SuperBowl awesomeness

I just had to post this.

How freakin creative is this? I wish I knew how to make one of these. Just something I saw on facebook. If my Niners were in the big game, I would so try. I love you crafty world!

Be the Change: January Edition

I spoke about my One Little Word being "Service". Well this weekend, Samantha and I had the opportunity to serve by cooking lunch for 100 homeless in the Los Angeles community. First, I have to say how proud I am of my baby. She is truly growing up and I really feel like she's finally getting it. We are so blessed, truly we are. We may not be living in a mansion, have tons of moola in our bank accounts, or have many stamps on our passports (ha, we don't even have passports), but we are so blessed. We have a family that loves us, supports us and we have our health, I have a job.....we have eachother. This weekend I didn't have to worry that my baby. Normally I worry because she gets bored or she can be a little sarcastic and just forget why we do what we do. She didn't do any of those things. She was sweet, kind, gracious, helpful and just herself - the Samantha we know and love. She's growing up.

I found this great organization, Hike it Up that brings communities and families together by producing progressive events and fundraisers that involve community based activities and improvement projects that serve youth, family, individual, environmental, and school-based programs.Seriously, an awesome program. I joined the group on facebook and never really did anything. But since I'm really trying to set a good example for Samantha and follow through on my One Little Word, I decided to finally make it to an event. I'm so glad we did. Honestly sometimes I'm shy and just don't want to meet new people. I know that sounds mean. But sometimes I prefer to just do my job and thats it. I find that most people that volunteer are really friendly and will go out of their way to speak to you and I just kind of don't. That doesn't make me mean or uncaring, it just makes me appreciate those people and their gift to make others feel special. I know what we did was a good thing. Its not like everyone gives up their sunday to cook. Take this from a non-cooker, it was fun.

When we arrived, there were only 3 of us. I'm like, "oh Lord, please let them know how to cook". Hahaha. Turns out, I was the chicken cleaner, bellpepper chopper, food server and smile ambassador. Haha, I just threw that one in there. Plus I was Samantha's mama. You know my favorite part of the day? When Samantha said, "Mom, can we do that again. I really liked helping those people and it was fun". Thats why I do I do what I do. Thats why I sign us up to help in the community and make our little impact on this planet. My baby's going to grow up and she's going to know....

In doing your best serving others for free, a lot of eyebrows will raise and sneers will curve many a-faces. But in the end those incredulous to what you put up with to help, no longer matter. It's not between you and those snobs, but with whom you have given your hand to lift, and of course to God who Is watching and noting it in your book.

Inspired by Mother Theresa

with her granny lips, haha - getting over her fear of the knife cutting up fruit

there's always a moment for a picture, she's like 'really?' haha

an old friend...

Source

Reminds me that I went to the library to get the John Grisham book " The Confession". Love him, my favorite and as I was walking down the aisle with all his books thinking how much I've enjoyed so many of them. I don't get me, love a good murder mystery, sometimes even with a twist of scary but will not for the life of me watch a scary movie, not even a spoof. Anyhow, I love the quote. Book confessions are the best.

me

the kind of woman i want to be:

i want to take my makeup off every night before bed.
i want to floss my teeth just as often as is recommended.
i want to wear high heels. or not.
i want a little garden. whether it be mounted on a wall, contained in a window-box, or a full backyard plot, i want my own greens. want to mark time by their progress. want to pick them fresh for dinner.
i want to bike to the farmer's market. actually i just want to own a bike period.
i want to like green tea. or not. but drink it anyway.
i want my food to be rich in the colors of the earth.
i want to live near the water. or the mountains. or both. want to pray and give thanks beneath trees that reach toward the heavens.
i want balance. balance between investing in all the right things and paying attention and putting in the work and then letting it go and not giving two shits.
i want to turn off the lights when i leave a room.
i want pictures everywhere. frames everywhere. i want the words hung right up there on the wall.
i want to wake early and not be cranky. to move my body because it's good for my heart. because it keeps me light and kind.
i want breakfast in bed on saturday mornings. and fresh flowers and gifts for no reason at all.
i want to be the kind of friend who honors commitments, takes the time to make the call, sends ridiculous emails just because, who speaks truly and freely, and plans birthday trips to paris.
i want to wear colorful socks and knee-length skirts. bright lipstick and my hair in a high bun.
i want to to be a crazy cat lady because i can.
i want to stop worrying about the things i can't control and focus on the things i can.
i want to be a woman with no regrets.

-found on the wild ways of a brunette bombshell - a girl after my own heart with a mix of me in between

today i'm....

Day: Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Wake: 6:02am after feeling some whiskers in my face (Double), snoozing until 7:04am

Weather: cold like below 60 is cold for me

Work: arrived -9:34am - spoke to Principal Tambara about Samantha's rat teacher, hope it helped

Plan: get through the day, perhaps go on a library adventure with Samantha after work

Eating: Smart One's frozen lasagna - not bad with a bag of chips:)

Drinking: water, ice cold

Exercising: probably not but I need to

Listening: Pandora - Michael Buble, Eric Benet and Jodeci:)

Watching: Catching up on Two Broke Girls tonight...maybe

Feeling: meh, maybe the day will get better

Thinking: I hope by speaking with the principal I didn't make Samantha's situation worse at school. I just want her to succeed and not feel threatened.

Doing: Finishing up my sketchbook

Wanting: a clean room, haha - someday

Needing: Peace in my life

Loving: Amy Tangerine's new scrapbooking collection, so fun

swoon, yes i do

One day I'll get around to fixing up my crafty palace but for now it is what it is. I received my studio calico kit and couldn't wait to make something. I finally realized I like the brighter colors instead of the neutrals and they're always seems to be a bunch of neutrals in the SC kits so I might have to rethink my membership. We'll see. I put together this layout real quick. I liked the picture and "surprise", it was Mike's idea. I think I'm converting him and Samantha. I'm hoping they jump on the Project Life bandwagon too. I received the PL kit this week too, I was going to wait until February for my birthday but I just might start now. We shall see.....

Journaling says: Dinner @ Benihana's is always nice, but nothings better than a sweet kiss from you.

 We were suppose to take Granny to Benihana's for her birthday but she flaked out on us. We decided to go anyways. We were seated with a really nice family and had the best night. Since I'm trying to document our time for Project Life, I had my camera and Mike told Samantha to take a picture of us (he never does that), so hence the 'sweet' kiss. I love it. I love us. Swoon!

I'm back :)

New computer (thanks Graps), new ideas, new year! So super excited. Good bye 2011, you brought me tears, happiness, headaches and good times with my peeps. I look forward to some day actually scrap booking the pictures for future generations of me. But for the time being I'm just living life, the only way I know how - by the seat on my pants (thats the correct saying right). For you mom - "when life gives you lemons, go buy some tequila and call me up". Although I don't like tequila, I would take one for the team if need be.

So anyways, I'm going to attempt my own "one little word". My word is "Service". I'm going to try and do some type of service once a month and document it. I know it may be easy but I'm going to try and do beyond the basics like holding the door open for an old lady type of thing. I thoroughly enjoy my time doing for others in a community service type of atmosphere. I always walk away feeling good about myself and happy to give back to those in need. I'm hoping to bring along my offspring because she generally likes to serve as well. I'm hoping by including her in on my little project and having her join in on the document process that this will be a nice 'mommy and daughter' project. If I had to choose another word, it would be "Finish". The procrastinator in me keeps me down I know, I'm really going to try this year. Hence the quote below.

Always a favorite quote, one I try to live by (source)

Enough said!