#ad: @Univision and @jnjcares Want You to Vote for "The Family of Today" #LaFamiliadeHoy

#ad: This is a compensated post in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson and Latina Bloggers Connect, All Opinions Expressed are 100% my own. I have been selected among a group of Latina Bloggers to help spread awareness about Johnson & Johnson and Univision's "La Familia De Hoy" campaign. See below for additional disclosure information.

Today's Modern Family is a bit more complex in structure, but at it's core are people who love one another un-conditionally, and parents who want to see their children do that much better than they ever could. For me, my family is filled with people who are in every sense of the word 'my family' although not all are related by blood or marriage. It's a different kind of family, the friends that have really been there are the sisters and brothers that I didn't get from God, my mother's childhood friends were the Aunts I wasn't given by blood, who all have very special places in my heart.

I think for the most part the notion of a 'traditional' family has been very much turned on it's head in this day and age. And that's a good thing.

Here is one of my favorite 'family photos:

That's me laughing hard about to cut my birthday cake!

In this picture on the very right and very left are my 'Tia's'/Aunts, they are not my Aunts by blood, but by something more meaningful, time and love. They were there every step of the way in my life and still are! Their children are my 'cousins' even though we are not related and many modern day families of 'today' are comprised of people who are not always related by blood or marriage ties.

Johnson & Johnson has partnered with Univision to find La Familia de Hoy, and they want your help! You get to check out the family's profiles and determine who you think should become a 'spokesfamily' for Johnson & Johnson in 2014

While I can easily see any of the families that are in the running do a great job, the Olivera family resonated most with me, the dad who is a semi pro football player also owns his own business and takes time to coach as well. I can relate to his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to the difficult thing called work/life balance.

Though he passed when I was very young, my dad also enjoyed his sports, he played baseball, loved his daughters very much and my mom she was the Entrepreneur, she taught me that you don't have to be chained to a cubicle to make a living or a life.

So Visit the La Familia de Hoy Voting Site to select which family you think should win! If you want to find out who won you can watch the show Sábado Gigante on Univsion on Saturday, December 21, 2013 (check your local listings for the exact time in your area).

My Take:

The face of today's family is changing, but the glue that keeps families strong will never change, it's love, respect, communication and support! I love that Johnson & Johnson is looking for 'Today's Family' and letting voters help determine what that looks like for us. As a Latina, I love that there will be a family in campaigns that look a lot closer to mine than 'Traditional Media' has offered in the past. Without the cheesy stereotypes, without the generalizations, just a real family being celebrated for what they do best, celebrating life's everyday moments!

Butterflies tell us which family ultimately got your vote? Was it my pick, The Olivera Family? or was it The López or Jiménez Family?

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign/Sponsored Post brought to you by Johnson & Johnson and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Global Motherhood Unites Mothers Around The World #InspireCare

These photos represent a few of the many programs supported by Johnson & Johnson and its partner organizations to serve the health and well-being of communities and people around the world. Read more about these programs and others by visiting: http://www.jnj.com/connect/caring/

Have you ever stopped to think about the Global Impact of Motherhood? It's certainly very common to think that Mothers solely impact their children and so easy to forget that the impact of a Mother is actually much wider spread! The values that you are instilling in your child affect every single person your child comes in contact with.

That was then:

Left: Mama Butterfly, Right: (A very young) Ascending Butterfly

For me, my inspiration and my example is my Mom, she has faced more challenges in her lifetime than this post has room for, but it's her grace under fire and strong example that has been my greatest legacy and greatest gift from her. My Father passed away when I was very young and my Mother had to be a Mom and a Dad and a sole provider for her family, and a caregiver to her own Mother at a very early age which certainly wasn't easy. She made it all look easy though!

And this year when I faced an incredibly daunting Medical Challenge she was right there with me the whole time! As a Cancer Survivor she was able to help me overcome my own Medical Setback and help me to navigate the difficult waters that patients run into when it comes to the Medical System.

This is now:

Left: Ascending Butterfly, Right: Mama Butterfly at 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon

Johnson & Johnson and its partners support many programs that meet and cater to the needs of moms and babies in the United States and around the world.  They have been committed, for many years, to touching more than one billion people’s lives daily through health care products, services, and a variety of programs that cater to the needs of the community.  At this year’s LATISM 2012 conference, they will be presenting some of these programs under the theme “global motherhood.” If you are attending the conference, be sure to visit suite Arboretum II during the LATISM 2012 conference to talk to Johnson & Johnson and its partners about its global motherhood initiatives.

Not attending the conference? No worries, you can get involved by helping to raise awareness for global motherhood by using your social networks to help spread the word! By using the Hashtag #InspireCare on twitter you can not only read stories about Motherhood across a wide variety of Blogs, you can also join in the conversation and raise awareness in support of Johnson & Johnson's Global Efforts!

And because you know I love ending things with a question so you can join in the conversation, here are today's questions:

What inspires you to make sure that your family is healthy and thriving every day? Is there a person who inspires you to be the best mother you can be?

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This sponsored post was written as part of a blogging campaign via Johnson & Johnson and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Questions about our Disclosure? Visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html