee above. For more information visit CampusBookRentals, RentBack, and Operation Smile.

This post was sponsored by CampusBookRentals.com.  All opinions are my own.

More October Confessions

Happy Friday sweet Treasures!! It is  Confessional Friday with  Agape Love Designs and Let it ShineBlog.  I just love this linky party, don’t you?  I always have so much to confess, after all this linky party is every other week.

This is my free time to get it all out and then read what others are confessing. 

I CONFESS…

I totally drew a blank once I started to type.

I love, love the weekend.

I am really loving Fall weather in California, especially at night.

I haven’t been going to my regular church for a couple of weeks now and I miss it.

I have church tonight and all of a sudden I feel so sleepy that I want to go home and take a nap but I won’t.

Since I have a couple hours before church starts, I am going to do some shopping instead of going home to nap.

I have been shopping like crazy, mostly online.

I have only ordered 1 out of the 3 things I posted about here on my last October Confessions.

I ordered this set from A Little Piece of Me Shop.

Salena is the sweet designer behind this shop and you can check out her blog and stalk her on social media like I do. She really has the cutest stuff.

I want mostly everything she posts on Instagram.

I had an amazing birthday this year. I just felt really blessed.

I redid my hair and yes I confess, I love red hair and I love saying Red hair, Don’t Care.

I still have not made it back onto the fitness wagon that I fall off thanks to my birthday month.

I actually gained a couple pounds back this month and I feel so sad about that.

I always say I will start on Monday so hopefully this Monday will be the day I get it together.

I have gray (or white)hairs growing out on my eyebrows and it is not cute at all!!!

I plan on going on a spending fast starting November 1st. My hubby will be really happy to hear that BUT I don't know how I feel about this. Even just thinking about it makes me nervous.

I need to make more time for prayer and reading (and social media should count BUT it doesn't).  God is so good to call us out and hold us accountable to what He has called us to do. We got prayer for this exact thing at service. So thankful for my pastors and my church for being in tune with the Holy Spirit and leading the way.

I was suppose to post this last night and then this morning and just finishing it up right now.

I need to get some sleep because  I have to be at church early tomorrow.

I kinda poured out my heart out on this post and feel a little vulnerable yet through the typing and tears, it also brought me some freedom.

The birthday celebrations still continue with these giveaways but ending soon.
$750 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/27) // $225 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/31)

I hope you enjoy this last weekend in October.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS,

Follow Me Bible Study {Week 3} Delight in God

Hello Beautiful Treasures, how are you doing?  I am sorry I took  break without any notice.  It wasn't really planned but with birthday weekend, I needed a couple of days to catch up at home and do all that fun stuff we love, clean house, do laundry, cook, clean up and start all over again.

  

I did leave you with some great giveaways so I hope you have entered them. 

PIER 1 $50 GIFT CARD (ends 10/24) // $750 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/27) // $225 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/31)

 I am behind on my reading for...

This is what I have so far for this week.

Week 3

"DELIGHT IN GOD"

 

This week’s Scripture Memory

source: Pinterest

This week in a daily break down

I usually will share what stood out to me the most from each day (There is a lot of good points throughout the days, from what I have read and l only share one but this week it will be different because I haven't read through the week or taken notes on all the days.

I hope that you will join us on this bible study and share with us what stood out to you, ask questions and/or leave comments.

 

Day One – Our Father

The creator of the universe is my Father, this chapter really spoke to me. It touches on "God Delights in Us" and "We Delight in God".  These are to two subtitles in this chapter. 

 

In the God Delights In Us section, David Platt says that in the Old Testament God is rarely described as Father; 15 times to be exact. He says in the New Testament, in the Gospels alone, we see God described as Father 165 different times and 164 of them occur when Jesus is teaching His disciples.  He uses the Sermon on the Mount, as an example, where Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray.  You know the Our Father prayer right? David Platt says, "Amazingly, this is the first time in the Bible where anyone is encouraged to pray to God as Father.

 

~~"Jesus' words are both astounding and significant.  As Christians, we have the distinct privilege of knowing, worshipping, talking, and relating to God as "our Father.”  BY DAVID PLATT, page 66

 

What a privilege this is indeed to call the creator.  of the universe Abba Father! Jesus tore the veil and now we can now talk to directly to our Father in heaven.

 

==EVEN NOW RUN INTO HIS ARMS AND SAY, "MY FATHER."=

 

This is somewhat of a struggle for me.  My dad died when I was five.  I have distinctive memories of him and I and then one day we got the sad new that my died dad, even now it brings me to tears.  I remember that day so clearly.  I remember I was in my mom's room playing Lite Brite with my brothers and my cousins. I can still hear my mom screaming "NO, NO, NO"!!!! and banging on the wall while on the phone.

Although I was only five, I had a great relationship with my dad. I was daddy's little girl. My mom says when he would go out, all I would do was cry for him.  The void in my heart even now has me typing and crying.  After all these years it still hurts.  I use to think my dad abandoned me.  I was so young  I didn't understand. I battle or have battled a fear of abandonment because of this deep wound.  This also makes for a difficult time to fully embrace God almighty as my Heavenly Father.  Growing up without my dad was a challenge BUT the void in my heart and the pain deep within me affected me more than I care to admit. 

I want the wall removed so I can run into God's arms and say "My Father."  A part of me even feels guilty because all my life (well since I was five) I longed for my daddy's love and I searched for it. Oh let me tell you, I searched in ALL the wrong places.  encountering Jesus has helped me a lot BUT I am still a work in progress and I know the God reveals to heal.  As this stuff services and the ache in my heart becomes ever so real, I find comfort knowing that through this God is healing me and He promises to never leave me nor forsake me and I can feel safe with my Heavenly Father and hold onto the memories of my daddy.

Thank you for reading. I pray you were blessed.  This book has my attention. Please make sure  to stop by Satisfaction Through Christ’s to read  Christie's discussion on the this week’s reading and also check back with us every Wednesday for the next 3 weeks for the rest of this study.

God bless you and if you have any prayer requests please leave me a comment or send me an email and we will lift up your needs in Jesus name.



Holiday Gift Card Blowout Giveaway

Happy Sunday, lovely Treasures. It is still my birthday weekend so I am bringing you yet another giveaway. See details below and enter using the rafflecopter widget below.
**Be sure to check out these other giveaways I have going on in honor of my birthday celebration with you.
PIER 1 $50 GIFT CARD (ends 10/24) // $750 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/27) // $225 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/31)

Welcome to the Holiday Gift Card Blowout Giveaway!

The Holidays are coming and I am sure everyone could use some extra cash to buy gifts for your loved ones or maybe fund upcoming travel $200 would totally help with all these expenses.

This giveaway is made possible by my awesome co- hosts :

My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life , What Simply Works , Oh Locked Heart , Capri"s Coupon

and a lot more of other fabulous bloggers!

One very lucky person will win a $200 Gift Card of her choice

Giveaway will run until 11/15/2013 at 11:59pm EST, is open worldwide, must be 18 + to enter, and use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!

Disclosure:

Happy Birthday To Me....

Hey Hey Hey, my beautiful treasures. Thank you for stopping by my blog today.  Today is a special day. Honestly this year I really have been on that birthday trip. I am just so thankful to God for the life that I have right now.  I have been through a lot in my life and today I can celebrate another year of life.

My celebration started early in the month my GIG Rachel, kicked off the celebration with dinner, homemade pie, a beautiful scarf.

This week went to lunch with Mr. Aguila and a couple of our co-workers for some Italian food and yesterday my team, (whom I must say I love and appreciate--even if sometime they drive me nuts) Mr. Aguila and I celebrated the whole day--flowers, lunch, dessert, cake and lots of love and laughter.

My cousin April totally surprised me at work today also.  She is so thoughtful and kind and she totally got me today. There was no card and my co-worker at receptionist desks says, "Someone dropped it off." I was like my husband wouldn't send me flowers, (He knows I am allergic LOL) and my cousin is sitting down trying so hard not to laugh. Lovely surprise, she got me a doggie and isn't it the cutest?

 

My day was absolutely a blessing but it didn't stop there.  I had one more surprise from Mr. Aguila. I got an edible arrangement with chocolate covered strawberries, YUMMY!!! I love working with him.

 



 Lastly I got my hair done after work. Happy birthday to me.

 



In celebration of my birthday, I am a part of some amazing giveaways.  Be sure to help me celebrate and enter the giveaways below. I hope you win.

PIER 1 $50 GIFT CARD (ends 10/24) //  $750 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/27) // $225 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/31)

Big Ca$h Giveaway

Hey Treasures, today is my birthday and I wanted to be a part of this giveaway so you can join my celebration.

Welcome to the Halloween Ca$h Giveaway!

Hosted by:

 

and the fantastic Co-Hosts:

    

{Dawn from Dawn's Disaster ** Kera from Nugget on a Budget
Lanaya from R\47/aising Reagan ** Cathy from A Peek Into My Paradise ** Anna from Cuddlebug Cuties
Angel from Sew Crafty Angel ** Janine from Confessions of a Mommyaholic ** Katie from He Calls Me Grace
Click on our buttons to meet us!}


You know how "the thing" in blogging lately are CASH giveaways?  Well, how could we miss out on a fantastic way to make your day?  The eight of us have teamed up with a great group of bloggers to find TWO WINNERS for $200 PayPal CASH or $25 PayPal CASH!  To enter, please complete the tasks below.  Only the first entry is required, all others are optional.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please read the Terms & Conditions on the Rafflecopter.  This giveaway was compiled by Dawn's Disaster, Nugget on a Budget and Beanie Blogger Opportunities.  If you would like to participate in future giveaways with Beanie Blogger Opportunities, please sign up HERE for future notifications.

Mrs Aguilas Avon and Mark Shop

Hello my lovely Treasures, how's everybody doing today?
So today I wanted to do a quick post to share my business with you .

I am an Avon/Mark representative. Even though this is big name and well known cosmetics company, this is my small business. I purchase my own catalogs from them and all my supplies, samples and do my own marketing (of course using some tools provided by Avon/Mark).  ONE of my dreams is to have babies (praying for twins) and be a SAHM but still have income coming in, of course. I started my business in Jan. 2013 and I have a great local customer base. I use to sell before I got married and now I started again. 

When I first started blogging, I wanted to share all about Avon and Mark on here but that isn't how it has gone. I am a makeup junkie. Love, Love, Love make up. I have always bought higher end cosmetics plus my stash of Avon and Mark items. Each time I got a catalog, (View brochure here) I placed an order. So I not only sell this stuff but I buy it and use it as well.  With online shopping being so popular these days, my goal is to grow my online customer base and increase my online business.

 

Avon/Mark has a little bit of everything and they always have some amazing sales. AVON is more than just cosmetics and not only for women. We now have so many categories such as, fragrance, fashion, skin care, men's, babies, children, foot care, nail polishes, shoes, jewelry, candles and so much more.  You can shop my website by these different categories or browse the digital catalog. Orders on my website over $30 have free shipping. Take that e.l.f. cosmetics (they have free shipping on orders over $35) You can also sign up for email updates that will look like the picture below. My emails often include free shipping promotions and special offers, sign up here.

 

So do you buy AVON/MARK? Do you have an Avon YOUNG lady? What do you buy from Avon? Do you have a holy grail item from Avon and/or Mark? 

 

 

On my right side bar I have treasures with my social media pages for my blog and for my shop as well.  I love social media so be sure to follow me, I have Facebook pages for my blog and shop and Pinterest boards for my blog and shop and I share Avon/Mark on my social media often.

 

Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter // Keek

 

Thank you for stopping by.