are you getting ready?

so are you getting ready for the holidays? now that one holiday is complete are you looking forward to Christmas as much as I am.

here is some potpurri that I added some of my own elements to. this area has a bunch of pine trees. so a few months ago, I picked a few acorns, pine cones, berries and I cleaned them and added them to other nuts, berries and bells that I have collected in the last couple months.

all it needs is a little christmas note right on top.

well Thanksgiving came and went and this year we did not have to drive the 5 hours to get to IL. my mother is such a great cook, I must admit.

You know I stop and think. she is an amazing person. she had guests that are not even part of the family. she had over a young couple with their three children (neighbors) and another young couple that have children as well that his mother past away a few years back. HE calls her MOM. My mother is such a giving person and will open her arms to anyone. they all left happy. I just stop and think how blessed I am to have her as my mother.

my mother and I really did not get along as I was growing up. I was a bit rebellious. not your typical daughter. wanting to go out dancing all the time instead of being home and learning girlie things like sewing or cooking.

we did not get along till I left to MO and got married. our relationship is great now. she still is the mother hen. through the years she has taken in so many of my brothers friends and mine as well. I have a good friend of mine that always says that she learned alot from my mom and practices some of the stuff she learned with her family now. I am blessed. Truly I am.

Yesterday was a very busy day looking for a new home and working on school holiday homework. this is my youngest child. eating a bowl of our favorite, rice crispies and being creative.

I hope you all had a great time with your family/friends and keep enjoying this years holidays season.

time is flying by and in no time Thursday will be here. before I get all wrapped up with my children/family and friends, I wanted to wish each and everyone of you a fantastic Thanksgiving.

May it be the best yet..... for you, your family and friends.

Peace,

Just ME

BIG TIME CHANGES

well ya'll I am really going to need your good vibes for the next couple weeks. lots of changes coming. OUR HOUSE in MO is finally going to sell. probably by this coming Monday we can be signing paperwork. I was very happy to hear the news, BUT also very upset. WHY? well it's a big part of my life that is finally closing. I have been dealing with this relocation to IL since Nov of 1997. My life since then has been change after change after change. someone told me that I am a strong person to have dealt with all that I have been through. believe me there have been tears, headaches, arguments and major stress health problems with all these changes in my life.

and I am still not done with this relocation. if all goes well, the buyer wants everything out by December 10th. so you know I will be very busy in the next couple weeks. I will have to leave to MO to go forsee the move. ONE BLESSING is that I am not starting work until January so that will be very helpful for us.

So now what do we do? do we keep on renting or do we start looking for a house asap. my boys are in a great school that they love. I don't want to move them again. they did so good the first time, I am nervous that they might not do well the second time now that they are finally meeting new kids and settling in.

GOSH, very overwhelmed on my part of the world. Changes and more changes! I AM BLESSED truly I am. BUT I am human! Plus, I am tired of changes. I just want to be able to start my new life and enjoy it. You know what I mean.

Please keep me in mind I would appreciate that.

We did see a house today that has potential. It's a flipped house. Not sure if I want a flipped house. met a nice realtor that can probably work with us if our relocation company allows her.
if the house works out we will be staying in Wheaton ortherwise our second choice is Glen Ellyn. why Wheaton? this is where we settled since July 08 and of course the boys school.

Blogger is not cooperating so I can't post a picture for you.

Well ya'll sorry that I am venting a bit. it's just another part of my life that is a big PART of me.

Patti and Renee - this is dedicated to you for your supportive comments that made me smile!

well feeling a bit better today. decided to take some of my kitchen wares and give them a wash. took a few pics to share with you.

I love the rhinestone pin. glass coasters with a silver edge around them. an old plate. and this cute little covered bowl where I keep my sugar. time to start getting ready for the holidays that are among us. my mom gets back in town on Monday so hopefully I can spend some time with her next week baking pumpkin and banana cake loafs.

yummy..... if you were coming over I would gladly bake you something.

I also have in mind that I would like to make some cookies. I have a Martha recipe I would like to try again.

okay, I am getting myself hungry here.

if I find that recipe I will gladly share.

sometimes on lonely days like today I miss my old life ya'll!

this day finally ended. kind of a lonely day for me today. feeling a bit teary eyed & blue. happens sometimes. or maybe I was just terribly bored. wanting the company of a friend.

life goes on right.....

tomorrow will be a better day.

well yall, I found another fabulous book at the thrift today. it's the Martha S. book shown here and I got it for 60 cents.... yes just 60 cents. now you see why going to the thrift is addicting. the other two books in the background are the ones I got for $1.00 each I belive 2 weeks ago. I had a few minutes today to take some pics so if you scroll down below I photographed a few of my favorite pages of these three books. pure eye candy I tell ya.
I swear once I start working soon I will be going through thrifting withdrawl. Hopefully, I can find some good stores in the Elmhurst area where I can run to during lunch.

tis the season to be JOLLY!

jolly, jolly, jolly!

random thoughts PLUS I can't sleep

it's almost 1:00 a.m. and I can't sleep so I am digging through all my saved pictures trying to find the ones I have enjoyed looking at and I thought I would share.

we were taking a drive today just to kill some time and I asked my hubby... will I be 39 or 40 soon?

he reminded me right away that I will be 40 in a few months. I really don't see myself being 40. At least mentally I don't...

time flies, I thought.

who would of thought or at least long ago 40 for me was so far in the future and now it's right around the corner. time to start crack a lackin and doing things I have always wanted to. no time to leave everything for the future.

it's time to start enjoying everything.... every minute of every day.

no regrets from now on. time to start making the right choices. the time is now - not later.

or maybe this will get you in the holiday mood!

maybe this will get you in the holiday mood?

Get your craft on

I went out to JoAnn's the other day and got this cute Debbie Mumm wreath for my door. They have some of their Christmas stuff already marked at 50% off. The wreath only had a few bells attached so yesterday I sat myself down and added red bells all around the edges to give it a more festive look. I also have this cute little NOEL picture frame that I have to put somewhere around this place.

I am trying to make my place look and feel a bit more homey.

While out visiting a friend today, I noticed that some homes have their Christmas lights on their trees. One house had all their inflatable snowmen out on their lawn ready for the upcoming holiday.

I hope you are starting to get in the mood as well.

thrift store finds

the other day I took a drive to the thrift store in Aurora which I previously wrote about. I would say that it is okay. You know these kind of stores are a hit or miss. I did not come away with toooo many treasures, but the prices were great. I found this star picture holder which I plan to use during the holidays. I believe I payed $1.20 for it. The spools of linen were $1.20 for both. The plates below were a whole stack for $3.80. Okay now can someone out there share a way that I can clean these silver plated/brass dishes. I know this sounds like a stupid question, but how did they use these before? Did they serve food on them or serve food on another plate and then added the plate on top of these?????

Can anyone let me know please.

I also found a leather FOSSIL purse for $3.84 and I swear it looks like no one ever used it.

I am totally addicted. In MO I never really had the opportunity to visit thrift stores, but in Chicago you can find them every where and if you like going and digging and don't mind the sneezing I would say go try it.

I would even come along. Take me with you.

I promise this does become addicting because the workers keep bringing stuff out constantly. It makes you want to stick around to see what else they have stashed back there in the working room.

P.S. I did find a job and I start in January. I have always worked with State Farm and I going to start with them again. What can I say I am a SF girl for life.

Peace to you,

Just ME

I apologize for the dark picture, but I took this on a gloomy day plus because of the trees surrounding my place it's kind of hard to take good pictures if the sun is not shinning.

Here are a few of the items I found at the thrift store I wrote about in my previous post. The door stop (lady) I bought a while back at an antique store in MO. I did take a drive to the one in Aurora that I mentioned and got three things. I will take pics tomorrow hoping the sun will be out, but something tells me we will probably have another gloomy day.

Hope you enjoy this picture and if you have any questions drop me a line. I don't bite.

Peace to YOU!

I am a thrift store junkie

since I did not attend last weekends flea, I decided to take a ride to my old neighborhood and visit the local thrift store. I swear that store does not disappoint. on certain days they have different colors marked at 50% off the price of your item. I wasn't that lucky this week to buy anything at 50% off, but come on at thrift store prices everything is already cheap.

I found two hard cover books from none other then the shabby queen herself Rachel Ashwell. GREAT books in awesome condition for $1.00 each. I was thinking who the heck got rid of these good books. hey I am not complaining another mans junk is my treasure.

I also found a very talk milk glass vase, a few milk glass bowls ( I am digging the bowls because I have been in the cupcake making mood) some jingle bells and a few other treasures.

I am loving going to this thrift store. last week I went with my dad and I left a beveled mirror behind that I think was $4.00 thinking maybe next time. Well it wasn't there anymore.

the workers are constantly bringing stuff out. can you imagine being there every day to see what they bring out. it's totally addicting.

actually, I just found another of their stores in Aurora and if I can take a run there tomorrow I am going to go check it out. Hey it doesn't hurt plus it's way closer.

it's starting to get cold again here in IL and I am sure the fleas will start closing till the spring.

THANK heavens for thrift stores.

a few simple cards I created just because.

They are waiting to go out in the mail soon. Just a bit more something something before they get sent out.

YES HE CAN!

YES WE CAN!

I am blessed to be part of history in the making today.

I am very PROUD to be an AMERICAN.

OBAMA 2008

may GOD bless him and his family.

may GOD BLESS AMERICA.

for the love of old...........

why such attraction to something old? Is it the chips or the stains?

NO...........

IT'S THE CHARACTER!

IT'S THE MEMORIES!

so here is a peak at some of my Christmas card making stash. I found this wonderful paper at Archivers the other day. I will be using some of the images I have pictured. Oh and for some inspiration the December issue of Home Companion.

I swear I read on someones blog that they might be ending this magazine. I would die if they did. I love this magazine and have for many years. I have tons of back issues that I take out all the time to just inspire me or just make me happy. Mary's magazine is just eye candy from front to back.

It's way up there with COUNTRY LIVING another of my favorites.

so I have a little one bugging me to use the computer so I am running out of here before he drives me crazy.....

maybe I will go sit at the kitchen table again to see if I can possibly come up with my Christmas cards finally.

today was a beautiful day weather wise here in IL. I am really not looking forward to the cold winter storms or the icy roads. sorry yall, but MO winters are not as harsh. I thought I would share with you these pictures I took maybe three weeks ago. like I said in my earlier post, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Time to be with family/friends and be thankful for all the blessings that we receive every day. Time to reflect and make changes that are necessary to help us grow. I try to be a good person, try to hold the door for a stranger or give someone a smile as they are passing by.

Growing up in the south side of Chicago was not an easy thing to do. Well at least now that I think of it I was fearless when I was younger. My mother always moved us around to the safer areas of the south side. I remember when she finally took the plunge and moved us all the way to 80th and Kilbourn....

It was a drastic change for us. We were the only Hispanics in that area. It was very upsetting back then. We were out of the hood. We lived on a block where we were surrounded by elderly people. I remember my first racial experience. I had never dealt with that before. Its funny how sometimes you forget about stuff, but I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT EXPERIENCE. Actually the gentlemen that said something to me still lives in the same house on the corner. I left, but he is still there. I wonder if I went up to him to remind him of what he said would he ever remember.

It's kind of funny.... that neighborhood is surrounded by Hispanics and other nationalities now. He has neighbors right next door that are Hispanic and that love to blast their music in their garage. I wonder what he thinks now? How he feels now?

I don't know why I am sharing this with you. Maybe so that you can see that I am human and have had different life experiences that have made me who I am today. Life is short. I find myself telling this to a lot of people. We need to enjoy it as much as we can because we only have today. I know times are difficult right now. I should know because it's affecting my family. BUT I can't sit here in this apartment and waste my time crying over something I can not change. I have to make the best of what I have NOW. So that is why I count my blessings every day.

Yes we were not happy with my mother's decision of moving us out of the south side, but now if I think of it who cares. She was doing it to better our lives because she loved us. So again a blessing in disguise because that experience helped us grow. I think she did a great job bringing us up to be somewhat normal people that play by the rules.

So hopefully my mom will be back with us for this Thanksgiving. Hopefully, we will be celebrating together along with my dad, brothers and the rest of the familia and anyone that will want to join us as my mother's house is always open to anyone.

I will be counting my blessings, today, tomorrow and always. I hope you will be joining me in doing that as well.

Peace!

Just ME!