Happy Monday

Always a good day when you open the tiny mail box door w/your key and find happy mail! All this washi tape I won from a giveaway from Freckled Fawn. Love her shop! 40 rolls to be exact! YES! 

A package from Amy, a friend a met via Instagram! Love Social Media! Thanks so much! A book that I did start today & a Starbucks gift card to go with?! Seriously. She's awesome!

My youngest has been to doctors and still no answers. She has tummy issues and has for the past four years. She has missed many days of school because of this too. She is my little brave soldier this girl. No joke! She is fine with needles and X-rays. It's sad that I could say she's a pro! I love this girl. xo

Oh yeah! In case you are NOT on Instagram or know of Elsie Larson's blog: A Beautiful Mess... you seriously need to check out her & her sister Emma's new app! 99 cents and you get a bunch to play with! I love it already!

This icon is adorable! Awesome job on this app! There's many options that you can purchase too while in app. Not sure of the cost but if I find out, I'll let you all know!

Happy day!

xo

Under Construction

I feel this title sums up my life right now. 

So many things can contribute to this:

room addition is in progress

taking care of Gramma

stress is affecting my health

club soccer is in full swing

3 girls in 2 different schools

1 girl is high school freshman 

couponing

12,000 plus emails

blog & makeover

want/need shop to re-open

dr appts for family

groceries

cooking dinner every night

sewing

scrapbooking

homework/projects

laundry...

I shall end it there. lol My escape? Reading. I love to read. The only time I can is when I eat (5-15 mins here & there) or while waiting for girls after school or maybe a dr appt. Even at half at a soccer game! This works for me. The scariest thing for me is it's been a year since my family went through hell. I was sick last year & it took a serious toll on everyone. Please if you can keep me in your prayers from day to day and if you need me to do same for you? Consider it done. I can use all the prayers I can get. I try to 'breathe' each day, it's not working. It's constant all day until I hit the bed w/exhaustion. This is crazy. 

What happened to easy breezy days like when I was younger? I don't remember my mom running her butt off each day to do all. She did work 7 days a week too. However, there weren't the computers, smart phones, DVRs, video games (we did have Atari though!) just house & pay phones. Music, books and some good all day outside play too. Bikes, swimming, a game of bochi ball, tennis, kickball, wiffle ball... and I cannot forget Great Adventure & the beach. Yes, I do long for those days again.

Fast forward to the present, times are so much different. Period. I love how I've met many wonderful people via social media. Love. it. 

Do you have many projects that are on your list of must-do-sooner-than-later like myself? One being switch blog over to WP. Any one go from Blogger to WordPress and absolutely love? I've been putting off for too long! Another is stay on Etsy or move to Store Envy?

I have so many photos I want to share, the time has gotten away from me again.

On this note, I'm signing off. Tea & toast perhaps? Then to bed.

Oh yeah, the hubby went to Costco and came home w/these two for me! Has so much info too! Love my new book. #daniellesteelfan

Sweet dreams. xo

Mother's Day

I hope all of you had the best day ever! I can dream up of the most perfect day: it would include a remote beach, my iPhone (to take those breathless photos & share!) the ringer would be off though, a good book/magazine, my family & lots of food! Just a place for us to breathe, play & relax.

My day began w/me making breakfast for everyone

Roses & gifts from my girls

Lounging w/my girls watching DVR 

A trip to the pool w/my girls

{while the hubby took Gramma to apt to sort through papers}

Cooking dinner

Carlos had to work that night

{I love this! sorry for the blurry-ness! The sun was blinding!)

The day was a great one.

Have a good night & God Bless.

xo

I Love Books

Okay I meant to post this a few days ago when I found out the great news. Didn't work as I planned. Girls, soccer, HW & me being on the mend... you get the picture. =) I was lucky enough to win these books from  two different blogs! This first one has been on my wish list for months now!

I won this from Mique at Thirty Handmade Days.

Thanks again!

The second won't be released until May 1st & then it's ALL mine! I cannot wait to see inside! It's beautiful...

I won this from Kim at Today's Creative Blog

You can visit Jennifer Paganelli's website HERE. Prepare to be amazed. =)

Gotta run & get ready for Creative Estates! Any of you going? Be sure & find me! Would love to meet you! Have a great weekend.

xo

Ready for Halloween?

I started today. I'm glad to see I made it before the wkend before Halloween! This way, we can enjoy our decorations for a bit! I had to go outside first thing this am (1030 to be exact!) & trim our bushes. I so did NOT want to do this but it NEEDed to be done! That in turn means rake the rocks (yep! In Az, it's rocks! ha! I want grass one day in the front!) Next step, throw out all the raked up stuff from the huge Mesquite tree. (I love this tree & it's shade. Daddy hates it! Bcuz it grows fast & huge! I told him he can get rid of it, WHEN we get grass in the front! Even trade-off, don't cha think?!)

Brought out the blower next. This works alot faster than ME trying to sweep away everything on the sidewalk, driveway & walkways! THEN it was time to break out the decorations. First, the tombstones. Skull lites, that Antonia managed to step on 'accidently' & cracked one guy's face! The ground was soft for digging this year! I was surprised but when I tried to use the shovel for the lite holes, NOPE! Hard as a 100 yr old piece of ****! ha! I told Carlos bring his guns outside & let's DO THIS! He came outside & did it faster than I could. The ghosts dancing around our tree were next. Carlos pounded the stakes in the ground & in the am, we will make our ghosts. The girls came outside during all this, helped me some & rode bikes. Again, another gorgeous day! Right now, it's 81 out & its 546pm! =) I almost forgot about our BIG spiders! I had to carry out the tallest ladder for that one! I like those guys! =)

I still want to buy some pumpkins w/the girls & do them up pretty like this!

I love this girl's blog! Shabby chic, modern, glam... all the way. Click HERE to see how these pretties were made!

We still need to decorate inside... maybe later tonite after soccer practice or first thing in the am. I'm half way done w/this:

Anyone else reading this? I'll be done real soon & will still have time to read yet, another book! Whoohoo! Miss Shea's reading abilities are rubbing off on me! =) Kinda, sorta, maybe, teeny tiny bit. hee hee.

Just peeked out the window & the sky is beautiful w/pink flowing through it...

An Adventure for Your Mind Giveaway!

You could win BOTH of these books! =)

 Click HERE to enter!

Good luck!

Kids are packin'

or one would of thought!! I'm talking lots of blood ALL over the bottom part of my WHITE shirt! Ha! I looked like I got shot in my stomach! I was volunteering Tues in Antonia's class & my pump ran out of insulin. So... I pulled out the needle & BAM!  Blood squirting everywhere!?? This never happens! I thought I was safe to just do it there in her class. No one was paying me no mind, sitting in the back w/another mom. Antonia's teacher told her to take me to the nurse! I needed to be in Lele's class like in 2 mins!! So I spent the next 25 mins w/the nurse pouring saline onto my shirt, washing & rubbing it out w/soap & water. The nurse even broke out a jr high girls' shirt I could put on! Uh... a lil too short! =) I could of brought back the 80's! So now, my shirt is half soaking wet & no hand dryer except in the little girls' bathroom. Yeah well, NO adults are allowed so now, the girl at the front desk has to hold the door open for me while I'm bending down to fit under this dryer, while this little girl is walking out w/the coolest hairdo & I was complimenting her on it and she continues to tell me ALL about it: I'm in gymastics & my mom.... super cute! I have to try that on Graciella for soccer. Involves little ponytails & twisting... You get it, don't cha?!

In the end? My shirt looked brand new & I hurried off to Leleanna's class. ) Never a dull moment!!

Anyone click on over to Shealynn's blog to sign up for her bookclub? It starts Oct. 1st.  I still cannot find the first book! Ahh---! Let me know if you sign up! Come back & leave me a comment under this post!

This is the first book!!

Monday is Almost Gone!

Time flies! I cannot say it enough! When your little ones tell you 'this week flew by'! You know something's up! =)

Norton is BACK on my laptop! yay!! =)

Bcuz I have SO much time & I love to read...I've joined Miss Shealynn's book club! One book per month! She even broke it down: 500 pg book = 17 pgs/day! I think I can do this! Click  HERE  if you want to join! It begins Oct. 1st!

More PHOTOS! =)
Friday: Crazy Hat Day or you could wear ANY hat really!

Graciella & Antonia

Tatum & Lele

(You like Leleanna's hat? She had to have her tutu on her head!)

Saturday: Lele's team picture day & 3 soccer games!

Antonia's team played her & Katie's old club team. They both tried out, made it & left to join Thunder! =)This game was the first of the season for the Gold team! I think it's the coolest thing that Antonia & Katie will remain bffs, grow together skill-wise & hopefully, years from now...they'll still be on the same team! I know, wishful thinking!

Didn't have a chance to take pix at Graciella's game out in Cave Creek! I know, bummer for me! I still have an entire season to make up for it! Starting w/this coming wkend at tournament! Her team lost 2-1. They played w/one sub (2 were on vacation!), Graciella feeling horrible & sick to her stomach the entire game!, another player w/a real bad bloody nose! That girl held her nose & kept playing! These girls are tough I tell ya. They have heart too! Graciella played through her pain, but we know she wasn't 100%. I just felt bad for her, bcuz I know she hates if she gives anything less than 125%! The other team may have not noticed but for mom & dad to watch?...They could of & should of won that game. One of the girls, unfortunately, needs to get knocked down a rung or two & realize you cannot win a game solo. You need to pass. 'Nuff said.

Sunday: Target & Lele's first school bday party (a classmate's)

Too bad I didn't get a pic of her & Lisa! Leleanna had a blast though! It was held at a gymnastic place close by & the girls got the run of the place. Trampolines, ropes & the foam pit, balance beam, rings, uneven bars & the pummel horse. Did I forget anything? I came prepared w/my book to read but never got the chance. I just chatted away w/moms from Lele's class. We ate pizza w/the kids & had some of this yummy cake below! =)

Sugarlips Cakery

First Day is Here!

Summer flew by & the girls were super excited to go back to school. The new time to start didn't matter any. It was nice to see them get right back in the groove w/their friends & all of it! It was good to meet up & chat a min w/parents & teachers that we see saw all the time too. But it was TOO HOT standing there to do it! It didn't stop me though! Even w/this heat, they both had recess outside! Graciella will have band & play saxophone this yr! She's happy about it. Antonia has a bunch of her friends in her class, so she's happy!

NOW OFFICIALLY A 2ND GRADER & 5TH GRADER !!

*BFF* Katie

DINNER FOR MOMMY~


This is what the girls made me a few days ago. A salad w/all the fixings, smothered w/Ranch dressing! Yum for me. A bowl of strawberries & a bowl of Splenda to dip them in! Finished off w/a ever so pretty napkin holder. ha!

Just another day at preK. I love this shirt on her, too cute w/her ponytails!

I'm jumping on the bandwagon w/this series. I've put it off & I just keep hearing all this hype about it. So what the heck! I just have to finish my current read first!

I bought the first two:

I just need to get the third one & on August 2nd, the fourth comes out.

A movie is coming out in December 2008 too. Hmm...



FINALLY caught up w/Min. Congrats again Min on the VA gig!! I know your super busy & all, just remember we're still here & love you much! xoxo


I have more good news, but I need to stop here, in order to watch movie w/the husband!