Sharing a New Blog & some giveaway love....

Hi everyone, hope your weekend has been wonderful so far... Ours has been very nice, my mama came home LATE Sat night... infact we got to her home at about 4:30 am on Sat from the airport...and just stayed over there...my poor mr wonderful...we went to pick her up at the airport then drove home from San Diego....and never once did he complain and me....lol ....yeah I guess that says it all doesn't it :) I complained that I was hungry, I wanted snacks..(the good kind..you know chocolate, potato chips, soda..I ate all these :) I was thristy...I had to tinkle...I know... and all that was just me...no kids lol I was supposed to be his Keep Me Awake buddy...uhmmm I did really good until the drive back...lets just say, I remember 2 bites of a chicken sandwich at 2 am and then he woke me up when we got to my mamas house :) yes...you can see how seriously I take my duties huh...well at least I remembered to remind him to drink his Rockstar :) See I am good for sumffin....Plus I blame this on my junk food induced coma ...lol yeah that works!

Sharing a funny here...I don't have a passport and neither does mr wonderful...I know, I know, we need one, but there is always something more pressing to use all that money on like groceries :) Well we had to pick my mama up at the border in San Diego, or is it San Isidro? See this is why he drives and not me :) anyways....We left her house at 9 pm Fri. night...but by the time we got there....it was very late at night, her flight came at almost 1 am in TJ ...it is very dark up there at that time and there are streets that when you go down them...you are suddenly in Mexico, soo as tired as I was. (did I mention I get car sick, so I close my eyes and kinda sleep it off :) well...each time I could feel us turning I would yell...OMStars...are we still in the U.S. ???? I think I he was wondering why I couldn't just go to sleep lol poor man..maybe that is why he reminded me I still had snacks in my bag..I am quiet when I eat...I take junk food seriously :)

So...my plans were to join in the great Silver Sunday party...but being gone as long as we were...I didn't get anything done that I wanted too, and in my defense my mama doesn't have internet :) ...so I am in for next weekend...I promised myself and well you know when you promise yourself...then it matters more ....right???? :)

Ok so I get home and I see that I have some new comments on my last post and I soo love when I get comments...it is like a wonderful friend came by to visit you and it makes you smile and feel all warm & tingly...doesn't it..or is that just me lol :) Well one of the comments was from the the lovely Keren of Free Pretty Things For You Hers is a new blog and I love it! She is so adorable and has such a great way of sharing some really pretty ideas and how to's I love when people do that...She is also having a giveaway to start her blog off but you guys have to hurry it ends Mon. January sorry to share it with you so late...but I just found out about it myself :)

Anyways, I really hope you all visit her & Welcome her to our wonderful Blogland! I know you guys are gonna love her and her lovely ideas :) I have a feeling her blog is going to be one of those that just "blows up" ie...her blog is gonna be huge! Enjoy!!!

Click here to leave a comment for a chance to win :)

Well I better go to sleep now, mr wonderful is going away for work next week and this will be my first birthday not spent with him since I was 19 :( So I want to spend as much time as I can with him tomorrow. I actually feel bad for my girls...They have Monday off and I will more than likely be moping all day :) Ha...now they get to see what it feels like to be around someone moody for a change :) Hey by the way how unfair is that...it is my birthday and the get it off lol just my luck! I Know I will be hearing...Mami....this & that all day long (at 19 &13 they sometimes act like 3&6 :) Well at least they will keep me from focusing on the fact that Chris won't be here.....

Well dear friends until next time,

Besos,

Rose~

My life's little blessings...

I want to thank everyone for their wonderful concern regarding my daughter and her friend. He is still in the hospital and will be wearing a cast for awhile, but we are all so thankful because we all know it could have been so much worse...My daughter well...she is at that age where she wants to be her own boss :) but she still wants to be our baby, so she only lets us see what she wants us too, but I can tell it really shook her up..we try to get her to talk to us about it, but it has to be when she is ready...Did I mention that she will soon be 14 and is about 5'8 -5'9 and I am 5'4 :) But to me, she will forever be my lil red headed bebe with the dandelion hair (is that what that flower is called that is like a puff of tiny feathers you can blow & make a wish on?)... In a bit you will see why I say this :)~

I know that right now, you are all probably like our family... watching the news and seeing all the heartbreak and devastation in Haiti...What can you do? If you can... you give...to the Red Cross or any other organization that you want that is helping Haiti...If you can't give financially as some at this moment might not be able too...then you give with your heart and you say a prayer...That those that are hurt...will receive care. That those that are hungry...will be fed. That those that have lost loved ones or still haven't been able to find them...will have someone to hug them and a warm shoulder to cry on...God bless everyone...

With everything that is going on right now in my life and in the world....when I start to feel the saddness seeping into my heart and starting to take a cold grip... I have to remind myself of my life's little blessings so that I can remember just how blessed I truly am! So I am going to share a few of them today with you...You lucky ducks :)

An award for me??? awww...I believe I am blushing :)

A few days ago the lovely Kolleen of HEARTWINGSISTERS blog awarded me this sweet award :) Thank you Kolleen!!! According to the rules I am supposed to tell you 10 things that I love and pass it on to 10 blogs I love to visit....Ok Here goes...

I Love.....

1. My husband...who even with all my craziness and "bright" ideas, bad hair days (and trust me I have alot of those ) loves me more than the world, even when I am in my pjs all day long...I know this because...always, when I ask ...."How much do you love me? he always replies.."More than you could ever know"

2. Stealin this one from Kolleen...I love the smell of the earth as soon as it starts to rain....where ever I am...no matter what I am doin...as soon as I hear or see spinkles, I run out and take a huge wiff :) The earth smells so good you wanna lick it! (actually don't try this...I did when I was lil...I picked up a damp rock with raindrops and licked it...not as good as it smelled lol aren't you glad I saved you from trying this yourself! ...your welcome :)

3. Watching my kids faces when they figure out how to do things by themselves...then forgetting...when it is time for them to do it again...like laundry :)

4. I am stealing this one from Kelly of Kelly Berkey Designs "Deep long kisses that seem to last for-ev-er" ... Amen sister :)

5. Spending time with my friends that I sooo love and miss...

6. watching a baby learning to walk and seeing them wobble from side to side as they take their next step...

7. Seeing my eldest come into her own...

8. When my mr wonderful calls me beautiful...and I am wearing no makeup and it is a bad hair day...looking into his eyes...I know he means it....

9. Visiting all your beautiful blogs...being inspired by your creativity, cherishing the friendships I have made and looking forward to meeting so many more of you!

10. snuggling a lil bebes neck and just taking in their smell...it is Gods beauty and perfection at its best !

Now...here is where I have to break the rules...sorry Kolleen :) But because I can't just choose 10 blogs to pass this award onto...Simply because I love & am inspired by each and everyone of the beautiful blogs that I visit...I give this award to all of you... my wonderful new friends! Besos & love to you all :)

So now I have a Question for all you out there....is getting older harder for you??? or are you embracing each new year added to your age?? I am just realizing that I am gonna be 42 in a few days....and I am not too sure how I am liking that lol I guess looking at the alternative I should be thanking my lucky stars...but....I am trying to wrap my brain around it...I truly am...I mean I still remember high school & meeting and falling in love with my husband like it was yesterday....those cute wrinkles I used to get around my eyes when I smiled...aren't so cute anymore :) But...like I said before...I am looking at my Life's lil blessings to help me...so please endulge me a minute...

I feel kinda like the flowers in this box...a little tattered and worn...a little shabby yet lovely because.....



I have these lil blessings in my life...

My girls...who as big as they are now...this is still what I see in my hearts eye when I look at them.....(Nissa wearing pampas boots, being loved & supported by her adoring big sister...see the hair, if you blew on her head, it stood straight up like a lil bebe troll doll :)

Anaissa & Ashley


My favorite lil treasure hunting partner & our first lil man.....my niece & nephew

Jordan & Bella


Oh amor....how we waited for you in anticipation...we were all heartbroken when pampa got sick and couldn't stay in this life, to meet & hold you himself....But know that...we all loved you long before we ever got to meet you....You remind us so much of your great-pampa!...See, I am smelling his lil neck...I am telling you...one of Gods lil perfections...

Baby Vance or as I call him " lil papas"


Did I mention that he is going to grow up to be a line backer :) That picture above was at the end of June...The picture below was Holloween! Barely 4 months had passed!!!

lil Papas sitting in Pampa's favorite chair....


This is bebe Natalia who I introduced you to here ... This is when she still had that "new bebe smell" lol ....

My stars how I love those cheeks!!

Thank you so much for indulging me...once again :)

Until next time dear friends,

Besos,

Rose~

A forgotten treasure... & More giveaway love...

**Before I show you my forgotten curb treasure and share some wonderful giveaways...I wanted to share something that happened today...Something important that hopefully will remind us all to slow down...nothing is so important... that we can't take a moment to wait for the next green light...

Today my youngest called me when she got out of school to let me know she was on her way home....10 min later she called me again in tears...I was trying not to panic... so I tried to get her to calm down and tell me what was wrong...Her friend, who she has known since kindergarten was just hit by a van as they were crossing the street...now this is a very busy intersection that divides the block we live on from the rest of her 2 block walk to her school...so close to home, yet so far! I know it sounds wrong...but all I could think is thank God, MY child is ok! Next thing I asked was is he ok, how bad is it, she was hard to understand and wanted to wait with her friends for the ambulance to pick him up and then would continue home...I didn't have the heart to tell her no, to just come home...after all this is a boy she played with when she was a tiny lil girl...I could see his lil face laughing with hers...The van that hit him sped thru a yellow light as it turned red, the kids were all talking as they entered the crosswalk on a green light for them... he was ahead and was hit by the van...In shock... the kids all ran in the street to pull him back onto the curb as their light changed and more cars were starting coming forward... He was pretty hurt and starting to pass out, his legs had gashes deep enough they could see bone and my daughter was in tears again as she said his other leg wasn't laying right and he wouldn't stop grabbing it, but that he couldn't even talk, just barely shook his head with his eyes closed, seeming out of it...Parent, kids, people in cars that saw what happend were all trying to tell the police what happend, the guy in the van tried to blame the kids saying he had a green light...All I could think was...what was soo important that he couldn't slow down seeing all these kids walking home from school? In one instant...he could have changed not only his life...but the lives of some children forever, even worse ending some childs life...We are still waiting to hear how her friend is. My heart breaks for his mama when she got that phone call...I pray that I am never on the receiving end of a phone call like that..

Thank you for letting me vent....

Now back to my post...seems almost ludicrous to do so but I don't want to leave my post on a sad note...I don't want to give someone that just wasn't thinking...that kind of power....

I had almost forgotten about this wonderful curbside treasure...Aren't they the best kind??? My husband was going thru pictures on the camera card...and looky what I saw....my forgotten treasure, that is still in storage...waiting ever so patiently :) Soo....A while we were on our way to get some tacos at our favorite Mexican restaurant...now people, I don't know about you...but I have the nasty lil habbit of looking in peoples open garages and the curbs when someone else drives...I just can't help it lol sometimes you find the most amazing treasures...right???

Well as we drove by, we saw that the taco place was closed....BUT the auto shop place next door to it caught my eye, I saw the back of a tall secretary desk, next to the trash bin...how did I know that is what it was??? becaus I already had one at home :) I asked my husband to go back...he gave me that look....I think most of you have seen that look on your loves face a time or 2 right??? come on...I know it can't be just me that is that lucky lol We went back, the gate was locked...think that stopped me? I yelled Hello!!!!! till someone came out and I gave them my bestest ...I'm not a crazy lady smile I could and asked if they were selling or getting rid of that desk...He said sure...you can have it, it is a piece of junk though...that is why it is by the trash, it comes in the morning...We had to come back and get it in mr wonderful's truck...but needless to say...I was a happy girl with plans for this bebe!!!...did I mention over 2 or is it 3 years and it is still in storage...waiting...hey no one ever said genious is fast process...Ha!! I hear you snickering :) Anyways this is my lil treasure :) enjoy

I love this desk :) I see it painted cream & distressed...what do you think??

Look at all the lil drawers & cubbies :)

I even have an old skeleton key that locks everything up...

It has 2 lil secret compartments on each side of the lil door as you can see and also in one of the drawers underneath...

I was so happy when I found this because mr wonderful never let me paint the one at home...but this...this is my bebe...it demands to be painted :) I even found something to use as finial on top...now that I found this treasure...as soon as the weather is hot again...it moves to the top of my projects list...my ever growing projects list :) See it never hurts to look or just stop and ask...right???? :)


Now onto some more Giveaway love.....

1st is ...The lovely and talented Jill of Gypsy Brocante, she is giving away a beautiful silver tray that she has made into a beautifuller..is that even a word :) Chalkboard tray....When you visit her blog to enter, make sure you look through her posts, it is a gorgeous blog...wait till you see her studio...I drool everytime I see it :) !!!

Click here to leave a comment for a chance to win....

Giveaway ends Sunday

The last 2 giveaways I found out about through...you guessed it :) Dawn of The Feathered Nest!!! :) I told you she finds the best blogs and their giveaways...

2nd is... Dorthe of Den Lille Lade, she makes beautiful dolls and other creations, she is celebrating her 100th post! and is giving away one of her lovely angel dolls to the lucky winner!

Click here to leave a comment for a chance to win...

Giveaway ends Fri. Jan 22

3rd and final giveaway is...Molly of Molly B's she is giving away one of her gorgeous handmade word pillows with the winners choice of words...How great is that!!

***Oooh you have to hurry to this one...it ends Jan 13th at 6...TODAY!! She is in Texas so you figure out the time zone thingy :) sorry

Click here to leave a comment for a chance to win...

Okay my wonderful and lovely friends, I need to crash...again it is after 2 am :( and I am sleepy....On my next post, I am going to share a wonderful award that I was given by the lovely Kolleen of HEARTWINGSISTERS blog :)

But before I close...Please keep all those poor people in Haiti in your thoughts and prayers...Being in Southern California...This is OUR greatest fear too....

So until next time dear friends....

Besos,

Rose~

Giveaway love....and a silly bebe...Natalia

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know about 2 wonderful Giveaways that I found via Dawn of The Feathered Nest....yes I know exactly what your thinking....She knows all the best blog lowdown right :) beautiful blogs to share, wonderful giveaways, tutorials, you name it, you find it on her blog! Sooo without further adiu...please visit these beautiful blogs and leave a comment for a chance to win! GOOD LUCK :)

First Giveaway is for the lovely Tammy of The Other Side of Me Blog, she is celebrating her 200th post by giving away this beautiful organizer that she made..I love it!

Click here to leave a comment for a chance to win :)

Winner announced Sunday, Jan. 10th !

2nd Giveaway is for the lovely Leslie of Orphaned Decor, she has a newer blog, but I am so liking what I have seen so far and she also has a really pretty store in Spokane, Wa. & best of all she loves pink!... I know right!

Click here to leave a comment for a chance to win :)

Winner announced Sunday, Jan. 10th also!

***I will be FINALLY be having a giveaway of my own...really soon!! Jan. 18th is my birthday and I am going to have a GiveBack!! Laura of 52 Flea did this last year and I love the idea...I have always felt like I should be giving you guys gifts for sharing your beautiful blogs, lives and creative hearts with me :) I am in the process of getting things together...and I will let you know more details on the 18th :)

Now let me introduce you to... my lil bebe cousin Natalie, who calls me tia... I call her Natalia :) She is something else! Precocious is her middle name lol She looks exactly like her mama at that age, in fact I remember when we saw her own mama for the first time...the day she came from the hospital after being born, she had the most beautiful cheeks...Natalie got them too :) At first she is really skittish around you, hiding behind my tia...who is her grandma or her parents....but....I found out that if I give her a piece of candy or chips...I am her new best friend! :) (just so you know, I tried veggies and fruit...bebe wasn't havin it! lol) This picture was taken at my dads service, she was looking out in awe at all the people that were arriving.

Natalia Feb 09



This picture above of Natalia...is how I feel when I am visiting all your blogs and I am just oohing and ahhing at everything! I feel like I am looking through a window into your worlds...Thank you all for sharing! Especially this Christmas, we didn't decorate in our house, I mean we took all the boxes with Christmas decor out of storage, the boxes stayed on our porch for 2 weeks, thank god no one jumped the fence to come see what was there lol I can't imagine losing some of those things...the memories they evoke are priceless and irreplaceable make me shudder & tear up just to think about it.... I even took the Nativity out...it stayed in my bedroom... I honestly just couldn't...but I got my Christmas decor fix visiting all of your beautifully decorated homes, I know that next year will be different...I feel it in my heart...I will share with you...I promise! pinky swear & all that fun promise stuff....

Now here is our silly bebe Natalia on Christmas night, she suddenly disappeared and we were on a hunt at my mamas house for her...as I walked down a dark hallway I hear a lil tiny warbbly sp? voice singing in one of the darkend rooms, so I followed the tiny muffled voice to the guest bath and I called out "Natalia?" she didn't answer...but I could see her little body moving... up pretty high and in a panic I turned on the light and this is what I saw..

(sorry for the poor picture quality of the next 2 pictures, but they were taken with my blackberry)

Natalia Christmas 09


No wonder her lil singing voice was muffled she was busy....We should all be so diligent about dental hygiene... right :)

When I asked her what she was doing up there so high all by herself in the dark...she gave me this lil look....and said huh??? silly tia for asking...I mean wasn't it obvious...

I love that she wouldn't be 2 yrs old for a couple of days and yet this bebe has no fear of the dark...crackers...I am gonna be 42 and I talk out loud as I go up the stairs late at night...by myself...cause you know, I live in a 1916 house with creaking floor boards and stairs and well...gotta let my unseen peeps of the night know what I am up to...you know...so no one gets a surprise...I guess it is all good..until a voice answers me back lol did I mention I go to bed after 2 am...nuff said :) and yes I am afraid of the dark lol

Doesn't it look like she is saying...what do you think I'm doin...HELLO!


Well dear friends this it all for now.... will have more in a couple of days, I am takin a break for a couple of days... Tonight my mama leaves to Mexico to go visit and honor her querida madre (beloved mother)...who is my beloved Ita (grandma)...you see...tomorrow the 9th is the anniversary of my Ita's passing and even though I can now think of her and see her pictures without falling apart...I still need to give myself a moment to feel her love wrapped around my heart...

It is really cold right now in the province my mama is going to... and some areas down there..I have heard people have been in danger...kidnappings, etc.... I don't know why I worry so...maybe it is because there are no guarantees with this life and I have learned that each time you say goodbye, can be the last...Maybe it is because my Ita and my dad are both gone now...that I panic when she isn't near enough for me to be there right away if she needs me...funny...almost 42 and now... I really need my mama :) My stars...how things have changed in the last 3 years....

Now please don't get sad...no reason to be....other than missing my heart :) I now truly feel so blessed... that I got to have her so long in my life...see my Ita was 93 and oh so tired. (I just didn't want to see it then, but I understand that now) I know many of you have lost your grandparents young and some of you might not have ever had the chance to meet them....so I know... that I am so fortunate that I have a lifetime of wonderful memories to give me strength and make my heart smile! I will visit you all as I can and I hope to be able to get it together and do a lil tribute to my Ita...but if not...I will at least share some special pictures of her...the only sad thing is that...I have no pictures that show just how amazingly beautiful her blue eyes were :)

Well...until next time dear friends.....

Besos,

Rose~