Whoa! 2011 Really?

Wow - the blogging world has changed and I am feelin' like a newbie...guess I kinda am since I haven't posted since 2011! What can I say? Life happened and time does not stop...I know that is not news to anyone reading this but, I think it's time to use this site as an outlet for all things. Creativity, stress relief, kids milestones, family life, decorating redos and anything else that strikes me as bloggable. (is that a word? did I spell that right?) Eh...in other words....I'm Back! :)

So, the kids have grown. So when I say grown, I mean they are taller than me. And that makes it difficult for me to discipline when they are eye level. Feel like I'm talking to an adult. Hmmm. Who knew. (My mom did, she's been there, done that.) They are both very much into soccer and searching out colleges. What?!? Yes, but here comes the tricky part, our son is a 6th grader (heading to Jr. High in the Fall) and our daughter is in High School (heading into her sophmore year in the Fall). When did this happen? While I was watching. I love seeing them experience things and come "into their own." They both have had issues to deal with, whether it was friends or grades or teachers or coaches, they have handled most things on their own. I hope that means that we are doing our parenting well. Time will tell. Love them like no other.

On another topic, I turned 40 last year. :/ Yeah, not what I expected, but not bad. Husband threw a surprise party and I was completely surprised. Still not sure how he pulled that off but I know he had help. (sisters) Anyway, my next birthday is a few months away and I will live in the 40's for a while and fight the 50's every step of the way.

Husband is well, working hard to provide for us and we love him for it. And of course, for all he does for us. He, coincidentally, is 43 today. Whew. Again, where does that time think it's flying to? Definitely getting away from me.

So here I am, ready to accept that I need to use blogging as an outlet and hope that I can rekindle some of those blogging relationships. Chaos is optional, but always ensues. B:)

Oops....

So it has been nearly a year since I posted that I was going to post more often. Yep, I failed. Life happened and I am guilty of letting it. So here goes the long story short....Grace played soccer in the fall and the winter and the spring. I coached her. Logan played soccer in the fall and baseball in the spring and I tried to be a spectator (operative word is "try"). Stay with me here. There was also the feat of getting Grace through the sixth grade, with all it's trials and tribulations, and there were many. Academically, she was challenged, but with hard work and me in her ear, she prevailed! (I knew she would! Way to go kid!) Logan made it through third grade with a great academic year even with his cousin/best bud in the same class! So glad they were able to experience that together, I would have loved to had a cousin go to the same school and same grade with me.....but enough about me. He is my social butterfly and I know he gets that from me. :) Greg has been working hard as ever and I continue to work as well. I haven't done any of the thrifty shopping that I love and now all my time goes to whatever the kids are doing....sounds so much like my kids run my life, but I assure you they have boundaries that they know they can't cross with mom, but they will surely try with dad! LOL!!

Summer is busy as well - soccer camps, baseball camps, friends and vacations....so stay tuned and I will do my best to be back before next year! B:)

I WANT ONE!! PICK ME!

Ok. So I have seen these from a distance...fell in love and now I want one. You know. To get my craft on. Go here to check it out and enter the giveaway sat Infarrantly Creative...love that long lost sister of mine!

Music, movies and TV

OH! How I love me some good music, movies and even some TV! So from time to time I think I have given an opinion or two about these topics...So I have learned that "Pirates 4" is coming out in May of 2011 and I saw a teaser trailer featuring "Captain Jack," so I thought I would pass it along...so here you go!

BTW - I am a huge fan of the "Pirates" movies...all of them....

Repurposed Footboard...

So guess what I finally made after about 5 years of storing a footboard! A really, really cute bench! Here's the history. We purchased new furniture for our daughter after my son grew out of his crib and needed a big boy bed. We figured it was perfect timing for our daughter and so off to Pier One we went (I was already stalking what I wanted to get her, it was just time to convince the hubby! :). Anyway, the footboard was just a little too much for her room and we decided to hold on to it instead of returning it. So, fast foward to our move about a year ago when the husband finally insisted that we no longer needed it and then the wheels were turning in my head as to how to save it...It really turned into a rescue project on my part...Now all I needed was a makeshift bench, so off to the hardware store I went and returnd with a 12 foot piece of pine and some angle bracket thingys (yes. that is techinically what I call them). I cut it in half and used one half for the seat...enter the husband and his brilliant idea on how to attach the bench to the footboard...and TA DA! A cute, wait, I mean completely adorable, better than I imagined, happy it turned out, saved from the trash...porch seating was born....what do you think!?!

What a cute puppy! Whose is that anyway!? (Ginger's modeling debut, a star is born!)

Torn for Time

I can't believe I haven't posted in 2, count them 1, 2...months! Agh! Embarrassing! In my defense, I discovered Facebook. Yeah, yeah, I know a lot of you can do both. It is definitely a struggle. I definitely feel torn, daily, to divide my time between FB and blogging (not to mention family, work, soccer, baseball, yada yada yada). I have not ever, really, blogged everyday, but I don't think I have ever gone THIS long since I started.....

I have decided that I like the blogging to feed my underdeveloped, creative gene and that I enjoy the connection and being fed my need to stay that way through FB. Still trying to decide if I want to connect the two. Time will tell.

Until I decide, I found another blog to stalk...oops, I meant follow. at a very safe distance. at least two blogs between....you can check out what I mean here.

I'll be better about checking in....promise.

VALENTINE FLOP!

FUUURRRR REAL!!!! It's my own fault. I was taking the easy way out....ummm, yeah, lesson learned....who knew?(and Carrie if you say you knew, I don't want to hear it!)

See, I had just come off of Christmas baking and we have finally eaten (mostly by the kids) all the sugar cookies that I made and decorated and kept frozen so we didn't eatthemallinonesitting...soo I was trying to think of someway to re-load the cookie jar with cute Valentine cookies on the "easy" without go to Eddies and spending $4.50 per cookie. Are you with me? Enter: Pillsbury Dough Boy. I bought a this package and it said it made 24 sugar cookies with these cute little hearts...no work required by me. Hmmm (tapped forehead like Pooh Bear; think, think, think) So I thought, two birds with one stone; cute edible kitchen decoration that will be gone by V-day(keeps my freezer clear) and my kids will still think I am super MOM and none the wiser to my laziness.

Oh Wow! just look at these pictures! That is all 24 cookies, that's 2 dozen and they don't even fill my modest cookie jar halfwaya! I thought, no way, I must have counted wrong, umm, nope. There you see it, all 24 cookies and my shame....And the kids didn't care for them. Really, angst. My sugaraholic husband didn't even try one. Albeit, they have zero chocolate, but they are sugar cookies! Really. A HUGE VALENTINE FLOP.

By the way if you want to see real Valentine Cookies and go here....my sister is amazing.

Huh. It Will Break....

So. I was trying to fumble through making my first cup of coffee for the day when my hands decided to get in the way. Yep. My numb hand is definitely a nuisance. Numbness is not conducive to a sleepy, half awake, trying to get her morning jump started with coffee, mom. Enter; me. I really was trying to be careful, making sure that I was putting the sugar, or in my house, the Splenda bowl back on the second shelf of the cabinet cause that's where the kids can't reach it and break it.
Enter; granite counter top. Everything that is glass will break when it lands from the second shelf of the cabinets onto the granite counter top.

Lesson of the day, are you ready, can you see the light bulb over my head? Huh. It will break if it falls and lands on granite.....Wedding present gone....15 years later.... Huh.

Love This Giveaway

I have entered contests before to win something from this same designer....haven't won yet, but there is hope! I. Love. This. Stuff....especially the itty bit heart necklace and the teeny tiny initials necklace....so cute....go here to enter and to check out her fab stuff! You won't be disappointed!

btw: Tracy's blog is always great and inspiring! Love it... I check it daily, Thanks Tracy! B:)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ok 2009 is a few short hours from ending....ahhhh....new beginnings....sometimes this is good, but I have to say that '09 was not a "bad" year for us. We had 3 major things, ok, 2 major things for the family and depending on my mood, 4 major things for me...take your pick...

We got my beloved Ginger.

I got my beloved iphone.

We got our beloved new home.

Gracie turned 10. Yep, 10.

Logan turned 7. Yeah, I know, 7. (he'll be 8 in a few short weeks)

***sigh***

I saw Rob Thomas in concert. Really. Need I say more?

Moving on to 2010. Wow. 2010. Sounds so, I don't know, sci-fi?

Here's to making it great! B:)

Busy Busy Busy

I know I have said this before, but I AM BUSY! And right now, I l.o.v.e. this kind of busy....so I thought I would share my schedule just for today...ready. set. go....Wake up 6:45am...Heck, the kids are still asleep and need to catch bus for school by 7:30...WAKE UP, GET DRESSED, don't forget to BRUSH YOUR TEETH...6:55am, turn on Christmas Tree lights (cause that's how I roll) and make another effort to get Logan out of bed (btw he is up at the crack of dawn on the weekends without help, hmmm)...7:05 Grace is having trouble with her contacts (usually doesn't require my help at all, but because we are running late, hmmm....) Anyways...contacts in, go get breakfast (ummm, yeah it is ALWAYS a pop tart, I am not June Cleaver and have never claimed to be, judge not!) LOGAN!!!! are you dressed yet, it's 7:20....crap, dog (my beloved Ginger) biting on my slippers, forgot to let her out this morning....7:25 dog pottied (outside thankfully), kids are at bustop (right outside our front gate, thankfully)

7:35 - hit the shower, no coffee yet....
8:15 chase dog around house, try to catch her to put her in her special kennel for the duration of my short workday today...
8:30 still chasing dog while answering phone call from out of town hubby
8:31 tell hubby what my morning has been like all while still chasing dog
8:35 off of phone, caught dog, found keys and in the car
9:00am at work....work...work... work, busy time of year for me at work while everyone else stares at me like I am an alien and I don't know what time of the year it is and then make their best effort to tell me that I should SLOW down and try to enjoy the season, hmmmm....I am and expert these days at self control...

11:30 meeting with not so bright salesman who apparently can't read our NO SOLICITING sign...more self control....
12:38 blogging about my busy day:)

2pm kids will be home, they will get 10 minutes to rest and put their backpacks away while I let the dog out and then....

Because I l.o.v.e to be busy, I will be off to the craft store to pick up fabric pens for a project in Logan's class tomorrow (I am his room mom), buy cookies for his party, put together goodie bags for his party, make snowballs for his party, buy teacher gift from the kids to the teacher for his party, and then go to his Christmas performance at 6:15 ....

Fun, eh?

Not to mention, I get to do what I l.o.v.e. over again on Friday for Grace!

I think I'll set my clock and get up on time...

Holiday Giveaway!

No, not something of mine...(trust me there isn't anything I have you would want), but go to this blog and check out this classic piece! Enter her giveaway!!!!

http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/2009/12/impromptu-giveaway-stella-dot-necklace.html

Joys of the Season

***Edited to join a party at Thrifty Decor's place! My pics are not the best, but I love the way my house looks right now

Hey all! I warned you that I would be posting a lot this month, so catch up!

Anyway, I have been looking around my house and I think I might have misinterpreted the way my house now looks. I wrote that it looks a lot more cluttered with the Christmas decor, in essence it really feels a lot more COZY! Yeah, that was the word I was looking for...I don't think that pictures can really say all that, but you know I am gonna post them anyway! Ha! I came to this conclusion about 11pm last night while I was sippin' on some wine and fillin' out the Christmas cards, all while watching White Christmas...don't judge. You know you have done this. Maybe not the wine part, but replace that with hot cocoa or your drink of choice! Although, doing it this way takes a wee bit longer cause about 1/4 of the way through... the wine kicks in and the bed starts calling...get my drift? Merry Christmas.

your wish is my command

Some of you have requested pics of "the house" and I am not one to dissappoint! So. Your wish is my command....this is the outside after (maybe during) we painted it from yellow to Dolphin Blue...no it's not purple. Don't laugh Carrie. We put on shutters (black ones) and I can't find the pics of that...but guess what? when I do, I'll post 'em! How's that for gratification!!

The kitchen (yes that is a crock pot and it is in use, do believe it's a tri-tip-soon-soon-to-be-burritos), the living room, and the dining room (the rug is not pink, don't know why it looks like that in pics). So there you go...little by little decorating and living, decorating and living. It's been 5 months. It looks a lot more "cluttered" with the Christmas decorations in place...I'll post those pics later! ;)

Snow???

Hey all! Guess what got forecast? No. Really. Guess...SNOW! Now, to some of you that is not amazing, but to all of us Californians that live in the Valley know that this does not happen...ever...So imagine our excitement if you can, cause we generally have to drive about 2 hours, up the winding hills, get car sick and by that time, who really can enjoy it. Yes, it will melt as soon as is hits the ground, but we don't care...it's SNOW!

I am especially excited, cause if it happens, my nephew Luke, will get his wish! He's too young to understand why we don't get snow here every winter and now this might confuse him even more, but I bet his eyes will be wide with the thrill of it!

Do you remember when you first saw snow?

T.I.M.E.

No. This is not a "plug" for TIME magazine, but you could probably guess what it's about! I miss having time to yardsale, go to goodwill, and yes, even time to cook right now would be good...

Believe it or not, the holidays do allow me more time than I usually have. I slow down. I don't want to miss anything. I try to take it all in...sometimes in my mind and a lot through the lens of my camera....I don't want to forget.

I love being "in charge" of our appetizers at our family Thanksgiving dinner (I inherited this one, cause one of you, you know who you are, moved away. I am not complaining... just miss you.)

I love our Christmas Tree Lane. I prefer to walk down it, but some years we drive. I love decorating for Christmas too...everyone is gonna help this year because we have sooo much more to decorate!! Sparkling lights just do something to my soul that takes me back to all the best memories of my childhood...Know what I mean? The smile on my kids' face and all those of my nieces and nephews while they enjoy the season in the best way they know. I love the reason for this season and I think that helps me slow down and take the T.I.M.E that He deserves....

Don't misunderstand. I will be busy, but it is so much more than that, it's the kind of busy that no one minds. So, be patient, my blogs will almost come daily (maybe twice daily) during the Holidays! Oh and if I forget....Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! B:)

Fun Weekend?...Oh Yeah, Baby!

This weekend was about celebrating my birthday...nope not gonna spill on my age, but I will give you some insight on how I celebrated. Ok - so I would love to blog about everything I did this weekend, but my main focus was attending the Rob Thomas concert is San Jose. It was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. He was fabulous...but beyond that so were the bands that opened for him...ummmm, Carolina Liar AND Onerepublic! Stinkin' fabulous...I went with my friend Kristin and I gotta say, hands down, best concert experience to date. Really. They sure know how to ROCK and she and I definitely did that. Check out these pics!

Rob Thomas (kinda blurry, I know....but I have 169 photos and there is bound to be a good one in there, right?) anyway, his special guest, ummm yeah - Carlos Santana...I could have died....legend, really....

This is Carolina Liar - Yeah, they opened the show and then let us "hang" with them between sets...Amazing! Genuinly, nice guys. Polite. Manners...and, of course, they ROCK!

This is Kristin and I before we got all c.r.a.z.y. BTW our shirts said "I'm With The Band" - Carolina Liar guys looovvvveddd that...so did we!

Kristin and I with OneRepublic in the background....doin' their thing...umm, yeah...ROCKIN'!

Had to show off a photo of our COOL shoes and ROCKIN' pedi's...cause that's how we roll!!!

I could try to post about everything that I did this weekend, but I don't think it will all fit in this one post. Here's a hint! I took 169 pictures. No, that's not a typo. 169. Had so much fun, I could pee my pants!!! ROCK ON!

Muffins With Mom

Muffins with Mom was moved to the beginning of the school year this year and we actually made it there in time to ENJOY ourselves. Don't we look like we are enjoying ourselves? There wasn't a mad dash for a muffin, or a juice, or even for the coffee. We took our time. We even had time to chat with friends....of course these days are very few and far between...so, when they do come along and I get a picture this blissful, I will be sure to post about it! B:)

ps. scanned this pic....extra white...did not edit....to bad....oh well....you got a picture....be happy

***Better Late Than Never??!!??*** re-posted

*** Re-posted to join party at Skip to my Lou ***




So my friend, Shea, put together a Crock Pot Monday Party.....Yes, I am a little late but trust me you won't be sorry....two ingredients and you are lovin' me.....

Shredded Beef Tacos or Burritos!

Oh fuuurrrr real! I missed this yesterday but hey - here ya go..

1 tri tip roast (frozen cooks all day, thawed cooks for 2 to 4 hours all on high)
1 jar La Victoria Salsa

I usually put this in the early morning and its ready to shred about dinner time and then it is the best shredded beef tacos or burritos....yummmmmmm

There you have it - better late than never!!!!


****We love this. We enjoy it every couple of weeks! ***

New Blog Name???

So I am trying out something different....did you notice? Changed the name of my blog! I think it fits {me} better...cause you can't forget that it's all about me!....LOL...Ok seriously, I will be completely torn away from blogland this weekend....soccer, soccer, soccer....But you know I love it...soccer that is...not being away from my addiction...bloggin' that its....Have a great weekend. B:)

***UPDATE*** Nevermind....it was taken already. :(