Good Intentions and Giveaways ....

What is it that they say about good intentions again???? Well, all I know is that my heart and thoughts were in the right place but time keeps slipping away from me...I think I need more hours in a day to just blog...and then let life and everyone else just wait until I am good and ready to deal with them...do any of you ever feel like that?....please tell me I am not the only one :)

Everyone left me such wonderful Birthday wishes on not only my blog, but on Dawns and Cynthia K's and I can honestly tell you that although I was missing my mr wonderful on my special day....you all made it so special for me with all your beautiful and wonderful wishes that not only was my birthday special...but even with all the crappy weather and bad thunder storms we had and having to be out driving in them each day for most of the mornings and afternoons, I can honestly tell you that even with all this and my wet frizzy hair and soggy clothes... because of all of you... my spirits were up all week...I Thank you again :) My intentions were to visit each one of you that left me such wonderful birthday wishes and personally thank you...well as hard as I have tried to... I have only made it to a handful of you :( With mr wonderful back in town late Friday afternoon, trying to spend time together as a family, running errands and preparing for the new week, we have been so busy...his duffle bag filled with his clothes sits at the base of the stairs still unpacked and dirty clothes unwashed...but on a good note we got to spend family time together, visited my dad with flowers and spent some time with my mama...a new week is here and it starts all over again...To be honest we haven't even gotten a chance to celebrate with one of my wonderderful giftcards I got for Christmas...hmmm Chilis and OutBack sure sound yummy about now :) Then to help matters...today we are supposed to have a new storm come in, I am hoping that I can remain online this time (no lightening) and visit as many of you as I can and thank you for your kindness and just see what all of you are up to in your own busy lives and see what beauties some of you are creating...I miss that...my time...where did it go?? If you find it...please let it know I am desperately searching for it :)

So please know that while my heart is in the right place....time isn't co-operating with my plans at this moment :) But I am trying....

In the meantime, I have some Giveaway love to share with you...

1st...The lovely Spencer of Bellamere Cottage is having a giveaway to celebrate her 1 year blogaversary!! She is such a sweet lady with a big heart and a beautiful blog, please visit her for a chance to enter her giveaway and stay to enjoy her wonderful blog...Ends Saturday Jan. 30th at 6pm her time....Good Luck to you all !!!

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


2nd... Jill of Gypsy brocante is giving away one of her beautiful silver necklace creations for Silver Saturday. After you enter to win, stay and visit her beautiful blog, she creates some beautiful pieces, and has 2 wonderful online stores that you can find on her blog, while your there see the pictures of her beautiful studio...it always makes my heart stop and then I start to drool :) Winner will be announced on her next Silver Sunday Post...Good Luck to everyone!!

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

I am hoping that life slows down a bit in the next few days so that I can visit as many of you as I can. I really miss this huge part of me time & as I find out about more giveaways and news I will let you all know....cause well...your my peeps and I got your back like that :)

I don't know if you all have heard of the Artist Class or not, I signed up for them through Dawn of The Feathered Nest, The Artist Class button is towards the top of her blog in a beautiful black & white button, but I am sure you can sign up through some of the other instructors, I believe they have the Artist Class Button and info on their own blogs too, I just don't have that info at the moment. I can't wait for them to start...I am really excited and a lil scared about trying something new and creative...but my promise to myself for the New Year was to listen to my creative heart and not let fear keep me from trying new and wonderful artistic things and techniques....With these Artists Classes, I hope to, as my favorite saying goes..."I hope to close my eyes and just leap"...I hope many of you will leap with me, if you can. Then again...many of you are so talented and already know how to do many of these things :) Lucky ducks....well daggum it...I wanna be a lucky duck too lol....

Now... I don't know if you noticed or not but.....I am Celebrating myself....I have reached that wonderful milestone of 100 Followers!! Thank you La Plaza for becoming my 100th Follower! (gracias y muchos besos) I know...I can't believe it myself...I am overwhelmed by everyones kindness and you know like I said before, one of the neatest things about having someone become a follower of my blog is that when I go to visit them and thank them, I end up finding a beautiful new blog to not only visit and dream but to become a follower of their blog myself :) So as a thank you...I am going to have my own Giveback very soon! (like in a few days) I am getting some things together for it now, I will let you know more info on my next post! Please be patient with me :) Thank you everyone for being so generous with your time and visiting my lil blog, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do when I visit your own wonderful & beautiful blogs!

Until next time dear friends,

Besos,

Rose~

Beyond words...

According to my profile here... I have been on Blogger since November of 2008...what it doesn't tell you is that a few months before that I was just lurking on blogs and falling in love with the land of blogging...once I joined blogger, I was able to still lurk, but also leave a comment every now and then when I saw something that so moved me...I felt I had too...the beauty I was finding on these wonderful blogs, was like nothing I had ever seen...I was finding other people that loved the same things as me...I won't even start a list of these things here because that would be a whole other post :) But I was also seeing so much beauty being created that just left me in awe of all the amazing talented woman and men out there, many would even share their know how with you to make these lil pieces of art for yourself...and the decorating...my stars don't even let me get started on that or...well you know the drill :) But what my Blogger profile doesn't tell you is that even though I have been with blogger since Nov. 2008, it wasn't until a sweet woman that we all know and love here in Blogland, was ever so lovely as to make me a blog of my very own...and I posted for the very first time on June 21, 2009....

What have I learned since then??? Well...when I first started visiting blogs and dreaming about having my own blog...one day...is that when I would visit alot of these gorgeous blogs, I would feel like an outsider looking in...kinda like that new girl in school looking at the popular clik that I soo wanted to be a part of...everyone just seemed to know each other and were so caring towards each other as they mentioned wonderful get togethers and swaps etc....etc...I always dreamed of being a part of something so wonderful...well it happened! I am a part of a huge worldwide group of amazingly talented, caring and extraordinary woman and men...Everyone that I have met along the way has treated me with nothing but love and generosity...with that being said.........

From the depths of my heart...I THANK YOU... all of you that have been so loving and generous to not only take the time to visit my blog and read my sometimes long assed meanderings...and still stuck around to become followers on my blog or even better...become true friends...I THANK YOU....I wish you were all near by and I could invite you to lunch with me and share some creative time or treasure hunt together or even just sit and talk...about anything of importance to us at that moment..doesn't matter how big or small...to me...if you have it to say...then it is important....but since this wish doesn't seem to be possible...then please...I offer you one of my favorite roses from my summers garden...it smells soo devine in the morning sun, that on some mornings you can see me just standing in front of the rose bush taking in its smell and beauty :)



So...what bought all this on you ask??? Well Monday Jan. 18th was my 42nd birthday...I was feeling a lil blue because my mr wonderful is out of town on a job...he works in construction and we live in the Southern California...as you know with the economy the way that it is now...especially in the construction field...you take the work when it is there because well...it has been a rough last year or so, as I know it has been for so many others too... So when work was available he had to go...BUT...this made it the first time I didn't get to celebrate my birthday with mr wonderful since my 19th birthday...Do we do it big??? no not really....I love just spending time with him...he is my best friend...who I fell in love with when I was 16 years old and saw him walking across our high school campus...but it wasn't until after I graduated that he finally got what I already knew for so long...he was my mr wonderful...and I was his pain in the ass :) Well all you lovely people...my friends of the heart...you guys broke down my saddness, because each time I came online to read my email... there were comments after comments from all of you, leaving me beautiful birthday wishes that would make me catch my breath and smile with delight and made my kids happy because I wasn't mopping around the house missing their dad :) I want to personally thank each and everyone of you that took the time in your busy life to stop and leave me these beautiful birthday wishes...they made my heart feel overwhelmed because your caring and generous hearts are just so beautiful...THANK YOU !!!

Dawn Of The Feathered Nest....You not only posted about my birthday on your beautiful blog but YOU gave me one of the greatest gifts ever...my very own beautiful Blog :) and it just keeps giving and giving...I love you my sweet friend!!! How lucky was I that day I went against my fear and emailed my rockstar :)

Cynthia of Beauty and Blessings....Thank you so much for the beautiful post and birthday party that you did for me on your blog...I am overwhelmed by your beautiful heart..thank you amor for this beautiful gift...

Ana of A Petite Cottage...Thank you for that sweet surprise I got in the mail on a cold dreary rainy day :) Your birthday card made me smile all day! What an honor to share my birthday with your beautiful daughter :) hey you know there are soo many others I am finding here that share this day with me...how great is that!

For everyone else that was soo lovely to me on my Birthday :) ....I wanted to thank each of you the same way...but I was worried it would turn into a 4 part post :) soooo....I am trying to make my way to each of you to personally thank you for your beautiful birthday wishes...please be patient...because of the bad storms here, my internet is being awfully rude, only lets me visit some blogs, and if I am lucky enough to have a page load...it doesn't let me comment or email to much :( do any of you have this happen with bad weather too?? I feel like I am missing soo much and I can't even leave my long assed comments on your wonderful posts :) Soon....I hope....

Soo let me now end this post with this other rose that I so love from my garden...ohhh how I miss Summer :)



Pssst...did you get my joke yet???? This posts title....Beyond words....right... like I could do a post without all my gabbing...please :)

Until next time my wonderful friends,

Besos,

Rose~

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~