Merry Christmas

I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! We're spending ours with family and friends. Just the way it was meant to be. And it's been an amazing day! Filled with lots of love, laughter, prayer, food, and loved ones.

I'm truly blessed. Beyond all the gifts. We're so blessed to have the family and friends that we do. I hope you all had a great day too! Now I'm off to have some cookies and milk. And watch another fun Christmas movie with my loved ones!

Merry Christmas!!!

Ruffled Scarf Giveaway

Look at this gorgeous scarf. I seen it on YouTube for the first time. It was a while back. And I searched for it. But I never did find it in Charlotte Russe. And I was so disappointed. My hubby called up some friends that live in a bigger city. No luck! I kind of just felt like it wasn't meant to be. Until I was reading a friend's tweets. I noticed a giveaway for this scarf! The same scarf that I fell in love with when Trina showed us all, her scarf collection. If you would like the chance to win. Go to Trina's blog and enter the contest! Good luck!

Happy Anniversary Hubby!!!

Today is our very first wedding Anniversary. We are so excited! This year just flew by. We bought our 1st home. Had some adventures in the move. My hubby dealt with my decorating issues. We had some bumps along the way. With the whole "City fiasco," the "mail issues," and trying our our DIY skills.

But I still look at our wedding pictures and smile. I am married to the man of my dreams. The man that makes me feel loved and safe. My hubby is the person I run to when my day is going bad. He just has a way of making my worries melt away. He is also the person I run to when my day is going well. He celebrates my accomplishments. And makes me feel like I am the most amazing woman.

I will never get used to falling asleep in his arms. Or waking up to his smile. Our favorite part of the day is just sitting down in the morning, having our coffee. We like to talk about what we have planned for the day. Talk about the news. And just spend a few quiet moments together before our days become chaotic.

Through this year, my hubby has been the person I have leaned on the most. I am so lucky to have him in my life! Not only did I find the love of my life in him, he is my best friend, my lover, and one day...he will be the father of my children. I am so lucky. I know that he is going to be an amazing dad. He is so kind hearted and loving.

My hubby told me this morning, "We have 1 amazing year under our belts. I'm ready for the next 1000!" So am I! This year has flown by. I feel like I just put on my white dress and walked down the aisle to him. I can't wait to see what our future holds.

I love you Fern!

Happy Thanksgiving

I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! What a fun, and family oriented holiday. Honestly, I look forward to Thanksgiving more than I do Christmas. I just seems so special. Without much to worry about. Other than all the yummy food.

I look forward to lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. And of course, time with my loved ones. We always play board games, laugh, and spend the night eating lots of desserts! Such a magical day!

I hope everyone has a great day. One filled with loved ones, plenty of food, and good health. It's just the kind of day that we all need. A day to relax and enjoy our loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween!

Can I tell you something? Halloween is one of my favorite holidays ever! Honestly. Who doesn't like to dress up? And all the free candy!

I know, I'm many years past the "trick or treating" age. But I still really enjoy this holiday. More so now. When I get to handout candy. And celebrate in a different way. I still dress up. And I honestly look forward to it. Is that weird? I hope not. Because I really do enjoy it!

And you know what, it's another day for me to eat yummy food. I use Halloween as an excuse to indulge. Even right before my wedding. I still found the time to order some yummy pizza, and make some monster foods. Yum!

Happy Halloween!

Rioja Alta Necklace Giveaway

Isn't this gorgeous? I just got an e-mail from Lola telling me about this giveaway. If you hurry, you can enter too! Go to Rosy Revolver and enter. Hurry up! You just have until 4PM EST today! People, that is minutes away!

I am just in love with the colors. This reminds me of Spanish Style jewelry. I hope I win this. If not, I want to buy one. The quality is so amazing. And the blog, is just as great. I hope you all get a chance to enter this wonderful contest!

My Dream Bed

I've always wanted to own a bed, just like this one. Or an authentic "vintage" bed. You know, from the 1930s. Metal, and timeless. I've always wanted wanted a bed like this. And now, I think we're going to buy this one.

It's for one of our guest rooms. And I have the perfect bedding for it! I just can't wait. I like the "feel" of this bed. And I have an entire vision of what I want our Guest Room to look like. Most importantly, I want our guests to feel cozy and "at home."

New YouTuber

I found the sweetest YouTuber ever! Trina. Her videos are way too cute. And she is just the sweetest lady ever. Here is one of my favorite videos of hers.



I'll definitely being watching more of her videos. And I just adore her "Show and Tell" series. So sweet! And honestly, her southern accent is so relaxing to listen to.

Kirsten Storms' Dress

Did you watch the Daytime Awards? I did! because I'm a HUGE General Hospital fan! And the minute I seen Kirsten Storms, I was in love with this dress! I absolutely LOVE the color of the dress. OMG! This navy is so pretty. I'm definitely going to be looking for a dress in this color. And the little white shoulder detail, I really like that too! What do you think? Did you watch the Daytime Awards too? Which was your favorite dress?

A Sad Family Day

Life is not always bubble gum and lollipops. This week definitely is an example. Last night, my hubby's family met to celebrate the life of his uncle. We went to the Rosary. It was very different from a typical rosary that we would attend.

On first observation, there were not many people there. Just my hubby's family. They were actually related to this man's wife. That was my hubby's aunt. This is her husband. Still their uncle, but not the blood relative. There were no people from his side of the family. Or friends. I found it sad. The rosary was quick. Done in less than 30 minutes. And it abruptly ended. No eulogy or any type of memories shared. Just the end of the rosary. I almost felt like someone should say, "To be continued..."

Today was not much better. We went to the church for mass. I was surprised that the pallbearers didn't carry in or at least accompany the casket into the church. The mass was your standard funeral mass. Finally at the graveyard, the pallbearers carried the casket. But the priest seemed distracted. The workers at the cemetery were watching to see when the service would end. Apparently, there were many funerals today. We counted 6 as we left. They needed the chairs and the setup for other services. The men from the funeral home couldn't fold the American flag correctly. And there was only 1 small floral arrangement. Some flowers had to be split between the immediate family members to have enough. The pallbearers didn't receive one either.

After the services, we all went to my hubby's aunt and uncle's home. His aunt passed away almost 3 years ago. We shared in a meal with the family. But it was so strange. People that should have been there weren't. People were all in their little groups. Not really talking to each other.

This is a really sad time to begin with. But when it turns out like this, I am left speechless. I didn't know this uncle very well. But he was always so nice, and kind in general. He deserved better. He deserved people paying their respects. For his service to our country, he deserved people who could fold the American flag appropriately. He deserved a priest that was fully into the prayer. It was a sad day for more than one reason. But may our uncle's soul rest in peace forever with his wife.

Arabesque Afghan

More Love...




I am waiting for my hubby to get home. We are going to his uncle's services tonight. It is a 3 hour trip and we need to leave soon. But I am just waiting for him to get home from work. I didn't want to get too busy. So I decided to get online for a little while. I found this pattern at Free Crochet. Since Annie's Attic no longer offers a daily free pattern, Lola directed me here.

Today's free pattern is the Arabesque Afghan. And I have to say, I am I LOVE! I downloaded this pattern. This will be the next blanket I tackle for us. Right after I finish this beauty. I would like to make this to lay over the edge of one of our guest beds. If you love it as much as I do, go to Free Crochet today, August 27th. It is the free pattern of the day. :)

Ravelry is a Place for Me!!!

I just joined Ravelry. It is a website for crocheters and knitters. Lola has been on there for a while. She keeps telling me to join. I finally made the time and joined. I am so glad too! It is a fun site. You can make friends with fellow crafters. There are also free patterns available. You can purchase patterns from some of the designers. There is a place to add favorite patterns, projects, and people.

Even a place to add your projects! This is the part that I like the best. I can add a project, the yarn I use, the needle, the source or book, all the details of the project. This will help me to keep organized. Because I usually take a while to finish a project. You can even put your stash of yarn on there! This is a beautiful site for crocheters and knitters. If you are on Ravelry, you can find me here! :)

Sad News

Today I got some sad news while I was exploring twitter. My hubby's uncle passed away yesterday morning. We knew that he had not been doing so well. His wife had passed away a few years ago. Since then, he has seemed pretty lost to tell you the truth. I think he has just been lonely without his wife.

But after talking to my mom-in-law, he had not been doing well physically. Lately anyway. But it is still very sad news. Very unexpected. My husband was shocked when I told him this evening. He is talking to his mom on the phone right now. We will be going to the services later this week. We just haven't found out when they will be. We are all just sad.

It got me thinking though. How sad it must be when you lose your life partner and love of your life. These people were very happy together. For many years. And after my hubby's aunt passed away, you could see how much it effected his uncle. It got me thinking. I would be very sad if I lost my hubby. Somewhat lost in life to tell you the truth. Everything I think about in life, has my husband's involvement to some point. I don't know what in the world I would do without him. I can just imagine what my hubby's uncle went through without his love for the last few years.

My prayers are being said for the family. This is a difficult time for everyone. Lola said it best, "I hope their souls forever rest together. May God allow them to dance forever with the angels."

Tweet Tweet

I succumbed to the peer pressure today, and I joined twitter. I even managed to set up a fairly nice page, find some of my friends on there, and began following some fellow tweeters. For as much as I resisted joining, I have to admit that I am having a good time on twitter. There is a wide variety of people on there. Lots of crafty people. I just hope that I don't waste too much time on twitter. I probably should have signed up for it early in the summer! When I didn't have to worry about school. :)

Where Are All My Posts?

Where did the last 3 months worth of post go to? The last one that is showing up is the one I posted on May 29th! I am so aggravated about this. Why don't they show up? Where did they go? And why did this suddenly happen? I am not tech savvy, so I need to find someone who is. Because I know that my posts were there yesterday. My mom was reading through last weeks, while we talked on the phone. Come back posts...where ever you are!

Sinfully Delicious

Today my hubby and I had to go fuel up the ATVs. Enzo is coming tomorrow for a visit and they are going riding. While at the gas station, I decided to go look at the candy. Is it me, or does the gas station always have better candy? I was looking through the 2 aisles of candy. Really, there were 2 aisles of sugary candy. I was wanting some chocolate. I had nothing in mind. Just some chocolate. I picked up a couple of bars and went to pay. At the register, there was a display. With Dove Peanut Butter and Chocolate bars. I bought 2.

A little while ago, I opened one of my chocolate surprises. These are so good! Almost sinfully delicious! They are sweet. But the peanut butter is just salty enough to balance the bars. I am sitting here with a big smile on my face. My hubby is laughing. He cannot believe that a chocolate bar can make me this happy! Now I want to bake something with them. Yum! :)

Sky High Curves Mascara

I am a HUGE fan of the Dollar Tree! You just never know what you will find there. I don't have classes on Friday, but I had to go to school to make a tuition payment. While I was in town, I decided to head to Dollar Tree.

As I was daddling through the store, I stumbled on a GREAT find! One of my favorite mascaras, Maybelline's Sky High Curves. They had quite a few of them. But I only found one in very black. My favorite color to wear. I did buy it, and 5 brownish black. I figured I can use the brownish black for every day looks. Like for school. And save the black for when we go out.

I was very shocked to find mascara at the Dollar Tree. Especially one that is easily $8-10 at Target. I find lipsticks from time to time. But drugstore brand makeup goes pretty quickly at Dollar Tree. I just lucked out this time. You never know what you will find there. So go explore your local Dollar Tree. You just might surprise yourself with what you can find! :)

Back to School

It's that time again! Today was the first day of classes, for the Fall Semester. My classes aren't too bad. I am most appreciative that they are all in the morning. I really HATE night classes! They just mess up the whole day. But my schedule is nice. I am home most days by lunch. And I am happy that school doesn't really interfere with mine and the Hubby's time together. I will be in class while he is at work. And I have the entire afternoon to study and do homework. This looks like it will be a good semester. I am just sad that the summer is already over.

Shoe Lover!

I don't deny it. I'm a lover of shoes! All sorts of shoes. All styles. I just love them. I'm not sure when it started. But I always remember as a kid, I'd ask for new shoes. I didn't want new toys. I wanted shoes. Am I weird? Is this something that other people asked for too? Or was it just me?

It just hit me recently. I've always loved shoes. Sorta like Carrie from SATC. I'd give up almost anything for a new pair. Although, mine cost a heck of a lot less than hers. I just couldn't imagine spending hundreds of dollars on shoes. But I bet they're beautiful!

We Got Served Today

The city (I consider it a town) that we live in, served us with violation papers today. Actually, they are for my hubby because the utility bills are in his name. Supposedly, we are in violation of the weed and grass ordinance in the city. The court papers say that we were given a written warning at he beginning of July for tall grass and weeds. WHAT???

First of all, our yard is always looking nice. My Hubby mows the lawn every 2 weeks. It doesn't need it that often, but he does it. And since I have been off for the summer, I have been doing lots of yard work. My hubby and his cousins put up a privacy fence all the way around our property not too long ago. I have been planting various plants and flowers. Weeds never get taller than 2".

Secondly, we never received a notice. NEVER!!! I don't know what these people are talking about. Our yard looks nice all the time. The neighbors are always commenting on how much time we spend doing yard work. But we also discovered tonight, while doing some work in the yard. How ironic! That the other 5 families that live on our cul de sac, also got served for the same reasons. I wonder what is going on. No one ever saw the Codes Inspector. I am home all day. One of our neighbors is a stay at home mom too. If anyone comes around, the dogs bark. We didn't hear or see anything.

I don't know what is going to happen. My hubby has to appear in court on September 1st. He is not happy at all. This city is crazy! I never realized it. Until we had problems with the gas, the water, and the mail. The mail thing is still not resolved! We got a PO box in a nearby town to get our mail. This is just weird.

Dancing with the Stars

Today the Dancing with the Stars cast was announced on GMA. I have to say, I am disappointed. The celebrities aren't very appealing. There aren't any real interesting people cast for next season. And Julianne isn't going to dance either. She is my favorite. Anna and Alec are also favorites of mine. But they are no longer on the show. The cast is just really disappointing this season. I don't think I am going to watch it. Which makes me sad. Because this was one of my favorite shows.

Happy Birthday Enzo!

Today is Enzo's birthday! He is my husband's best friend. And just a great friend in general. You know the kind, that are like family. In fact, he could have been family. But we won't get into that today. I can't believe that he is already 29! We are only months apart in age. And went to school together. But it just feels weird to say we are that old already.

Enzo is a wonderful doctor, a neurosurgeon to be exact. He gives so much to his profession. And to his community. Even back home. Because these days, Enzo calls the east coast home. But has never has forgotten where he came from.

Enzo deserves to have an amazing birthday. He deserves so much for everything that he gives to others. My hubby and I are blessed to call him a friend and to have him in our lives. I hope he knows just how much we all love him! Happy Birthday Enzo! :)

Happy Birthday My Love!!!

Today is my hubby's 32nd Birthday! Happy Birthday my love! I can't believe he is already 32. I can still remember him when we were little kids. In particular, on his 11th birthday. I went to his birthday party with some friends. It was on that day that I knew I would marry him. I just knew one day he would be my husband. There was something about the way he handed me the chocolate cupcake with red frosting!

Enzo was in love with Lola. And I was in love with my Fern. He was older than I was. But soon, I found a way to spend more time with him. If I spent time with my friend Lola, I would be spending more time with Enzo. Out of default, I would get to spend time with Fern. Because Enzo and Fern were friends. And for the next few years, that is exactly what I did.

When I was 15, Fern wanted to date me. But my dad said I would have to wait. In the mean time, we became best friends. And he waited for me. My hubby is the true and only love of my life. I could not imagine my life without him. Every day is 1000 times better because he is in my life.

My hubby makes every day brighter. His smile lights up my heart! Even when I create some kind of mess, he has the gentlest way of dealing with it. He is my biggest supporter and motivator. And after a long day, its his arms that I long to be in.

Today is his day. I hope to make all his birthday wishes come true. Because I love him. And I want only the very best, for the most incredible man in the world! :)

Happy Birthday My Love!!!

Baby Blanket

Pretty Pastels.....

A while back, OK a long while back, Lola and I went to Michael's. We have to drive over an hour to the nearest one. It is in the nearest large city to us. It has been a while. Really it has! It was before my hubby and I got married. Probably, at the beginning of last October. Because we went to buy some things for my bridal shower. Lola had wanted me to pick out the ribbon and stuff like that.

But I had a 40% off coupon from the newspaper. And I was just dying to use it! But I didn't know what to buy. Because Lola was buying the stuff for the shower, and she had her own coupon. So I wondered over to the crochet books. And got lost in them. I found this one. It just called to me. I bought it! I didn't have a reason to, I just bought it. At the time, I don't think any of my friends were expecting. But I am glad that I bought it!

Our friends Anna Marie and Joe are expecting their 2nd baby. They don't know whether the baby is a boy or a girl yet. But I am going to make a pink blanket. I am using the 2nd pattern from this book, Pretty Pastels. And I am using Red Heart Soft Baby in pink. The brighter pink that they make. I bought it yesterday at Hobby Lobby. I really like this color!

Anna Marie is due in November. And the baby isn't cooperating with them. They have tried to find out if the baby is a boy or girl. But baby doesn't want them to know. I am going with pink because they already have a gorgeous little girl, Eva! :)

Going to the Ranch

My hubby and I are headed to The Ranch. We left about 15 minutes ago. Enzo'a family has this amazing ranch. For years, we have gone to the ranch. When we were younger, Enzo's grandparents lived there. Now that they have passed away, it is his. And lots of us go out there from time to time.

Sometime during the Spring, we planned this trip. We will be out there for a few days. The guys are all really excited! They are wanting to go horse back riding and to ride bulls. Yes, I married a former rodeo star.

We are really excited about this little get-a-way. I am happy to be out of the city. And in the country for a few days. The Ranch is just a special place to be at. The food taste better there. The air smells cleaner. I am just excited! Now to make the 5 hour trip there! :)

I'm in Love with Love

Today I went to do some grocery shopping. We were basically out of everything. That happens when you are traveling. Because I had to get some other things too, so I went to Wally World. Not my favorite place in the world. But hey, I promised myself a little treat while I was there.

I ended up in the beauty aisles pretty quickly. And I saw the Pure Ice nail polish. I had seen it at Lola's house. I know that she and Cams like it. So I thought, why not. A bottle is just under $2 for .5 fl oz. I bought Love #917. It is a medium-light pink color. With a little shimmer. Not glittery, but with shimmer.

The minute I got home and put everything away, I sat to paint my nails. After 2 coats and my regular clear nail polish, I have the prettiest pink nails. The nail polish itself is a smooth texture and very easy to apply. The square shape of the bottle also helps too. It is really easy to hold while applying the nail polish.

I am really glad that I got lost in that aisle! I will definitely be buying more colors for that price. Most drugstore brands are more expensive, and the polish isn't as good. Pure Ice also has a HUGE selection of colors to choose from. In case you are wondering, my treat was a new rose bush. :)

Happy 4th of July!

What an amazing day! Filled with patriotism, fireworks, food, family, and friends! The perfect way to spend an summer day. I feel so excited! And the celebration hasn't even begun.

Don't you just feel so happy to be a citizen? To celebrate the beautiful country that we live in. To really love everything that we have. We are so lucky to live in this country. To have our freedoms. And the chance to chase after our dreams!

Happy Birthday USA!!!

The Katie Brown Workshop

I am a big fan of PBS shows. I have been watching PBS since I was little. My favorites are the cooking and sewing shows. Sadly, our local station stopped showing Sewing with Nancy and Pepin. But I recently discovered the Katie Brown Workshop.

Katie is super talented. Every show includes some type of craft, recipe, and home decor project. The ideas are all super usable and user friendly. Because I have to admit, that is why I don't watch the Martha Stewart Show. I just don't have the time to make those meals or those crafts.

But Katie's approach is just so much more user friendly. Her staff is also quite entertaining. I really like that these people have great personalities. This is definitely one of my new favorite shows. I am just sad that it is only 30 minutes long, and only comes out once a week. But if you are looking for some budget friendly ideas, you might want to watch the Katie Brown Workshop. :)

Stunning

I was "googling" veils for a friend. She's getting married next year. And looking for something a little less "traditional." I found this gorgeous piece! I like the "retro" feel of it. It doesn't feel so "let's play dress up," but more elegant. Do you know what I mean?

I think sometimes, the "retro inspired" pieces feel more "let's go dress up, and play like we were 5 years old." But this piece, so adorable! I really like the touch of feathers too!

Pure Elegance

I went to Sally's this morning. I went to buy a new brush. I don't know what happened to mine. And the comb situation is quickly growing old. But I got lost in the wall of nail polish. I think nail polish is quickly becoming a favorite productive of mine! I looked and looked. Finally deciding on a China Glaze nail polish. The color is Pure Elegance. It is a pretty pink color. With my Sally's card, it cost under $4 for the bottle. I can see me wearing this color every single day! It is just the perfect color. Barely there, and so lady like! :)

Sally Beauty Supply

After way too long, I finally decided to buy a Sally Beauty Supply Card. I shop there pretty often. I buy some hair products there that I can't find at Target. I am also a fan of the Sally Girl eyeshadows. And the China Glaze nail polish. But I have never purchase a card.

I don't know why. It is only $5. And at the bottom of your receipt, you get a $5 coupon to use on your next visit. Every time that you buy something at Sally's and use your card, you get a discount. You can see, this is a good deal. Especially when you consider that the card is essentially free when you use your $5 coupon. :)

Angel Trumpet

I ordered 3 of these plants. They're "Angel Trumpets." The beautiful cousin to the "Trumpet Vine." I'm definitely in LOVE with these plants.

We planted them along the fence, outside of our bedroom. They're so beautiful, and have such a sweet scent. I can't wait until they grow big. And the trumpets dangle over our windows. What a great thing to wake up to in the morning. :)

New

This is the bathroom set that we've agreed on. For our main guest bathroom. It's the bathroom that is central to our main living area. You know, the one that everyone uses, when they come to visit.

My hubby and I went back and forth on the decor. He wasn't feeling any of the "girly stuff" that I liked. So when I found this one, and fell in love, it didn't hurt that it was not pink. That would have definitely broken our deal. But this minty/baby blue color, it's just perfect!

We ended up painting the walls a light grey color. And all of our fixtures are silver. The towels, curtains, and rugs are all this gorgeous color. And with a little help from Lola, it's perfect! I really do like the "vintage" feel of the room.

Amigurumi World

I just bought this book. And I'm so excited to start a few new projects. Everything is so cute in Amigurumi World. I wish I would have bought it sooner. But it's better late than never. Right? If you crochet, this is a book you need to buy. ASAP! Now I just need some more yarn. :)

Dreaming of Paradise

Today, I've been dreaming about a tropical paradise. Funny, huh? But there is absolutely nothing better than a day at the beach. Sand in your toes. Smelling the salty air. Feeling the cool breeze. Maybe my hubby and I will plan something big soon. I'd love to be on the beach. :)

Eyelash Curler

I'm pretty sure I hate my eyelash curler. Maybe I just don't use it the "right" way. I'm not sure. But it doesn't leave my eyelashes looking nice. It could be the eyelash curler itself. I should probably invest in a better one. Not the cheap-O one that I have.

But is there are "right" and "wrong" way to use an eyelash curler? I hear that you can slightly "warm" the eyelash curler with your blow dryer. It will help set the "curl." But if I'm not happy with the "curl" as is, then I should probably not do this.

Maybe I just need some help from an "expert." Because right now, I can only get my eyelashes to stand up straight. Not curl so beautifully...you know, like they do when you get your makeup done.

Pomegranate Tree

Around here, everyone, and I mean everyone, has a pomegranate tree. Except us! The crazy thing is, my hubby loves them! And we spend a small fortune buying them. Even when they're "in season."

So I was really excited when our neighbors gave us a "cutting" of their tree. Immediately, we begin to give our little tree lots of love. And now, it's a pretty decent size. But we're going to hold off planting it until the Fall. When we figure it won't die. :)

My hubby can't wait for it to grow. And start bearing fruit. I have a feeling, he's going to eat them all. We just have to wait a few years. But I think this is one of the best ideas we've had yet. We've finally planted something that we're going to find really useful!

Their Amazing Luck!

We have some friends who recently bought 6 bistro sets just like this! Their was a little shop/restaurant that was going out of business. And they happened to be in the right place, at the right time. The 6 sets, came in just under $300!

I just can't believe it! They entertain quite a bit. And they were looking for a good set of outdoor furniture. Again, we're all relatively young. And money is always on the brain. So this was a complete score for them!

If only I had luck like that. I would probably have convinced my hubby to buy all 6 sets too! My friends can't decide if they'd like to keep the furniture as is. Or give it a fresh coat of paint. Honestly, I'd keep it "as is." It gives it a lot of character. Which I LOVE!!!

Wedding Flowers

A good friend of mine is planning her wedding. And we got to talking about flowers. Because they are so expensive! When my hubby and I got married, we spent a FORTUNE on flowers! And that's to say that we got them at "wholesale." Still really expensive.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably still spend the money. It was that important to me. But, I think I'd do certain things differently. Like have a simple bouquet like this one. Just beautiful flowers. All on their own. Being beautiful.

My friend, well she's still on the fence. Because money is tight. And there are so many other things to spend the money on. I understand. I told her to stick to one kind of flower. Maybe add some candles. But keep it simple. Because Mother Nature is pretty incredible. She got it right on the first try.

Lean Cuisine Meals

I am determined to get into shape this summer. I lost a pretty remarkable amount of weight to be perfect for my wedding. Not that I was fat. But I had definitely allowed myself to gain some weight when I first started college. And I never lost the pesky Freshman 15.

But when we set a wedding date, I got real serious. I lost weight and really watched what I ate and how much I exercised. It payed off brilliantly. But after the wedding, I let all of that fall aside. We got married right before the holidays. Between the amazing food we had at the wedding, the holidays, and going on our honeymoon, my health plan flew out the window.

For New Year's I was determined to get back on track. But I was back to school. We were newlyweds. I was trying to be a good wife and cook lots of good food. And we were looking to buy a new house. I pretty much gained all my weight back.

Then I talked to Lola. She is a nutrition guru. She is studying nutrition and pre-med. So you can imagine, she had lots of great tips for me. We set up a plan and I started my whole get in shape routine. It has been going well. But I noticed that for lunch, I was eating a lot. Probably because I am home alone during the day. And our garden is giving tons of food.

Again, I talked to Lola. And she recommended the Lean Cuisine meals. These, I know for a fact, are meals that she eats. Because she is always on the go, Lola buys these for her lunch. She has a nice supply at work. I have to agree, they are quick and easy. The part that I like best is, they are already portioned out. That happens to be my issue. I like to eat bigger portions than I should.

But these meals come in a variety of flavors. There is something for everyone's taste. Real comfort foods, Oriental food, even Mexican inspired foods. They all cook up in under 5 minutes in the microwave. And honestly, the portions are very filling. I have been able to find them on sale at Albertson's for $2 a piece. I would recommend these for anyone who is trying to watch what they are eating, or for the busy people out there. They are tasty! :)

The Twins' Baby Blankets

The Sunshine Round Ripple Blanket

My childhood friend, Nina is having twins. She doesn't know if they are going to be boys or girls yet. I don't think her and her husband want to know. She is due at the end of October. But her baby shower is going to be at the end of September. I wanted to make her something special. Because she is a special person from my childhood. I just didn't know what to make. The few crochet books that I have, have very delicate patterns. Something you would use for a girl. And since we don't know if the babies are going to be girls, I had to scrap that idea.

Not that long ago, I had been doing a search for baby blankets and came across this one. It is the Sunshine Round Ripple Blanket, and I thought it would be perfect. After printing out the pattern, I had to decide on what colors to make the blankets. I went to the store this morning. And I fingered through all the baby yarn at JoAnn's. At ours, it really isn't a big selection. Before finally deciding on Bernat's Baby Softee yarn in the green, white, and yellow. I figured I would start with the green, change to white, then yellow, then white, and then green. Doing somewhere between 5-8 rows in each color. I just need to figure out this before I start!

I don't want to make the blankets too big. I figured big enough to use to cover the car seat or a small enough to travel with. Then later, they can use them for the babies to play on. I figure I will have to add a few rows to the patterns to make the blankets the size I want them. And I am thinking of a different edging. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Nina loves things like this. So I figured I would make the 2 blankets. And out of the leftover yarn, I can make booties and hats. Hopefully by the time of the baby shower, I will have 2 blankets, 4 hats, and 4 pairs of booties! :)

A Crafter's Heaven

Have you ever shopped on this site? Mi Prima was telling me about it. And let me tell you, it's a little bit like a "Crafter's Heaven!"

After 3 hours of "browsing" my hubby told me that he might just be in trouble. Yes, it's that good. I could easily spend a small fortune on so many crochet patterns. But I'm holding back. Trying to narrow down my favorites. And hoping to make a purchase before I go to bed tonight.

Do you know of any other great craft websites like this? Please share! I'm always looking for new places to be inspired. And to find unique patterns. :)

An Outdoor Table

My hubby and I have been looking for a little table and chair set. Something small, and somewhat inexpensive. Just for us to have dinner on, when we BBQ. Or maybe have our coffee in the morning. Something small. Meant for outside. Preferably metal. I've found these so far.

I really like this white set. But my hubby insists that it's too "girly." But he said, he might learn to "deal" with it. I'm not sure thought...

This red set really caught my eye. But I'm not sure if it's a little too "retro" inspired. Do you know what I mean?

This is probably our favorite set. A color and style that my hubby and I have compromised on. Not too big. Not too "girly."

And for a good price. We found it as cheap as $75 on some websites. I think we're going to go with this set. We both seem to like it. And for now, it's a good value for money. In a few years, we want to invest in some really nice outdoor furniture. But for now, this is just perfect!

Starting My Snuggle Blanket

Do You Remember This.....



I found this pattern at Annie's Attic. It was the free pattern of the day. And I LOVE it! I even blogged about it the day I found it. I just like it because it screams warm and cozy to me. And since I saw the pattern, I have wanted to make Double Trouble.

I figured it would be a nice blanket to keep in the den. A snuggle blanket to use when you are laying on the couch watching TV or reading a book. My hubby even liked it. He told me it reminded him of the ones that his grandma made. And like the ones his aunt makes now.

Today, we had to go to Wally World for some things. As my hubby was looking at the automotive department, I went to go look at the yarn. I picked up yarn for THIS PATTERN! Yes, I had the pattern in my purse! I am in no hurry to make the blanket. I just feel like this is one of those projects that I can work on for a while. Like when we are watching TV. I am so excited to get started! :)

I LOVE Kandee!

Where has Kandee been my entire life? Honestly. Her videos are so good. And with someone like me, you know, the makeup challenged...these are perfect! Kandee is just the sweetest! And I have to admit it, I stayed up the other night, watching all of Kandee's videos. I've learned so much about makeup. A lot of people will tell me, about time! To them, I say, I never had a teacher like Kandee. :)

This Week's Updates

Here are the updates in our house for the week.....

1. Our mail system here is for the birds. Lola put her mail on hold. We have done this before. And the rest of us get mail. Not this time. Forget the whole package fiasco, we cannot even talk to anyone about it at the post office. Lola has to, she won't be back until the middle of next week. We PROMISE our apron packages are going to be mailed out again.....SOON!!!

2. My husband and I's mailbox for our home, it is one of those group mailbox things at the end of the street. Well, we get some mail sent there, nothing important. The mailbox was broken into last night! We don't think it is a safe system.

3. It is still raining here. I just wish that it would rain really hard for a day or so. Then stop for a while. Instead, it is so hot during the day. Then the crazy winds come in the afternoon, and it rains off and on all night!

4. I finally finished our den. Yeah, everything is in it's place. At least for now. We have painters coming in June. :(

5. Lola is still gone working in NC. I miss her! Probably more than normally because Enzo is here visiting.

6. I thought the USPS was bad around here. I went grocery shopping this morning. I came home to find a notice from the city that they shut off our gas due to maintenance reasons. The note had a phone number to call so the service could be turned back on. I called. They are behind schedule and can't get back until late Monday or early Tuesday. What???

7. About an hour ago, we didn't have water either. But about 5 minutes ago, it came back. Now it is coming out brown. We have BROWN WATER!!! What is going on around here?

8. We have a gas stove, so I don't know how I am supposed to cook until Tuesday.

9. I did it, I bought 2 pairs of shoes this week!!! I didn't "need them," but they did make me happy. My hubby also got something.....a new saddle. He has been needing one.

10. My tio and tia are still on their vacation. But my tio got sick. Now I think they are coming home sometime this weekend.

11. My parents are coming to visit us next weekend!!! I am so excited!!! Mom I can't wait! You and I are going to have some fun. :)

12. I miss my best friend. I really do. We haven't talked in days. If this is how it is going to be if she moves to NC, well she can't!!! I am joking. But seriously, we haven't talked in a week or so. Because she dropped her briefcase in a puddle somewhere in NC. And both her laptop and cellphone are no more. :(

13. Enzo decided to stay here (well not here, but in the state) until after next weekend. His cousin is having an important cumpleanos. He decided to go to it. I guess that means more "Guy Time." :)

14. I miss my girls too!!! That was just a tease that they came last weekend. We had such a good time. Come back soon Jelly, Sam, and Sara!!!

15. I am still doing my workout DVDs and I have lost another 2lbs. I am so HAPPY about that!!! :)

That's all I can think of right now. I need to figure out what we are going to do for dinner. And I really want to do some crafting tonight. I am feeling really inspired and creative. :)

Bug Plug

AKA Riddex Plus Digital Pest Repeller

My husband and I have been talking about this bug plug for a while now. He is absolutely positive that we should get one to prevent any future problems. Why you ask? We live in the desert, but this place, this town, has a lot of pests. I sure do miss our hometown. Sure bears came out from the nearby mountains, but we lived on the other side of town. Our biggest problems were red ants and wasps.

The first time I came to visit my hubby here, we decided to go to lunch at the mall. Which by the way, is the size of most cities' regular shopping strip mall things. It is small. Well, we walked into the mall, and the janitor was sweeping up things. I didn't realize it at the time, but they were roaches. Yes, dead cockroaches. Hundreds of them!!! They are everywhere. That is why when we lived in our campus apartment, we lived upstairs. It was a pretty good workout, but definitely worth it. Why did I move here again? Unfortunately, we weren't so lucky when we moved into our campus house. But with cans of Raid and those Combat poison container things, we quickly rid our house of unwanted guests. Although, our neighbors were pigs, and from time to time you would see a couple crawling over from their house. :(

You don't believe me about the Borderland pest problem? If you go downtown in the nearby larger city, don't go at night. Cockroaches run all over the sidewalks. So much so, you can hear them crunching under your feet. I never, ever believed Lola until one night when we went to a wedding downtown. She was playing for it, and my hubby and I were just attending. I have also never run so fast in my life. Girl, I get it now. Hike up the skirt and run!!!

Speaking of Lola, she has one of these gadgets. Because she is not afraid of a lot, but she is in fear of roaches. That is probably why her house is so clean and you can literally eat off the floor in her house. But she completely endorses this gadget. She has one and says she has no kind of pest problems. Which is true, I have never seen anything there. On a side note.....she actually bought her house because there were no pests in it when she looked at it. Not kidding at all. When she was looking at houses, no matter how perfect it was, if it had any signs of pests, she was walking out looking for another house.

Even Enzo endorses this thing. He told us about when he first moved to Boston and would fight the bugs. Can you tell? Not a single one of us is a fan of insects. But Enzo got one, and it also helped in the winter when the mice came out. He didn't have any. Now M, our other friend who lives in Boston, he had issues. They lived next door to each other and M could not understand why Enzo didn't have any problems. Then he showed him the gadget Lola had sent him. Problem solved!!!

Well, if you are like my hubby, Lola, or Enzo and you feel like you just HAVE to have one right now, you will find them here for $15, plus shipping and handling. You can also read some reviews about the product. I am not completely convinced about them, but I rather have one before we find a reason to get one. Always be prepared.....isn't that what the boy scouts say?

A Little Sassy

Ladies just LOOK at these!

I think I am in LOVE all over again!

I have just been cleaning up my mess from yesterday. Which is going rather well. And I decided to take a lunch break. After a turkey and avocado sandwich, I decided to take a looksy at Forever 21. And I found these gems. They are $28.80. Yup!!! They are definitely not something that I am usually drawn to. But they are sassy, and a little edgy. I might actually have to buy these. Who said we need throw pillows for the sofa? :)

He Didn't Expect It

He Needed a Pair of These.....

My poor hubby. He works hard all day today, from 4AM-6PM. It was a tough one from what I hear. Enzo being back, well it always adds to the pressure and work load. We love our dear friend, but he expects perfection. Which is a good thing, it keeps the business growing. But the hubby was tired. And when he came home, he didn't expect to find what he did. In fact, he asked me for a pair of glasses so he could see things straight. Poor man!

What exactly did he find? I should start at the beginning. Everyone was gone. My tia and tio are still on this mysterious getaway of theirs. Lola is stuck somewhere in North Carolina because their gigs were postponed due to weather. Sara, Jason, Rems, Cam, Sam, Jelly, and everyone else.....have left town. Some time after GH ended and I finished cleaning the kitchen, I had a great idea.....

Some great idea, huh? I decided that I would finally move everything around in our den. You see, we moved quickly, almost unexpectedly. And it wasn't the 1st time we have done that. When we moved from our campus apartment to our campus house, it was done in hours. My hubby and the guys had planned a trip to go hunting. The day before they were leaving, we got a call from housing. We had to move, and now. Or we would lose the house.

Lola, Sam, Amaya, Gabi (yup, I have a friend named Gabi too!), Maggie, and I packed. Literally I called them at 8AM, they were at the house in the matter of a half an hour. Then all of our friends who have trucks, came over and moved us. By 9PM, we had a house full of boxes and furniture. We didn't have that much stuff, and we only moved across campus. The guys left at 2AM the next day. Lola, she helped me during the next 2 days, to get our house in order. Yup, during the weekend while the guys were gone, we fixed up our little campus house. I think my hubby was happy when he got home Monday morning and found that the bed made it from the living room into the bedroom, and that our sofa was in the living room, not the kitchen. :)

In this instance, well it happened even more quickly. My hubby and I went to look at houses. Just to look at them. When we found our house, another couple was also looking at it. Wanting the house we just loved, and trying to beat them to it, we immediately made an offer. We were moving just days later. In the middle of the most hectic points of the semester for me. Right before exams. We moved, and just put things wherever. Figuring we would organize things later.

We haven't been here long. But I feel like things are still not "in their place." Heck, we still haven't bought most of our furniture. Mostly, because Lola and I can't schedule a few hours to go shopping. Yup, I am waiting for that. She has amazing taste, and I could use a lot of help in the decorating department. My hubby has his "Big 'Ol Desk" and a leather sofa in his office. We bought our bedroom furniture, a kitchen set, and 2 sofas for the den. The rest of the house, well it is in shambles.

I shouldn't say shambles. But things are not really in a "living order." We gave away most of our "College Furniture" because well, it wasn't something we wanted to be pulling along with us. That was furniture we "inherited" from people who would have probably just have thrown it away. Somehow our den became the "everything room." With absolutely no real order or flow to the room. It reminds me of a "frat house." My hubby and I stashed a good amount of money aside to furnish our new home.....and Enzo gave us a nice wedding present.....a "gift card" sort of thing at our favorite furniture store. We just haven't done anything yet!

We have electronics, that is the one thing we didn't give away. My hubby is really into his electronics. Big TVs, stereos, DVD/DVR, etc.....check. But the rest, not so well. Rems and Cam also gave us a game table. The kind you play cards on. And we have tons of paint samples. Even those paper ones taped to the walls.

Some time after 3PM, I decided to tackle the den. Actually, most of our furniture is in there. Yup, the yard and the den are looking good. I began taking the electronics apart. Attempting to move the shelving unit we have everything on. It meant taking everything down. And I mean everything. Then went the card table and everything that is associated with it. Some time during my moving of things, I lost track of time. Forgot about cooking dinner. A dinner I had invited Enzo to. And I got completely lost in the task at hand.

When my hubby and Enzo wandered in at 6:30PM, I was almost as shocked as they were. I was sitting in sea of things. Furniture covered in trinkets, pictures, and what not. Honestly, there was not even a path to walk through the room. And all I heard was my hubby say, "Looks like you have.....been.....busy??? Gabs do you have a pair of glasses for me? I don't think I am seeing straight." Enzo was laughing hysterically.

Let's just say, we reached a mutual agreement. We would order pizza, and the guys would get the living room to watch some game or something tonight. Me? Well, I am sitting on the floor of the dining room surfing the net. My hubby wasn't mad. He just wondered if a tornado hit our den. Maybe I should have started my project at 8AM instead of late in the afternoon. Actually, some time during our 5-star dinner, my hubby offered to help me move furniture around tomorrow afternoon. How can I not love him? :)

Memorial Day

Today is one of those days that I am both grateful and proud to be an American. It is the kind of day that we can be proud of those who have come before us and for those who defend our freedoms. Take some time to remember our service men and women. I know I am very proud to say that I personally have family members and friends who serve our country proudly in the armed services. Take the time to say a prayer for their safety. And while you are enjoying the day off, eating your BBQ and drinking a cold beer, remember all that they do for you and me. :)

For any service members who may "stumble upon my blog," Thank you. It means the world to me that you serve our country proudly. As a proud American, I am so grateful for people like you.

Happy Memorial Day!!!

Racing Sunday

Let's start with the Indy 500

Helio Castroneves won it!!! It was his 3rd Indy 500 win.

How cool is that? I think it is incredible. especially after the month he has had. But the race overall, was pretty boring. The beginning 25+ laps were interesting. Heck, the 1st lap was packed full of emotion. The rest, not so much. At least not until the last 25 or so laps.

Now folks, let's talk about the Coca-Cola 600

This picture was from the opening ceremonies. NASCAR really does know how to celebrate our armed forces, troops, and veterans. We literally went from ABC's coverage of the Indy 500 to FOX's coverage of the Coca-Cola 600. Sara and Little M wanted nothing, and I mean not a thing to do with the indy race. The 2 of them sat and watched coverage of NASCAR in the living room while the rest of us were in the den.

Apparently, this is a weekly thing for the both of them. S did not seemed alarmed that her 3 yr old princess was decked out in her #88 firesuit, glued to the TV, waiting for just a glimpse of her boyfriend. Sara.....she was waiting for that same glimpse.....apparently for some of the same reasons. I just think, she likes to look at that man in his suit. :) Jason just thinks she is crazy.....but he is still crazy in love with his woman!

The opening ceremonies were great.....then the rain came. And did it ever. Lola, are you out there? How about J? Possibly Manders? You guys need a boat? You see, my friends are in NC, and they seem to be getting drenched. The race went into a rain delay for hours. Which apparently, is something that was going to last forever. Some 3-4 hours into the delay, the race was finally postponed. :(

Tomorrow morning (12PM ET) we are going to watch the race.....hopefully. :) Let's see what happens. Little M was just miserable that FOX interviewed everyone.....but her boyfriend. How dare they. She just cracks me up. Wasn't it bad enough that the race on Saturday night was called due to rain. Let's just say Little M is not a big fan of the rain.

Do not fret people. We had a great time hanging out with all of our friends. It was so nice to have so many people visiting. And the food.....oh the food. Is it OK that I cheated today and ate some good party food today? I hope so, because it was good! :)

This racing thing is just not my hubby and I's thing. We are more into baseball, even football. But it was nice to watch something new. And to see how other sports do "their thing." But tomorrow, hopefully we will get to watch this NASCAR race that I have been hearing so much about. Little M is so excited for it!

I am leaving you with a picture of Dale Jr. He seems to be the favorite amongst our group. I don't really know much about NASCAR, but he seems like a good guy to cheer for. After all, Little M, Sara, and Lola are his fans. :) My husband did have this to say though, "Do you think he glows in the dark? He is looking rather pale. Something fierce like Lola's legs. :)

Dale Jr. practicing for the Coca-Cola 600

Made Me Laugh!

I got this picture in an email today. My hubby tells me, "See women torture us from the beginning." Really? Torture? Hmmm...

So I'm not sure about his wording. Or what's going on in this picture. But I find it hilarious. Because to me, it looks like a little girl, telling a little boy a secret. And like most men, he doesn't want to hear it. Or feels "cornered" into not repeating it.

What do you think?

I Stopped in My Tracks

When I Saw These Gems

Cam walked in wearing these gems last night. Apparently, she and Lola bought them a few weeks ago. Lola went clothes shopping for these gigs her and the band are doing right now. And she stumbled on these. They are winners. Cam fell in love, and they both left Bakers with a pair.

Are you SERIOUS??? I am in LOVE!!! They come in black and tan. But the tan pair are so much fun. They have all these fun summery colored beads. We don't have a Bakers here, so I checked out their website. Right now, they are on sale for $65. That is kind of pricey and I don't have a clothing budget for work like Lola. She is a performer, I am, well being a stay-at-home-wifey this summer. But a girl can dream, can't she?