In transition

Illegal Immigrants Good for the Economy? Total bunk!

2008-09-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

Bunk I say, yes! First of all, as with all of my hot topic blogs, here comes the disclaimer... No, I am not a racist, nor am I anti; immigrant, Mexican, Hispanic, Latino blah blah blah. What I am is Pro American and for protecting the rights of Americans who are here legally, reaping the benefits that our ancestors have worked for, working for new benefits, recycling our money in our own economy for the good of our people. Yes, I am a humanitarian, a community organizer and I am not ignorant of the hardships that these people unfortunately face in their own countries. I am also not blind to the hardships that we face in OURS!

With that said... so begins the rant. I was listening to a famously liberal talk radio show last night on my way home from the symphony (let me add, my husband pays or our symphony addiction with the money that he earns fighting for our county in the Middle East... GO BLUE!). Yes, I am famously liberal, but of course I don't ALWAYS agree with my leftist brethren and sistern. I'm more of a middle of the roader - not to polar. Back to the talk show...

It was a show supporting the rights of illegal immigrants. I believe that they have human rights in this country. The show talked of them having rights to remain in this country illegally. I do not support this view. Then, the show talked of the hardworking husbands and wives who are raising their children that are born here (therefore, citizens) and that everything that they are working for may be taken away, let's say their American Dream is fading, because they are being harassed, prosecuted and deported by the American government. Victims, really. But why are we victimizing them when they are good for the economy, after all, they pay taxes and pay into a security system that they will never get legal benefits through. After all, they pay to be citizens, can't we forgive them and give them asylum? I say emphatically NO! NO, NO NO! Let me explain why... these people are criminals, and there is very little protection and recourse for their victims, the American Citizen.

Like the hardworking parents mentioned above, my brother in law is a hardworking Dad. He works in the hot AZ sun all day long for the phone company. He too, pays taxes, pays his children's private school tuition with his blue collar money, bought a house and vehicles in Scottsdale with my sister, carved out his piece of the American Pie. Their house just got an IRS levy, why do you ask? Because of the illegals and their criminal activity.

Illegals buy papers when they come here; social security cards, birth certificates. They have income tax and SSN withheld from pay checks - under a legal citizens numbers. This happened to Bobby - legal name, Roberto - huge target! The income earned illegally was added to Bobby's wages earned for the past 7 years - boosting him into a tax bracket much higher than he should be in, higher than he can afford. The IRS wants money and is coming after him - but the real him, not the illegal him. The illegal was working at the Hilton in Vegas, was arrested and let go. He sold the identity again. This time, credit cards were rec'd by the new illegal - instant cards to Home Depot, Macy's, Best Buy, furniture rental places, bad credit car dealers. The new illegal went on a $100,000 shopping spree with my BIL's SSN, now those creditors want their money... but illegal Bobby is untraceable - they want it from Real Bobby.

To add insult to injury, all of this happened after Bobby reported his wallet stolen and had fraudulent activity alerts put on all of his credit reports. Cases have been filed with the FTC, attorneys have been consulted and the answer is always, "Sorry, there is not much more you can do" or in the case of the IRS, "We do not have a problem with the illegal, he is paying taxes, we need the money from you now that your in a higher income bracket". What a nightmare.

So, bil is about to file bankruptcy. He is almost in financial ruin because of the illegals. Now, did you know that if you are an illegal stealing an identity - you can hire a criminal defense attorney? Google it, there are hundreds online willing to get you off for your criminal activity. The challenge, find an attorney who is willing to protect the American whose identity has been stolen. If you find one, let me know, because we can't. This battle has been raging for 7 years, the identity has been bought and sold time and time again, he can't stop it. Even Social Security concedes that once a number has been stolen you can't protect it, you can't stop it from being used. You can't stop an illegal from getting a job and working with your identity - and when they do, and have taxes withheld, the IRS will come after you, regardless of police reports and proof - they want their money.

To tie this to the economy, is the bad debt good for the economy? Ask that to WaMu, or any of the other banks who have recently failed. The bad debt from the illegals only compounds America's issues.

So, do you still want to protect that hard working illegal? If so, what's your social security number, I know an illegal looking for one;) Maybe if they use yours instead of Bobby's, he'll finally get some relief.

Flirty Apron Swap Presents!!

2008-09-19T14:10:00.001-07:00

Corre' los toros! Corre'!!!

Amo los regalos, y fue muy feliz cuando este paquetes venga a mi' puerta en el frente! Gracia, mil gracias a la Amy por su trabaja muy duro y todos de los "goodies" que me lo di! Mi corazon se vuele cuando me lo vi! Gracias!

Run Bulls Run!! I love presents, and I was very happy when this package came to my front door! Thank you, a thousand thank you's Amy for your hard work and for all of the goodies that you gave me! y heart flew when I saw it! Thank you!

I was in the Flirty Apron Swap with the dream vacation theme. My dream vacation is to run with the bulls. We were supposed to go this past summer, but we stayed to vacation on the island with my father who is very ill with heart failure. But now, I have a little bit of Espana en mi debo cocina (en my own kitchen)! Ole'!

Amy sent me a vacation mag, white sangria recipe, the traditional red scarf worn during running and a beautifully made white apron with a red sash tie! Red and white are the tradtional colors for the running! Perfecto!

Save More Time - Freeze Breakfast Too!

2008-09-10T13:57:00.001-07:00

Being the Supermom that I am (aren't we all) every morning the tots get a hot breakfast- yes, every morning I cook - cereal in my house is a snack, not a meal:) But, who has time to do that everyday - I admit, some days, I am really pushing it to get those cakes off the griddle. Lately, we have been freezing the hot cakes and french toasts!

We use 1/2 Heart Smart Bisquick and !1/2 Hodgson Mills Insta Bake (their version of a whole wheat Bisquick). If you use straight Instabake, the hot cakes are a little heavier than I prefer - but whatever... We also add extra eggs for protein.

For French Toast - it is the standard milk, cinnamon, touch of pumpkin spice, vanilla mix - but we also add extra eggs. Eggs are a great source of complete protein for kids and adults (although grown ups should just really eat whites).

After you make a loaf of french toast or a couple weeks of hot cakes - freeze them in a days worth containers (we use 4 of each, so a ziploc bag of 4) and freeze. Kids can pop the french toast oven in the toaster oven or the hot cakes in the ol microwave, and that with a glass o' milk and an apple - and you've just fed the tots healthily before they go off to learn. We really try to use only maple syrup or honey instead of the high fructose corn syrup stuff... I think high fructose corn syrup was made by the devil!

Once a Month Cooking and Freeze Easy Chili

2008-09-09T12:05:00.001-07:00

A long time ago, a friend of mine, Jennifer, told me how her family would do once a month cooking. It was such a foreign concept to me... cook all day, 1 day and then just defrost each night. At the time,it was of little value to me because I just had one wee tot... but now with 2 big tots... husband who travels the world... sports... music lessons... church... crafts...school... university... Once a month cooking has made a dynamic change in the way we spend our time in the evening.s

I was AMAZED to see the movement that families like ours have made - trading babysitting time with a group of women banding together ingredients to make a months worth of meals - how clever. Well, Our blended family does just that, 1 aunt takes the tots to the movies and ice cream... 3 adults blend ingredients, finances and supplies to create a months worth of gourmet meals to feed our tribe healthily! Love it!

To learn more about this time saving technique - google "Once a Month Cooking" like I did!

Here is one really easy meal for your family - you can make a ton of it at a time to inexpensively feed an army, freeze and have ready in short order! Double or triple as needed

FREEZE EASY CHILI

1lb ground beef (we use grassfed organic beef from a local butcher for $5 a lb)

3 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed (this rinses away added sugar and sodium - or better yet - soak your own if you have time)

1 half yellow onion, diced

3-4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced (we use the minced jar garlic from Costco)

1 can tomato sauce or 1 can tomato soup

1 half can water (from tomato sauce or soup)

2 cans diced tomatoes (organic for cheap, again, Costco)

2 TBS chilli powder

1 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cumin

Brown the beef in a large pot drain if it is high fat, add onions and garlic til onion softens. Add spices and mix well while still on medium heat - then add canned ingredients til bubbling and then cook on low about 1/2 hour until thick... serve over rice.

To freeze - allow chili to cool, then put in freezer bags - freeze flat, then store upright like books to save room in freezer.

To thaw - just empty bag in skillet with lid over medium until hot and ready - stirring as needed!

Viola - dinner!

Freaks Beware

2008-08-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

I was not liking the traffic that I have been getting on my blog - people from other countries viewing things about my kids - paranoid as it may seem - I'm making a few changes around here:)

Island Vacation

2008-08-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

We took ouy usual vacation to the island a couple of weeks ago! It was fantastic, now I just have to run off all of the weight that I gained from partying like a rock star the entire summer!

My Refusal to Have Soccer Mom Hair!

2008-08-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

I know, what is soccer mom hair anyway and is it so bad? Soccer Mom hair to me is, that fluffish, bobish, chunky, flipped or large curled under hair that probably has some highlights and is pretty and presentable and nice and makes you look like a very good mommy.

I am not that mom! I mean, I'm a great mommy... but not the aforementioned mommy. It's great for those of you who are, but I am the mom who likes to rock a mohawk to baseball games, I was a dancer on TV in my heyday, I havrocked blue, red, purple and green hair at various times in my life, and I pierced my 1 ear 8 times before body piercing was cool... I am that mom... you know the really cool off the wall one that likes to pretend she is a rock star... the one who wore thigh high boots and took a cab to prom...yeah that's me...

I have the BEST hairstylist in town... and she gave me a spikey rockin mullet so I can grow out my hair... that is grow out my last rockstar style...

Will I ever grow up? Don't answer that!

1/8 European Cello For Sale

2008-07-23T11:21:00.001-07:00

The girl has out grown her little wonderful Romanian cello. This is a great cello for a new student, the notes are already taped for 1st position, has new Piratino strings ($100) and it is almost 4 years old. The sound of a cello gets better with age. It has a great rosewood and horsehair bow a with ebony frog!

The cello is a Genial with ebony fittings a notched endpin and no cracks or repairs. It will keep your little cellist playing great for a long time - it holds its tune exceptionally well - a big problem for most cellos this size. The majority of cellos now are made in China, not this one. Renting one of these could cost over $500 a year, own this one and sell it to recoup your money after your child grows out, and not have to be resposible for scratches or little dings like you would with a rental.

We are selling this for $550 with the bow and new strings, it is valued at $850 - leave a comment or messgae me if you are interested.

More of America's Overt Racism On the Frontline of the Politcal Race

2008-07-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Let me first start off by saying that I am of mixed race (Pacific Islander, German, Irish and some questionable Native American descent) and I am married to an African American (which I was told by a young teenager in an affluent part of town that the term is racist... yeah right, me a racist, laughable) with a Mexican and Irish brother in law, and I have two gay siblings... ok, all of my bases are covered - I am almost as opened minded as it gets when it comes to social acceptance - I don't even say tolerance because it infers that there is something unacceptable about being any of the aforementioned things that right minded people should "tolerate". These dynamics are just who we are, how we are born and should not infringe on our inalienable rights. No matter what we are made of, we are all Americans, don't lose sight of this.

That said - with Obama in the race for president - people of all colors are making the stupidest comments! What's worse is that they come up with all sorts of excuses to OK their speech - a few examples... The McLaughlin Oreo comment, some say since blacks have been using it that is ok for whites to use it... I don't care who uses the term - it's wrong, quit giving excuses why you think it is ok.

How about the whole "he's not black enough"? Being of mixed race, what does this mean - I'm not Guamanian enough? Enough for what? Exactly what are we trying to fill - there's not enough milk, get more - the pool doesn't have enough water... fill it? He's not black enough to be President, isn't that bass ackwards -isn't that he's not white enough? We are supposed to be shattering stereotypes - not creating new ones, like black enough... what a load of crap!

Oh, then there is the "cut his nuts off" - exactly why Mr. Jackson? Were you not being a good parent when you created an illegitimate child from an affair that you had. Did his comments asking African American parents to step up strike a chord - maybe had you cut your nuts off - you wouldn't have been caught - with all do respect:) (My husband says that if I say "with all do respect than I can say anything I want - I know, not true)

And the New Yorker - satire or not, the picture was inappropriate - fueled a fire not needing anymore fuel and gave more media coverage to a topic that does not deserve to be discussed.

America, quit making excuses for your bad behavior and stereotypes, shut up, vote the facts - and to both sides - leave color out of it!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, The Pirate Ship Has Sailed

2008-07-12T00:40:00.001-07:00

The pirate ship has sailed away and left our pirate brood a shack to sleep in! Finally it is almost done! Pardon the unmade cabin - DD adn DS were playing in it right before I took the pic. I still need to frame out the windows, make the hanging sign over the cabin entrance, attach the Jolly Roger (skulls and crossbones) and the painted treasure chest with jewels - but at least it is built, now it just needs embellishment:)
A rock climbing wall was built on this side to get to the top bunk... they love this part of the bed! You can buy climbing holds at REI and mount them to most sturdy surfaces. But, you have to have really strong toes to scale the wall! My aunt and DH are building stairs for the other side of the bed with 3 sets of shelves for toys, there are three shelves that will fit under the rock wall for backpack storage. This is a close up of the plam trees that I have started to paint for the mural near the entrance to their room.

DS says that he likes the view from his bed, but once the beach, Capt. Jack Sparrow, the ocean and the sea turtles are painted, I think he'll love the view from his bed. The palm trees took about 5 hours to sketch and paint - but that is because I am not an artist at all! But, you can learn how to paint murals on You Tube - it's amazing! So now, I need to watch to learn how to paint a beach. I have seen some murals in town and in comparison these palms turned out well.

She Made It!!!!

2008-06-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

My baby is the youngest cellist in the history our local Youth Symphony (50+ years) to be offered a spot! Woooo Hoooo!! This is definately a proud mommy and daddy moment! She practiced 2 hours a day and played a Bach Minuet, C major scale and performed sight reading (she can read music quite well!). She has been studying Suzuki for 3 years and plays on a Rudolph Doestch German Cello! Go Baby Go!!!

Another apron with matching coasters and a botched french seam

2008-06-16T19:22:00.001-07:00

I made this apron for 4th of July swap today, it turned out ok, but it isn't the greatest. I tried a french seam and totally botched it. I have issues with spatial relationships and reversing things - so that seam is not my friend yet. I made 3 darling coasters to go with it, but I didn't take any pics because I was out of time. They were soooooo cute that I am going to make a few more for me, and I think that they will be my signature item to include in all of the swaps!

It was a great Father's Day!

2008-06-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

DD's new bazillion dollar cello suffered an unfortunate accident when a small stationary box fell off of a shelf and hit an unpadded part of her cello bag. We were confident that our USAA insurance would cover the cost of the repair... no such luck... this year our Disneyland tickets will go toward the price of a cello repair ($800) and a new hard case... tough break! Check your property insurance to make sure that this doesn't happen to you:(

We had a great dinner! DH did his normal steak grilling, we made eggplant packets with tomato and basil, his favorite cucumber salad and Ketel One martinis!! I got him some guitar tab books that he was coveting, some sports equipment and the funniest cards. It was a great day just being the Nolanders. My aunts adore him also, I thought that this was a great shot of my mother's sister and him sharing a poignant about what is means to be a Dad and to be present in your childs life:)

Grateful for the Dads in my life

2008-06-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

I was swimming with my husband the other day, and he was crossing the 10ft deep section of the pool. It was the 1st time he had ever been in water that deep. As a young child, my brother and I always frolicked fearlessly in deep water. We thought that is was magical to sink to the bottom, push off really hard and shoot up to the top and take a huge breath... Mike grew up petrified of water - he was very much conquering a fear at that very second that I had never experienced.

Mike is a wondeful, caring and compassionate father. This is amazing because he didn't have a dad. Mike's dad left him to create a new family when Mike was 7, but he was gone a long time before he physically left. This weighs on him heavily, especially now as his children grow older nearing the age when his father abandoned him and his siblings. His gentle but firm hand in raising our brood is everything that a father should have. He gives them love, love of God, respect for life and a passion for fun. He works late into the evening, but ALWAYS walks in with a surprise for them. It's funny, my little boy suffers from insomnia and Mike for years has carried him into the living room for a light snack and TV - the insomnia has become the cutest tradition for the boys. He has taught his daughter to be a great musician and basketball player - she has a graceful aggression in all sports and excells at everything she touches - the determination she gets from me, but the grace and skill she has inherited from him...

I really love this man, and I can only attest to him becoming a wonderful father because I was raised by one.

When Mike and I were hanging on the wall in the 10ft, I flashed back to my brother and I treading water in the Atlantic way out past the breaking point, just swimming literally with the sharks. We couldn't see bottom, which was probably a blessing since we couldn't see what was swimming around us. I was talking with my dad and relaying this memory and he replied "Gene Autry was never to far." It was true, my dad was an incredible swimmer, my brother and I got our confidence in water from him - my mom can't swim. I had flashed back to this memory of my brother and I swimming out near the buoys many times over the past couple decades, but only when my father said this did I remember that most times he was out there with us, swimming at a distance to give us our independence, but never to far that we were out of reach... It was then that I remembered how unafraid and fearless I was as a child because I always had my dad...

We had an estate in Delaware while I was growing up, it was our vacation estate where my brother and I explored the woods, colonial history, graveyards from the 1700's and wildlife. My dad gave this to us. What a tremendous gift! I am working my butt off now to give to my children that same opportunity, but I often wonder, will they be as fearless as we were.

I was never afraid playing outside at night, sleeping with windows open, night swimming... just never afraid because I knew that he was always there, watching over us. I never realized it until he said "Gene Autry was never too far" - but I knew as a child that I didn't need to be afraid, because my dad is a hero, and his protection gave us our fins, gave us our wings - and let us fly! (and swim)

I love you Mike, I love you Dad... Happy Father's Day!

Sometimes the world is such an ugly place

2008-06-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

I can't help but to be extremely saddened that someone could have so brutally taken the lives of those beautiful young girls in Oklahoma. I hope that the authorities find him and send him to face his maker - there is no room on this earth for anyone that viscous!

Jaded

2008-06-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, about my yesterday post - but first sorry Jenn that I didn't fulfill posting photos and gratitude for the amazing aprons - but I had some serious cleaning today and hunkered down in a work apron and did some serious scrub a dub - and I painted 2 sets of drawers and a humongous bookshelf...

So now - 3 of my credit cards this year have raised my interest rate - mind you, it wasn't because I was late - they just did it. So when I threatened to cancel them (like all the shows say to do) they said - ok - that's it, my rates were raised from 7.9% to 28.99% because they have changed their criteria to higher levels than I can meet (due to an overwhelming amount of student loans) and so they won't reduce them - they say it is the economy and that they can't afford to offer people with just "good" credit the low rates anymore, how can I afford to pay 28.99% and 4.50 a gallon for gas and 2.90 for a dozen eggs... so Chase, Capital One, USAA - screw you all! When we get our cabin - I'm gonna get a chicken coop, a horse for basic trans and a milking cow - back to basics - except, can I ride a horse to SAKS for my makeup? I just can't live without my NARS:)

And now, I am jaded about the good ol USAF because DH has been trying to get leave since February - and they won't give it to him. They ruined 2 trips to Arizona, a trip to Baltimore and to Tahoe. The day after school let out, we were supposed to go to Arizona to see my family,but they gave leave to some other guys instead of my DH.

Boo hoo hoo right stop cryin? Well, I need to add that my dad had heart failure twice this year and I wasn't there. He's a pretty sick guy and I really need to spend some time with him since I know that it is limited - but a 15 hour drive with 2 kids by myself is not an option and plane tix for me and the kids are to $$... just give him the dang dong leave.

Tomorrow, I will post some decent pix, I swear... and I'll be chipper, I swear:)

In Love With Chasing Fireflies

2008-06-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

I love clothes -it's an addiction to me. We were at the Arden Park pool and another mom had this catalog - OMG the clothes are fantastic! If we weren't on a financial fast due to gas prices, I would order several things... bastard gas execs... they are totally putting a bummer on my summer!

Hahahahahahaha the website I listed for Chasing Fireflies 1st was apparently some german woman singing in chains - Thanks Noelle:)

Below is the correct website - one little dash makes all the difference!

www.chasing-fireflies.com

And the winner is...

2008-06-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

Giabella designs. DD drew her name out of a hat a few minutes ago. I will post a recap of all of the hints, pics of the fab aprons that I got in the mail this week, and update on the neverending bed, my pissed off'dness at the credit card companies and why I am officially jaded about the Air Force:)

Peace out!

Earth Apron Give A Way

2008-06-05T14:28:00.001-07:00

I said that I wasn't going to do a give a way for my birthday - but I was angry today when I calculated that my family spends $12 a day to get my husband to and from work and that's in our economy earthfriendly - high mileage getting little Toyota. At Costco today, on bread, milk, cheese, fruit and eggs, we spent just under $100 - who can afford this? I am a health conscious, earth conscious, faith in God havin, normal American with a husband who has been serving in the military for 12 years.

I feel that we need to take action - and I know that we all already do in our own ways - so - to join this giveaway - post a comment with five tips on a) money saving tips for families suffering in this economy b) earth friendly ways to save gas or break our countries petroleum addiction c) tell me what you or your family is currently doing to better the economy or get through the gas crisis d) anything else that you think pertains and is socially and morally responsible e) are you going to vote?

The apron is going to be of recycled fabric, with a funky applique! I haven't picked the design yet, it will depend on who wins what I sew. The contest ends on the 6/9 at 10 pm!

Bummed Out About Hillary

2008-06-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

I don't care how much fire that I may take on this, I am a Hillary supporter. She fought a hard campaign and really stood up to adversity, being the first viable female presidential candidate. I like what she had to say, her plans were well thought out - even if they were the unpopular thing to do! She was ganged up on in debates - double teamed and she stood her ground, I really liked her. Her stance on the war and foreign policy are sound, she bring with her experience that this world can benefit from, but... I guess tonight she is ending her campaign, and I am sad.

I used to know John McCain in AZ. I was in his campaign group and was a supporter. I waited on him several times while I was a waitress in college - he is a HERO, no doubt. I am worried about having ANOTHER republican in the White House. I am adamantly anti Bush - this country is in a real pickle, we all know the problems...

If Hillary is asked to be VP, I will vote for Barrack, but if not - my vote is up for grabs... oh the state of the world!

It's My Birthday!

2008-06-03T17:25:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday, funny, a day that my mother can't remember. My father tells me that they had a hard time waking her up after c-section the day is a total blur to her - don't feel bad Mom, I don't remember it either.

So all of my friends host give a ways on their blogs on their birthdays. I wish that I could, but I am sooo busy with the last week of schoolf or the kids, the never ending pirate bed (which burned Maria's hand to day pretty bad), cooking, cleaning, packing for one of our many summer trips an being Supermom, that I can not find time to sew something... I still have one more swap apron to sew:)

So, what happened today, well - at midnight just as it turned the 3rd, I felt the necessity to call all of my family members and wake them up and tell them it was Officially Donna Day - only my little sister Anna found humor in this - by I laughed my ass off!

When DH came home at 2 - he put a Happy Birthday banner across our bedroom mirror, my son rolled over in his sleep and sang me the birthday song - and my little girl was her normal snotty self:) So I woke this morning to wonderful cards, a new jewelry box that I desperately needed (before today, my jewelry was in a coffee mug) from DH and a gift card to the mall from the aunts.

Then, when I woke up for real at 7 am - the day marathon started - cooked breakfast, rushed the girl to school, drove to the arena to try to exchange BB tix, but they were closed, then made the hour trip to the base to pick up our delivery of an organic grassfed aged side of beef, then back to the arena to exchange the tix, then to drop the boy off to kindergarden, then straight to the 2nd grade picnic, then back to kindgergarden to drop of a picture for a project - then back home to work on the never ending bed project... I'm pooped! But, I have to do dishes, clean granite counter, take shower to go to birthday dinner - Dominoes pizza delivered with me sitting on my fat butt, feet up on the couch watching reruns is sounding really really really great right now!

BTW - we are still working on the roof facade for the bed, the murals and art work - all of the green wood grain that you see I hand painted and the middle pic is my aunt and me painting the wood planks. There will be stair and a platform on one side as well as a rock climbing wall on the other... never ending pirate shack:)

I did it!

2008-06-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I did it! I went to IKEA and didn't buy a cinnamon roll! Woooohoooo! They aren't that good, but I can never resist the smell - then I eat it and run 3 miles to burn it off - I didn't want to run today, it's my off day (really every day is my off day, tee hee hee) soooooo, I resisted! Go me!

I got in my 1st apron froma swap!!

2008-05-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

I rec'd my 1st apron from a swap today and I love it! I reminds me of an Appalachian quilt, and it came with a log cabin potholder! It also came with a vintage Betty Brocker cookbook! I love getting these goodies. It's so much fun!

Non Stop Mommy, Insatiable Apron Sewing and a Cold Turkey

2008-05-29T16:28:00.003-07:00

I made 3 aprons this week - this one was for a tornado victim in Missouri, I hope that she likes it, I love to help people and try to bring a little joy to people who need a smile - typically I do this by saying something stupid - but if I can do it by make something instead of a fool of myself, than I am a happy camper:)
This one is for a swap - but I can't tell you for who or which one because I want it to be a surprise - I really love his one!!
I made this apron for another swap - but shhhh, I can't tell you anything about that one either!
This is a picture of my crazy mother and my wonderful husband - my mom quit smoking this week after 16 years... that doesn't seem right, right, she's an old lady and typically old ladies smoke for a really long time...

Not this broad - she started smoking late in life... like in her mid 40's - who does that? Anywho - she made up for lost time because she smoked like a chimney - peee eeewwwwww!! (sorry mom) But she officially smells better this week, she quit... My mom is a COLD TURKEY - congrats mom, don't call me til you finish withdrawals, teee heee hee

This week has been non stop - both of my children have been total terrors. My boy took off after my girl to do some kung fu on her for teasing him, at the last second she moves - he falls into a recliner and knocks out a tooth. Now, my son is a screamer - totally wails at the littlest thing, so when I heard him screaming, I blew him off until he found me and I saw that he had a face full of blood from knockin out his not very loose tooth - it made for a cute smile though!

Life can Be hard - we just have to trust His plan...

2008-05-20T09:49:00.001-07:00

This is Mike, my DH and a very dedicated dad and Airman. He has had an amazingly hard year and has been rolling with the punches, but the blow last night about brought him to his knees. He has been trying for a year to cross train into flight engineering so that we can have our dream house - a log cabin on 10+ acres. We gave ourselves 2 years to meet this goal and it is hard to believe that a year has past already. Well, the flight pay, combat and hostile fire pay and the job that I get after I graduate from UC Davis next summer would finance this dream... he has been waiting for the AFPC to send him his package and class date for 7 months now...

Well, they sat on it, all of the flight engineering spot got filled, Mike's crosstrain was disapproved ~ just like that... no answers just "Sorry, it took so long that all the spots filled up, you can always try FY09."

The guy who told him was such a prick~ I don't like to call names, but he was a real jerk about it...

Anywho, we don't know God's plan, but he has made this transition of ours amazingly difficult -nothing comes easy to us, there is a reason, we just don't know yet. But the dream is worth it, we will persevere!

The never ending bed project!

2008-05-19T14:47:00.001-07:00

We are making DS and DD a pirate shack 2 story fantasy playhouse bed. We originally thought "cut and stain some boards, nail here, screw there, bing bang boom complete". Sooooooo not the case! This is how far we have come... and not come:)

In My Hands

2008-05-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

In my hands, she is a gentle gentle player, with a squeaky string, an unsure grace and an apprehensive bow

She has an amateurs instrument handmade with quick care and glossy varnish, crafted just for the gentle gentle player with a squeaky string and an unsure grace.

Last night she became a gentle gentle musician, with a string of forte and crescendo and pianissimo, with a confident grace and a bow of season.

"Daughter, can you make the notes not so choppy?" I ask

"You mean, connect the notes mom?, Yes, yes I will" she replies as she does and the bow glides across the strings as the tears stream down my face.

My little girl is playing a simple Bach Minuet at 8, and she is beginning to slip from my hands and ascend into her own as she blossoms into music.

A simple introduction into music and she flies, my baby flies!

Thanks to her Uncle Bubba, her father, and our family for gifting her with her new german made cello and pernambucco bow - it arrives tommorrow:)

2008-05-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

Tea Time Dress

2008-05-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

I hate being hurt

2008-05-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

We are not allowed to say hate in our house, it's a curse word here. But. what do you do, when someone you love so much does something to hurt your heart? I HATE IT!!! Is ignorance bliss? Not for me, I am such a control freal that I have to know EVERYTHING! Unfortunately, I'm normally pretty happy and upbeat when the bombs drop and then whammo! Not this time. I have been oretty beat up this entire week, sewing a dress for my girl, a dress for her doll, sewing an elegant veil for 1st communion, fixing the sink, fixing the plumbing, fixing the dishwasher, getting crayon out of the clothes in the dryer, buying the groceries that everyone finished off and didn't tell me, taking care of the kids, helping with 2 book reports this week.... it goes on and on and on. Today, after driving 3 hours for a fieldtrip after staying up until 1 am sewing- another bomb gets dropped and my heart hurts again... how many chances am I supposed to give. How hard am I supposed to work at this?

If it takes another 30 I'll SCREAM!!!!!!

2008-04-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

My DH has been working for a year to get approved for the school to crosstrain into this job. Who would have known that this process would have been this grueling. Thank God for our faith, that is what is helping us to persevere, but we are getting sooooooo fed up! When he first started - over a year ago, he was told that once his package was submitted to AFPC that it would take 6-8 weeks to get a school date. But he would have to pass a flight physical first to get it submitted. DH was diagnosed as a child with anemia that had never completely resolved... which after 11 years enlisted they finally diagnosed as a blood disorder call thallasemia - it's genetic in people of african, middle eastern and greek descent - and he is a carrier - which meant that he is anemic for like.... ever and had to get a special waiver and testing and DNA typing, blah blah blah

When that was all said and done, he had to circulate his package through his squadron for signatures, meet with supervisors, commanders and blah blah blah... That took another three months because everyone in supervision was taking leave or going TDY and leaving his pkg on their desk...

Finally in he beginning of 12/07 - it was submitted! We waited 6 weeks, they told us 8, we waited 8, they said "because of force retrains (basically people who either have to change jobs or get out of the AF) it will take 120 "... we watied 120 days, they said 30 more days, we have waited the 30 more days now they say til the end of May!

For a job that is critically manned, the sure are taking their time filling the slots with willing individuals.

What is soooooo upsetting is that, when Mike was deployed last year, I had a tough time beating off men who were willing to fill that empty space on his side of the bed - Not that I am super hot or anything, the predators just perceived me as lonely and lusty... jerks.

So not wanting to go through that, and me getting acceptedto UC Davis, we made the decision to move off base into my aunts house where we would stay until he got his orders and I graduate - it was a HUGE decision to give up our independence - who knew that a year later - he still would not have even started the school - or received a school date. God must have a plan... God, can you please clue us in... just a little, we are feeling a little trampled on:)

Pirates and Aprons and Baseball Oh My!

2008-04-28T10:17:00.001-07:00

What a busy weekend, could we have packed anymore into it? First is was baseball , 1 game Friday night, 2 games Saturday, 1 more on Sunday!!! We went to our favorites pizza in - their pizza crust is sooooo good - it's like pie crust, flaky and crispy!! YUMMY! Then I came home and laid out fabric for my new apron. Saturday was cleaning and cooking and baseball and sanding wood for the pirate shack bed that DH and my Aunt are building. I had to work the Little League snack bar - which is such a chore (can you tell that I loathe it!) then we came home and had a cook out! Sunday, we had more baseball, more sanding, I was bartender mom for the baseball game and then more sanding and cooking dinner. Oh and I fit in sewing the apron tooo! Way tooooooooo busy!

Bummed about Vintage Coach

2008-04-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

I love love love Coach bags, wait, let me clarify, leather Coach bags. My new thing is vintage bags after I saw a friend of mine with her vintage Ralph Lauren satchel that she bought in Manhattan, I will covet that bag for life. But I found this vintage Coach bag on EBAY for a deal... $45 including shipping - it looks in pretty good shape eh? I almost cried when I opened the package and the bag reaked of smelly cigarette smoke and bars - yuck yuck yuck! And the bag is not in great shape either - it is mishapen to be exact - the seller stuffed it for the picture, the strap is worn and the tab up front is curled out of shape - this seller is crafty with a camera... YUCK, DOUBLE YUCK!!! Let's see if they give me the refund that I asked for!

CRAZY WEEKS

2008-04-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

What a crazy week it has been! Last week was the Mariemont Auction - where Mike and I blew a TON of cash on a dinner that was HORRIBLE. I organized the class project of an upscale pasta basket - which didn't do as well as I expected - and FOR FUN - I made an apron for an apron swap. A pretentious parent at the auction - snubbed my husband at the auction because he hasn't yet completed his degree at U of M yet (another Terp alum) well - sorry, but when you are AD military and there are 2 wars going on - who has time for college?
Then I had to take pics for my EBAY listing of Maria's clothes to clear her closet - that took a million hours
And lastly, Mike bawled his eyes out when we took down his box house that he has played in for weeks. But we are in the process of designing their pirate bedroom, with a pirate shack bed, ceiling to floor murals, New Orleans chandelier and skulls and crossbones - ahhh, time to go pick some paint - these kids don;t know what they are in for (that's why everythingis in boxes, so we can paint)

Dastardly Spots

2008-04-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

I just noticed in the pics that there are some spots on the bodice - that is the fabric glue, which dries clear - and the glue is also on the sequins - all of that will disappear in a few hours.

I Hope That I Don't Ruin a Surprise!!!

2008-04-01T13:38:00.001-07:00

I am in an apron swap for the first time! This is so much fun. I got to create one for my dear friend Jennifer...
She is WILD! She loves to dress up, is very creative and LOVES BLING! ON her blog, she has bright red toenails, wears animal prints and is a total Diva.
So I cut up a pair of Calvin Klein jeans (I know that I am nutz, but I lost too much weight and they were HUGE) Took the butt in many inches and made it a bodice. The neck strap is part of the leg, which I sewed a 5/8" seam on each side and left the edges raw so that with many washings - they will fray to the seam and it will be soooo cute.

On the sides of the bodice - I did a similar technique so the the fray will come from the back, but beyond a finished edge.

I added some darling RED sequins and embroidered "HOT MOMMA" the top left - did I say that she has 8 kids! I love it!

New Jewelry Line

2008-03-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

My mom and sister started their jewelry line which can be seen at

http://www.lalingandcat.blogspot.com/

I love their jewelry! So HOT with jeans!

Arrgh... She's an American Girl Pirate!

2008-03-08T11:28:00.001-08:00

It is sooooooo much fun to turn this ^ into this ....
DD had an American Girl party to goto this weekend, I wanted to sew her something special to wear and came up with this pirate dresss!
We are a pirate crazy family! I found this pattern for a buck at Hancocks, and then I just traced one of her doll dresses onto some fabric and sewed Molly a matching dress. Then with my ruffler foot, I added some sleeves and a skirt... and with some elastic made headbands. Then, I embroidered their names on the outfits and tah dah! Custom matching couture... really Made in America (not like American Girl outfits which are made in China!)

Dinner Tonight

2008-02-27T09:39:00.000-08:00

I love spring and, even though it isn't quitespring yet, I am dying to roast a chick with asparagus. This will b dinner tonight we are subsituting reds for new pots and olive oil for butter - the skin wll be on the chick while cooking - but only the children will get to eat the skin (adults really shouldn't:)

We'll have a huge toss salad on the side as well - with fresh parmagiano! yummy!

I hope maybe you get a chance to try this and enjoy it too!

From:
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Here's our pick for poultry one-pan wonder: One whole chicken, cut up, and a single pan -- plus some citrus, new potatoes, butter, and newly in-season asparagus -- create a meal to welcome spring. We like scrumptious, dark, crispy skin; to achieve this, use a shallow roasting pan (that means three inches deep or less). Deeper pans trap more steam, which keeps meats from browning well.
Prep: 10 minutesTotal: 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 1/2 pounds new potatoes, halved
3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 package cut-up whole chicken (about 3 pounds)
1 bunch asparagus (1 pound), trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges
6 sprigs fresh thyme
Directions
Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Place potatoes and half the butter in a roasting pan; season with salt and pepper. Roast, tossing once, until potatoes are golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
Place chicken, skin side up, on top of potatoes; season with salt and pepper. Roast until chicken begins to brown, about 20 minutes.
Scatter asparagus, lemon, remaining butter, and thyme around chicken. Roast until asparagus is tender and chicken is opaque throughout, 5 to 15 minutes. Serve chicken, vegetables, and lemon drizzled with pan juices.

Beware of Secret Spies

2008-02-22T06:52:00.001-08:00

Beware! Our chittlins are secret spies (uh oh, not so secret anymore.) DH - who has a cold, and I woke up to our children sneeking around - dressed in their darkest clothes acting suspiciously... they were hiding behind furniture, whispering and plotting... and then, DH I turned a corner and they jumped up from behind the couch and yelled "AHA! " and started snapping pictures of us with their digital camera (courtesy of grandma). They also had a pillow sack full of spy gadgets, a flashlight, a notebook of our everymove, spy membership cards... and yes their digital camera! As DH and I walked around the rest of the museum (that's what we call our house) we found little traps that they planted for us - Costco sized pancake syrup bottles behind doors, card boxes to make us slip, and all sorts of other little traps. I guess that we were the bad guys:)

Ok, Ok, enough about Valentines Day!

2008-02-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

So here are the last few pictures... lil Mike with his new found love - he gave her a heart shaped box of chocolates after school:) She was THRILLED! Another of Maria in her fancy pants. Lastly our Valentines dinner buffet - including heart shaped pizzas from Wenelli's. It was such a FUN night - too bad that it is only once a year. I wonder what movie Mike and I are going to see>

Baby Blanket Couture

2008-02-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

My found again hobby is sewing. I am starting to sew baby blanket couture - the fabrics re not typical baby pastels. I love color combination of chocolate brown with robins egg blue. This quilt was made for my new nephew (who I have yet to meet). I used my new ruffler foot to do the border, and the embroidery function on the machine to personalize it. It was so much fun to make that I'll probably start selling them.

Sew Much Fun for Valentines Day

2008-02-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

Totally inspired by my friend Jen to get creative and dust off the old sewing machine - I embellished these jeans for Maria for her school Valentines Day party. What a great time we had going to the store and buying little remnants - then I made patch appliques with satin stitched edging and fusible web. Fringe ribbon was put on the front pockets and around the top of the ruffle.

Now I am begging Mike for a serger and ruffler foot for my sewing/embroidery machine.

I can't wait until she comes home from school so she can try them on!

Now, onto the First Communion Gown. I am taking apart my wedding veil and some applique off of my gown to make it!

Thanks Mom and Jen Wilderness!

Sunnier, Warmer Days

2008-01-22T11:34:00.000-08:00

It' a cold, rainy, foggy day in Sac. My bones ache...

I'm thinking of warmer, sunnier days:)

Photobooking

2008-01-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am not a scrapbooker. I love to look at the doodads, die cuts and all of the pretties that you can put on a page, but really... it is not me. I love to look at everyone elses, but those who know me, know that I am not very frilly and I have a horrible time accessorizing... so scrapbooking... not my thing.

But, I am now - photobooking.... journaling on pages about pictures during an event and framing them out with decorative papers that I collect from paperies all over. I am working on one for my mother in law - I was up until 1 in the morning doing 6 pages last night... now I can't wait til Joann's opens so that I can go and buy more background sheet where they are on sale now 6 for a $1!!

Soooo What's New

2008-01-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

Let's see. I have decided to ask MIke for a papermaking kit for Valentines Day this year. I think that it would be a cool hobby. I love pretty papers - I love to write letters, so it would be cool to make the paper and use it and send little molde goodies to my friends.

Also, I am back on the wagon again... food wagon that is. I would love to drop these last 10 lbs. Not totally over the bronchitis yet, so I can't get back to running, so I started weight training again and really cut back on the calories. It would be nice to lose these last 10 finally!!!

Clean and New

2008-01-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

So I received and email from an old aquaintence of my childhood. Anytime that you reconnect with people, unexpectedly things that you long forgot about resurface, not so much with words on purpose, but with memories and names not lost, only buried. I spent that night holding my children, praying as I drifted to sleep to not remeber my past and the mistakes, horrible stupid mistakes that I have made of this journey called life. Just like Jen says, our Heavenly Father always knows exactly what we need... As I prayed, my eyes closed, a bright white flashed in my mind, pleasant, happy peaceful and comforting, and I FELT him say - not with spoken words, but with a spirit "I forgave you long ago, you've been cleaned, do not worry about those times, they're all over, washed away" I fell right asleep, I knew that I didn't have to have regrets every again

Powerful...

2008-01-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Bonfire on the beach Christmas Eve
We roasted hot dogs and chowed listening to crashing waves.
The Coronado Crew
Passing "The Night Before Christmas", we all took turns reading by fire light.

The full moon watched over our shoulders.

Christmas Pics

2008-01-03T12:52:00.000-08:00

He Comforts the Soul

2007-12-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

Just after I posted the blog about a borrowed Christmas,Mike peeked his head out and went to the garage and pulled out a little box with our light up Christmas house, and angel Maria made last year and bell that lil Mike used to jingle when he was a tot. It brought tears to my eyes to see some of our things from when we were grounded... He is so good for me, comforts my soul, always know exactly what to do to make me feel better:)

Maria's Cello concert, Sac State string project

2007-12-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

Borrowed Christmas without roots

2007-12-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Ususally every year we travel for Christmas... that's fine, it's what happens when you live far from family. Yet, even though we leave our house, we still decorate our own house, with our own tree and sing with our music loud and bake cookies - totally wrecking a probably already wrecked kitchen. Our ornaments are simple, most made and painted with the kids, hung by yarn. We string popcorn , have a million lights... and most of all, share the spirit with eachother, full of love and Christ.

This year, we have a tree, a little one, it's beautiful. But the kids and I decorated it while Mike slept to go and work another 12-14 hour shift on top of a plane in the rain and cold (I know, you walked to school 10 miles in the rin and snow through the woods or ghetto)... the point is... we did it alone, no music, cookies, I have a final tommorrow and it was something that we just fit in...Not our house, not our tree... borrowed

To boot, our ornaments are in storage, along with our nativity and wisemen, with our tree skirt and tree for that matter.

I'm greatful for what we have, It's just hard to have shallow roots during Christmas. Maybe next year...

Send me your Christmas Candy House ideas!

2007-12-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

We are getting ready to do our annual Christmas Candy House. I don't dare say gingerbread since I don't make it from gingerbread. Anyway, they are never a work of art, but normally taste good and can eventually stand on their own after they fall about 50 times.

So, send me your ideas, tips and pics on how your family does you Christmas House, feel free to include templates... hint, hint, we seriously need some guidance! I'd love to hear some stories along with it with traditions as well!

This year we are going to make the walls of sugar cookie dough... we LOVE sugar cookies!

I remember when I was a kid, Cat made the most beautiful candy house... totally gorgeous, until Sounder our black lab ate it... we never got a single bite:(

Taking Tests

2007-12-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

I hate to take tests. Especially when the instructor asks questions differently on exams than in class. I feel totally ill prepared for this exam today - but I have to get an A since I got a B on my last one and anything less than an A would kill my grade. I have been absent alot since I have been sick, sick kids, husband on 12-15 hours shifts for 6 months... one class... that's all I'm taking is one stinkin class and I think that it is too much. Arghhh... I hate stats!

2007-12-03T08:58:00.000-08:00

We are spending Christmas at Coronado this year! yeah, I can't wait to get there. The whole clan will be there. Christmas will be with ribs on the beach, finandene and rice, presents in the sand, collecting shells and just being happy! I can not wait to get there, so excited!

On the mend

2007-12-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

Soooo, it seems as though I have been sick forever. Well, it has been since 11/4 to be exact. It started as a regular cold and progressed to my chest. I remember getting really worried the first night telling my Auntie B that I hate when cold move into my chest... she said everything would be fine in a few days with a lot of fluids and rest. So here I am almost 5 weeks later with bacterial bronchitis on antibiotics. If you know me, than you know for 1: I am a bacteriophobe, 2: I hate to go on antibiotics. But, I think that I am getting a little better.

I saw a good friend of mine, Natasha Assey at the pharmacy on the same day, getting the same meds for the same thing... it is really going around. But it was so nice to reconnect with her and hear how her family is growing and to see her wee little boy who has grown into such a big lil guy. I sure do hope that Natasha gets well soon too!

Soooo disappointed

2007-11-25T13:43:00.001-08:00

So we went Christmas shopping, the normal places, BX, Target and it was soooo disappointing. Beyond the clerks with the shitty attitudes are the managers or purchasers who are stocking the shelves with shit. The Travis BX normally has some pretty great stuff and is a wonderful place for us to shop, run up our Star card only to pay it off a month later with our tax return - something we have done for the past 7 years. Only this year, they didn't have crap, no Toyland in the outdoor section, no small appliances, no kid CD's or soundtracks...

Anyway, we are having trouble finding what the kids want anyway. They can't even decide... ahhh, shopping for the spoiled - I mean well behaved angels who get whatever they want:)

Totally funny - this year little Mike asked for a gift certificate to Red Lobster, the way to Christmas happiness is through his stomach.

Do you think that they know?

2007-11-23T13:39:00.001-08:00

I know that most parents say that their children are their life and it is true that in today's society parents are more involved with their brood. Mike and I devote most of everything that we do to our babies. Do you think that our children realize how much we love them. Will they ever understand the anxiety, joy, happiness, worry, love, jubilation, sweetness, elation and tears that they bring to us.

Last year was our first trip to Disneyland. We entered the park at dusk and were walking down Main St. at the end of the parade when Sleeping Beauty and other Princesses were on the float. Maria and Michael looked with such amazement and awe, it was magic... and it moved Mike and me to tears. Corny right? No, in this world of sadness, despair, typhoons, cyclones and war - we managed to have our babies faces light up on that street, the image burned into my soul. We hope to continue to amaze them, shield them, protect them and instill them with love and peace, and God so that when they see the sadness in the world, that thay can reach into their self and exmplify humanity in despair...