My new cosmetic bags

Ever come across something that you needed, that is inexpensive and kinda cute. It is not a brand name item................as I am one of those girls that those things really don't matter. But I thought it was cute and practical and I love, love, love the color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At this time of year you can find the cutest things for a great price.

This one is for you, Sister Sue.

Sometimes when you get something and try to explain it to someone you can never describe it that well. Well sister Sue, this one is for you. It is the grater you have been looking for. If you can't find it in your area let me know and I will pick one up for you.

Another Great Recipe!!!!

Chocolate Almond Macaroon Bars: Well if you are a chocolate lover like I am you will absolutely love these squares. I never bothered putting the white chips on them and used pecans instead of almonds but other than that I followed the recipe to the tea. If you love coconut chocolate bars you will certainly loves these. Again click on the recipe picture to see the ingredients up close. Maybe I will learn to love baking after all........................o.k. I doubt that will ever happen. Enjoy!!!!

Orange/Chocolate Cheesecake

So if you read my previous post you already know that baking is just not my thing. But when the kids are set to come home from their break from university, I jump at the chance to do whatever I can to make their time relaxing while they are here. My husband loves when they come around otherwise he would probably never get a home made treat. So the baking started in full force a week ago. Last night I came across a recipe for Orange/Chocolate Cheesecake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounded way too good not to give it a try. Instead of putting it into a round dish I put it into a rectangluar one so that I can serve them more like squares. I am telling you they are my new favorites. I can't have dairy for the most part, but hey I just had to try these, they are way delicous. I just took a picture of the recipe out of laziness of typing it all up. It you click on the picture you should be able to see the whole recipe up closer. Hope you give it a try.

My little Pantry

This is my new little Pantry inspired mainly from my oldest sister that I went to visit a couple weeks ago. It is a project I had in mind for a long time but I tell you to get the motivation to do it was another story. My oldest sister is the baker in the family, it is her passion and she could see herself doing it for a living one day. My oldest brother is the chef in the family, no kidding, my mom has 4 girls and two boys and he turns out to have a love for cooking and I tell you he can take any dish and turn it in to something spetacular!!!! My other sister is the business lady, I tell you that girl knows what she is doing in the office, I call her a busy beaver. Next sister loves kids, has taken care of children I believe for the last 25 years at least!!!! Man you have to have patience for that!!! My youngest brother is the repeat of my dad, he loves to tinker with vehicles and is a super family man. I on the other hand am known as the crafty one. I love to come up with new ideas and to work on them makes me soooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited. I get my talent from both my mother who loved to sew, crochet, and knit and my father who loves to do wood work. Wow if you look at all this we could really live together and survive pretty well (o.k. maybe that is pushing it). Anyway the one thing we all have in common is that we are all great organizers. O.k.we all have one messy area but besides that we can organize anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which leads me to my pantry. This was once a hallway that really was wasted space. I hired someone to build me cabinets which I designed and was missing a work area until this weekend. I asked my husband to build me a shelf for my Kitchen Aid and away we went. I put all my baking items in containers and my husband got to work on the labels. It was a real team effort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The shelf still needs staining and if you look real close some of the labels are misspelled but I decided that it just made the experience a little more memorable, so I plan to keep them that way. I still have a little bit of work to do on it but for a 3' by 14' area I think it turned out pretty good. Will this inspire me to bake???? I am not sure of that, but it is sure a cute space.

Little Bear

Had no real plans to take pictures. Just trying to keep it handy wherever I go. I love going to this house. You know a place that you totally feel at home, this is the place for me. The only problem is the lighting in this house is so dim............I compare it to a museum. Well while I'm there beautiful little bear starts having moments, mainly happy but than comes the melt down!!!!!!!!!!!! No matter what mood this child is in he is soooooooooooooooooooooo precious. I love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then their is his beautiful mother I can always see the sparkle in her eyes when she is around her little guy.

Gifts from my heart

I love to make homemade presents. It is one of the things I love to do that gives me a lot of pleasure. I have a little crafty side to me and sometimes they end in disaster and sometimes I find that I am quite pleased with myself. I decided to try my luck at making coasters, key chains, sentimental books and homemade chocolate. With only a few days before my trip I got to work in a hurry. I tried my hand at things I had never done before and to say the least a lot of lessons were learnt along the way. I think the things that I like most about crafting is all the memories made along the way as I try my luck at skills I have never used before. I mean making coasters should be easy and keychains should be a breeze. But when beads go flying everywhere and the coasters stick together due to lack of drying time, that's when memories are made. O.k. yeah I do realize it would have been easier and cheaper to buy all the items already made, but what would be the fun of that. I like to think I always like to take the hard way around everything, truth is I love trying new things out. Well these are how the coasters, keychains, books and chocolates turned out. I hope my sister's enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Friends and family

So I head out on a plane to visit two of my sisters. Anyone that knows me realizes that this is a huge deal for me. I am going alone for the first time on a plane and I pack, unpack, pack, unpack again to get things just right. I check if I have my passport, money, and id. a million and one times. I organize a shuttle to pick me up close to our condo, and I will ask for help along the way. So I head off with a plan. My son drives me to the shuttle and I say goodbye to him proud I don't turn into a crying idiot on the street and when I board the shuttle with tinted windows I think I am about to board a shuttle with no passengers when to my surprise it is packed full. I get in and their is absolute silence. We arrive at the airport and I am left with thoughts of where I am to go, but sure enough I find my way to a airport helper waiting for me, she helps me get my ticket, lines me up and soon it is my turn. When I get to the ticket booth I explain to the two young ladies that I am a little nervous, they explain to me they are also as it is their first day at work. It helps me relax a little to hear that I am not alone in my first journey on my own. I get to the the scanner in the next dept. and sure enough the random check is done on me. No problem, I know I always follow the rules but none the less I feel a little nervous. I make it through that also. I finally board the plane and there I sit with no one beside me and only one person by the window. Good, time to read, well maybe not, the person next to me decides to chatter away for the whole hour which ends up to be a blessing as the flight goes by sooooooooooooooooooooo quickly. The landing is great and then I find my way to the baggage claim where I see my sister. I can't tell you the feeling when I see her, it is a releif and I am so glad to see her. We retrieve my bag and out the door. The minute the doors open it is like I have found heaven. It is so beautiful and more than I could ever expect to see. The whole time I am there I am in wonder at the sights, the beauty and the peacefulness. It is like I have found my home. Having went there years ago I had never had that connection but as the years have went by my feelings have changed and I feel like I am meant to be there. I spend 4 days with my sisters and every moment is special. I doesn't matter what we do or don't do it is just being with them that feels special. I am now leaving and I am so thankful to God for giving me these special days with my sisters. Every one should be as lucky to have family. During this trip I have found that I can do things on my own, that family is important and that you should always take the time to visit family and friends when you have a chance. I realize that God steps in and puts people before you that help you along the way. I know that as life goes that you are never alone, that friends and family make life special. May you take the time for special people around you everyday.....................................time goes by way too fast.

My wonderful little studio

Well this is my place. A place I can come to, to be creative and to have a private space to call my own. My husband really deserves all the credit as he has put many, many hours into making it just perfect. From the flooring, to the painting he really did this all for me. I had been so busy with setting up our boys in our condo that he totally took this project on himself. Thanks for all the hours and love that went into this. Well you may be able to tell that I love the color green, it make me think of nature and is a good color that helps me relax. From my photography to my art this is where I come to be "just me". At times that is all a person needs is some space to just bring out the things that make a person who they are. I plan to use this for my photography, art and writing. How special this space has become to me. I hope that everyone is able to find their talent and passion and enjoy it!!!!

What a mother does....

Well what does a mother do when the house is a little emptier and a little lonelier. Well it would have been easy to just stay in bed and just let the world pass by. Before I left my kids they both said that all they wanted in life was to see me happy. So with that I decided that life is given to us and the choice of what to do with our lives remains in our own hands. So this new part of my life begins and with that so does the thought of continuing my photography. I decided to enroll in an online course to learn all about photography. I am on my fourth week and I have to say I love it. First thing that gets me up is the fact that I text my youngest son just to say a good morning and get to ask him how he is doing. I hear the excitement in his words, and I know that he is doing exactly what he is meant to. Next I get to the every day jobs of keeping a household, tending to my cats and of course their is the daily emails to my big sister. Without all these things it would be a little harder to get through the day. Then off to studying about my photography. I'm telling you, you think you point a camera, shoot and away you have a great picture. But when you decide to really look into it, their is so much to learn. I never knew that a camera could be so complicated and yet so much fun to learn. I plan to continue to take classes and improve and learn new skills. These are some of the pictures I have taken. The one I love the most is the picture of the man with his dog which was taken in the early morning during heavy fog. It was taken without him knowing and wasn't part of my assignment but when he walked by I knew it would be a special picture. What a priceless moment. After taking the picture, I came home, developed the picture, put it in a frame and brought it to him. He was so grateful and appreciative. It warmed my heart to see the smile on his face. The next day I opened my door and was surprised to see fresh tomatoes and berries waiting for me. What a truly beautiful gesture from him and his wife. I never did it to receive something but it was thoughtful of them. These are some pictures I wanted to share with you.

This goes out to my boys................

Who could know that motherhood could be filled with so much joy, love, and pain all at once. Memories come back of the beginning of your lives all the happy, sad, difficult and amazing times we have had. From the first day I had you both you became my entire life. You were by far the most amazing thing that had ever happened to me. I feel truly blessed that I got to be there for all your experiences. I have learned so much from being your mother. Things I never thought I was capable of I found easy to do because with everything I did was with thoughts of you. You both are the most special boys I have ever known. You have made me both truly proud of who you are and what you stand for. You were and are the first and last thing I think about when I rise and before I sleep. I can't imagine that God gave me you to raise and be with in this life. I feel BLESSED. All the moments in your lives are so clear to me. From the day you were born, your first steps, the day Jamal you went through the neighbors fence with his bike and Ji the thing you said to your teacher about sitting in the wing of the plane. Jamal the time you left for school, and said it was the saddest day of your life, I can still see the expression on your face. Ji how you would phone me from school and tell me that your brother had made it to school without getting sick, what a truly responsible boy your were. The Halloween costumes I got to sew for you both, the times we watched movies every Sunday. The time when you got your first cat, your first stitches, your first car. The time we had a snowball fight and then came in for hot chocolate, we could have never replayed that time because it was simply perfect the first time around. And now having to leave you both behind so that you can keep growing into yourselves, how proud and how painful all at once. To look into your eyes as I left and to see my own reflection in your eyes I hope you both know beyond anything else that I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the hardest thing I have ever done and yet I know that it is what needs to happen. The drive home seemed like an elastic was tied to me with myself being pulled back to you and yet being pulled in the other direction towards your dad. It really is hard for a mother to let go and I had to stop along the highway a couple times to compose myself. It's not that I don't think you can't do it on your own, it is the thought that you will no longer be the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see before I go to bed. But my heart will always be with you both. I thought as I drove how life goes, you love someone and then you must let them grow into themselves. I wondered if mother birds and mothers of every species felt the heartbreak like I felt as I drove back home alone. Did they want to turn around and go back even though they knew their young were capable. Did they hurt so bad that they wanted to change the rules of life. Did they cry with the thought that they would be a little more alone. But I never turned the vehicle around because I knew that you can do it on your own. I know that we will stay in touch and see each other whenever God permits. I know you are both respectable and responsible beings. I remembered you saying that all you want is to see me happy and that is all I want for the both of you. I know you will be everything that you want to be because you both were given the ability to learn and the heart to be great people. I AM SO PROUD OF THE BOTH OF YOU. So now as you must both change so do I, but never will my love change for the both of you. Go out into the world, be yourselves, show your abilities, your kindness, your love. Be the great people you were meant to be. Teach others what you know and learn from others what may benefit you. Be the true gentleman that you are and face your fears head on. Don't let others become your judges, you alone know what is right from wrong. And when prejudice comes your way, know that comes from others jealousy and be faithful, it doesn't matter what others think only that you are always mindful of what is wrong and right in life. Always look at the glass half full, that thought will always bring you closer to God, for it shows that you are thankful for every situation. And when times get bad, know that within those times that the lessons are most valuable and never forget that I am there to help you through anything and everything. Never give up on life, life will truly be what you make of it. Know that everyone on this earth is deserving of love, they may not have received it as they should have but maybe in a simple smile or a gentle word those people will find what they never have had. Go out and follow your heart, the heart's you have will never let you go astray. Be confident in who you are and never stray from what is right in life. Well my boys this is truly dedicated to the both of you and as I go through my days my thoughts will always be firstly and lastly of you. YOU ARE MY WORLD. I am so thankful that God has trusted me with you for so many years and now I must trust in him that he will help guide and protect you. May you both always know that you are and always will be my life, my world, my heart. I love you both.
Love forever and ever, mom.

My beautiful little nephew!!!

I was excited when I got the chance to photograph my beautiful little nephew. I have to say that in that short time I got to see his beautiful character. He is so full of energy and his facial features were amazing. His little personality just made me want to take more and more photos. He is truly a gem. Thanks Carrie and Paulo for the opportunity. I love you Owen!!!

Such a change

From Saturday to Friday and such a big change already. I was quite worried because I didn't see any sign of their parents when I arrived Monday. By Tuesday morning I was trying to get in touch of the city to see if the adults didn't come back what I should do.........................just then I heard some cooing and was relieved to see the parents. Throughout the week they showed up like clock work to feed them and care for them. Today we left the city and will return in about a weeks time. By then they will be so much bigger. I am anxious to see and take pictures of them again.

What a difference a week makes

What a difference a week makes!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew that we would find that the birds changed in a week, but I didn't quite expect that they would be this big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We came to the condo again after about a week absence and couldn't believe the change in these sweet guys. I took my few pics. and than let them be. It was a joy to see how well they are doing. I will be taking pics. again by thursday or friday.