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Two years already?!?!?!?
Back from oblivion and just in time for the Holidays!
I've been so crazy busy that for the first time in about two weeks, I'm gonna be able to go read your blogs. You can't imagine how I've missed you! All sort of things have gone out of whack. First, my BlackBerry just went off. Died. Went were all good smartphones go. I had not realized how depending I had become in this little gadget, but it was as if suddenly I was stranded in a semi-desert island, with no way to know how you guys were doing or share with you what I was up to.
And then came a series of small crisis. Our computer system at work broke down. Mom had to go have two small tumors extirpated and was sent home for three days to put up her legs, and she could only stay in bed for about four hours and after that she started going about the house fixing stuff up (the tumors turned out to be benign, thank God!). My dad's partner asked him to buy out his share of the farm because his kids are now at the University and needs the money. One of my workers just told me last weekend that she is resigning because she is pregnant and her husband wants her to stay at home during the pregnancy, so she's working with us only until New Year. All of this, in the last two weeks.
Also, I had a very crafty fortnight!
This turned out so nice that I'm making one for myself, of a muted orange and olive green stripes!
These cheeky little puppies climbed all over themselves to be in the photo! they just need a nice ribbon collar and they are ready to go to their homes!
I also made this scarf, which doesn't look as long as it is in this photo! I'm 5'1 and when hanging by the middle from my neck, it reaches to my ankles! it is wide too. I love the chunky yarn and the colors that this photo doesn't do justice to! It looks like a shot of a frosty morning, and it is so soft and warm!
I'm doing this scarf in the same chunky yarn, in a seed stitch pattern. I might just keep this one for myself!
And yet another WIP is this lovely shells in relief pattern scarf, in a deep crimson! I think it looks like dragon scales so I'm loving it, although being of a sport weight yarn it is taking LOOONG to crochet, and so far it's eaten up THREE skeins of Vanna's Choice. I hope to have it ready for the 24th so I can wear it on our first Christmas Mass as a choir.
Well, this is what I've been up to so far. I miss you all, and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas, just in case I'm sucked by the season's rush of parties and presents yet to be finished. From all of our family, sending you warm hugs and our best wishes.
There's something on my needles...
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Giving myself time
This is a chance I'm giving myself to share with you one of the things I really, really dislike about myself now: my shape.
I am overweight. I'm not upset about social pressure or common beauty appreciation or what people will think about me. A long time ago I stopped giving a damn about all those things and live to please myself and my loved ones. Good thing pleasing myself involved taking ballet lessons.
And folk dance lessons.
And modern dance lessons.
And skating.
All. In the same. Week.
I sometimes danced up to four hours a day. And I loved it! I was 18 and size 0. Zero. Zilch.
When I was no longer a teen and faced other responsibilities I still worked out a lot, just because I liked it. I got up early, I worked out every day but Sunday, just for the fun of it. Lol! I ran again, after a long time, into my long time crush that now is my husband, and we started working out together. And it was fun, and hot, and sweaty and exhilarating.
I have two daughters now. Two toddlers that keep me on my toes all day and I have been using them as an excuse for not taking care of my body. Who ever thought I'd made excuses not to do something I loved???
Now I'm gonna be on a mission. I wanna take myself back to what and who I used to be. I don't know how long its going to take me. I don't know how many times I'll get off track. There are always one chocolate too many, one sweet read too many around me but I'll have to live with them. Hehe! Care to find out how is it when I fall on my butt?
On second thought... NOT HAPPENING! Take that, 40 pound flab and fat! You are SO not gonna be part of my life anymore!
And that photo at the top? When I'm done, all that Pauley will have on me is height!
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Working with a luscious new yarn...
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I need your VERY honest opinion...
What do you think?
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An ecofriendly Christmas
Christmas in my family is a huge deal. We exchange presents on Christmas Eve, for our Secret Santa during dinner. Then on Christmas morning everyone gives everyone a present. We plan the dinner for months, and we know that even if Mom and Dad are hosting dinner and both my SILs ask what can they bring, and Mom will tell them that they need not bring anything, one of them will show up with an appetizer and the other one will bring dessert and a salad dressing. And every year Mom will say that "this year I won't put up a big Nativity Scene" she'll put up a little one at the start of December but two days before The Dinner she'll put up the big (and I mean BIG one). You know, all those little things...
This year, however, Mom asked all of us not to get presents for everyone, cause money is really tight. If I know my brothers they will show up laden with presents, albeit not as big or spectacular as other years. Little old me, however, is SO broke that I'm going the eco route: I'm making/upgrading/recycling my presents.
Here's what I've got so far:
For my two nieces and my daughters I've made cloth dolls, all but the wigs made with materials I already had, and recycling a kind of gruffy looking jacket for some of the clothes.
For my three nephews: I've got tons of old magazines so I'm making each of them a ball shaped papier mache piggy bank, one painted like a base ball and two like soccer balls with their favorite teams logos painted on them.
For my two SILs, I've booked them for manicures and pedicures at my cousin's salon (she's great at it) and got a great rate !
For my three brothers: I got them each a wine bottle, and for two of them I got a deck of cards and game chips, that cost me $15 for each. For my other brother, who doesn't like to play cards, I want to look up some early Disney cartoons DVD's (he loves the look of vintage cartoons of any kind, and this way I can later borrow them! Lol!)
Now... I have to figure out what to get my husband and my parents!!! Have any ideas Of eco and budget friendly presents???
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Yesterday was our fourth wedding anniversary...
And hubby surprised me with two presents: one I will NOT share details of with you *wink wink* and these lovely, gorgeous, one of a kind sandals! Handmade by him! Sigh!!!
So, let you have the other post I'd planned when I recover my wits and stop oh-ing and ah-ing over my lovely, pedicure worthy sandals!!!
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What do you feel grateful about today?
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Freaking funny!
Now please get your head out of the gutter. The nice, handsome Cedric Diggory was not caught wearing said female underwear. He (rather his blood sucking alter-ego) was depicted in such article of clothing...
And I followed the link to the source. And I was rewarded by finding this super funny blog, Twitarded, wich you can see here . There was such an uproar made by something that was a funny joke between friends, and I still claim it was a very clever, daring, hilarious you-are-too-obsessed-with-the-guy-but-who-cares idea of their friend... and what happened only makes it funnier in my book!
I do agree. By now Rob P. must REALLY have seen them. Check out the related posts here and then the follow up here.
Crazy things happen. :D
Happy Birthday, Tony!
Your Godmother
CT
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It's raining!
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The life of Bean
Hello there! well, I got this lovely award from both Libby and Ale, so I think it is time I did my part and answered the questions!!! thank you, friends, for this lovely! If you have time, hop over to The Life of Bean's blog, she is one nice kiddo!
1. You can only use one word to answer each of the following questions.
2. Offer this to your fellow bloggers
3. Alert them that you have given them this award.
4. Have fun!!!
Okay, on to the fun part!
1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
2. Your hair? braided
3. Your mother? shop
4. Your father? office
5. Your favorite foods? italian
6. Your dream last night? scary
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? growth
9. What room are you in? caffé
10. Your hobby? plenty
11. Your fear? failure
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? content
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren't? sane
15. Muffins? banana
16. Wish List Item? Disney
17. Where did you grow up?country
18. Last thing you did? work
19. What are you wearing? colorful!
20. Your t.v.? old
21. Your pets? fish
22. Friends? great
23. Your life? blessed
24. Your mood? good
25. Missing someone? hubby
26. Vehicle? Mushu
27. Something you're not wearing? makeup
28. Your favorite store? Craft
29. Your favorite color? all
30. Last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? earlier
32. Best friend? hubby
33. One place I go to again and again? work
34. One person who emails you regularly? Ale
35. Favorite place to eat? Home
Thanks for all your lovely, encouraging and kind comments! I've been feeling a little better, since my parents and little brother covered for me and gave me the weekend off to recover. And my hubby took the girls out on Saturday afternoon so I could sleep. Which I did. Almost.
See, I closed all the windows, the door to the bathroom and the room so it was pitch black and cool. It was nice and cool, silent, dark. I had my two bottles of water, my propoleum, eucalyptus and honey syrup, and had changed into slacks and one of my hubby's t-shirts. In a word, I was comfortable. I lay down for an afternoon of rest and restoration.
Ten minutes later I could not sleep. That's not too much, but you see, I had not slept well the night before, and as a general rule, I've a gift for falling asleep almost as soon as my head touches the pillow. Or car back seat. Or my cupped hands under my chin.
And you know why was that? I'm almost never home without my husband or my girls. It felt weird, off. I felt so anxious, like something vital was missing. And I was by no means alien to living alone, cause I had lived a hundred miles from my family, by myself, for the duration university studies. Suddenly the realization kicked in. I was that girl no longer.
I'm gonna probably anger many so called feminist (a term they absolutely do NOT deserve, but that's subject for another post) but I felt for a moment that I had become defined by my status unto others: a mother because of my girls, a wife because of my husband. And in the absence of them, who was I? What was I?
It was a scary minute. Sans those labels, the ones I had dreamed about since I was a girl (well, after I decided not to be a nun after all, at the wise and mature age of six) what was I?
Come to think of it, I had a huge bunch of other labels that I'd come by all the choices I'd made in my life. But this particular two were playing with my not so sharp wit at the moment.
There should be a choir chord that came along with the "a-ha!" moment. Some light other than the one lighting up inside the heart. The moment when you realize you really are no longer 13 but 31, even if you always claim you never feel a day older than your teens.
I've grown, I've changed. My allegiances changed as did my heart. And that's good. Now, since I was not sensible enough to realize just how deep the changes were, I have the chore of learning to get to know myself, really know myself. That I spent doing all Sunday. And it was refreshing.
Then again, it might all be the result of a feverish mind. But I seriously doubt so. Basically I'm the same girl, minus the saccharine. A tad more of molasses instead. No additives. No embellishments.
I think I like the woman I found.
And I still love my Anne books and my vampire stories. And yarn!
How did you realize you had become grownup?
Have you?
Yours
CT
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From the front lines
I'm still alive. I refuse to be put down by some bug, even if in this round it seems to be winning, by making me look and feel like something the cat spit out!
The day it opened fire (when I started feeling ill) I was about to share happy news with you: the bank had consolidated my debt allowing me to make waaaay smaller payments. Finally I felt I could have some kind of control -well a girl can dream- over the insanity of my financial issues. It still will require pretty much every cent I make, and since my Etsy store seems to be DOA, I am going to be a bit pressed for money. Sadly, that means that as much as I enjoy it, I won't be able to participate in swaps or buy those gorgeous yarns until further notice. At least I have my stash from the Etsy shop!!! : D
Am I rambling? Am I making any sense? My brain seems to have turned to mush. But I keep crocheting on! And in public too! Helps me keep my mind from wallowing in self pity, until I feel well.
The really down side is that I won't be able to direct choir practice tomorrow! Ooooy!!
Alive and crocheting from the battlefield,
CT
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A love Affair (part deux)
In retrospect, a whole lot of things could be placed at the feet of teenage angst: we were all trying to find our places, our identities; and those who had found theirs would see this unwanted change as a threat to their "safe" place: if I had "morphed" from guitar player to guitar player/singer, then maybe their status was equally mobile. And that was scary, at least it is when you are fourteen.
I kept going to practices, covering for the singers who did not show up and so becoming sort of a understudy for every voice: if there were not enough guys, I would even sing those parts. I ended up learning each and every part of every song. Despite the cold shoulder of a few divas, I admit I enjoyed those days very much.
In the end, I realized that for me, music and singing in Mass was not only a stage (no pun intended) but were too important. After our director left for college we wandered like shepherd less sheep, and with no recognizable, permanent guidance (even the Priest who had brought us together had been sent to a bigger parish) we began slowly to dissolve as a choir. Some friendships remained, but in the case of most, the bond we had shared had dissolved, and that, as they say, was that.
Mommy Wants!
Time for Friday Fill Ins again!
2. _I wish I had known many of the things I know now when I was young.
3. Mama told me _to always act with the knowledge that God is watching me.
4. _Can we have a crochet/sewing/knitting/crafting fest, you and me?
5. Take your time , count your blessings, and notice the little things_.
6. For good or bad, this stage in life will pass!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a movie with my hubby, tomorrow my plans include work and Sunday, I want to wish you all a very happy, very fulfilling, very very good day!
A love affair
Lots of things have been going on amok in my life. It's been a bumpy ride for some time now. My present journey brought me back to music. To music for God, specifically. Before crafting, before sewing and such, I had a love for music. Which was promptly nipped in the bud by a choir director who sent me packing my bags. He said I was no good at singing, that I sang off key, and he did not have a girl's guitar class, so I was dismissed very ungracefully. I was 11 years old.
When I was 13, the Church of Santa Maria called for auditions for a new choir. 80 teenagers and youths showed up, me included. What can I say, I was an optimist, I had just had a lesion in dance class that had me wait for some time and since I had to fill the quota of classes, I sat in guitar class, so at least I knew there was something like a music scale.
To my amazement, I was one of the 25 chosen to remain and be part of the choir. I had to chose an instrument because -surprise!- I was not a singer. I knew it, accepted it and was thrilled to be part of it. I was the only girl playing guitar. I had to prove my worth, that' s what I thought when I picked my instrument. The other girls took what I considered cute instruments, really coquetish and pretty, like mandolins (still wish I'd learned to play one), tambourines, tubular bells and so. Our choir director did a wonderful job. Even if I wasn't a "voice" I felt part of something great, so great that I sang all day long when I could. I think I sang more than I practiced my guitar skills.
We performed for some years, had great times, switched director, and one day, a very odd thing happened. The musicians had rehearsal before the voices, and we were playing a song that I loved, called "Maravilloso Dios", Wonderful God. So, I start singing it just so we would see if the tempo was right. Well, it had been a couple of years and all that singing, well guess what it was? Practice! The director heard me and asked me to sing again. And then told me I would sing the song next Sunday Mass.
Oh. My.
Talk about scary. By now, a bit of the shine had worn off and two things I knew: I really had to give my best next Sunday.
And no matter what happened, I would be in hot water with "the voices".
To be continued....
Friday fill ins (a day late)
1. My car ___suits my personality to a T! (small, bright, thinks it's a monster truck having been "born" a Clio...)__.
2. ______The best times of my life_____ is coming up next.
3. Lately, things seem ___quite interesting... in an odd way!________.
4. ____Inside a book_______ is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.
5. What happened _____to all the extra time I'm supposed to have now????______.
6. ____Getting out of debt_______ is not impossible!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __a b-day party (that was yesterday!)___, tomorrow my plans include __Chillin' out with the girls and my love___ and Sunday, I want to __(hehehe!) beat my hubby at Monopoly... for once!!!!___
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Talking about books
-----Original Message-----
Tammie, that fabulous girl in hot, humid Florida delights me with her reviews, sometimes of books that I'd never heard about but now I'm itching to read. And I love books!
There was a time when my library at home was mainly romance novel and loads of Jules Verne, Dumas, Conan Doyle, the Illiad, the Oddisey, you get the drift. Then came the classics and darker (at least for me) reading: Bram Stroker, crime novels, lots of biographies, and then the religious subjects. And through all those phases, I kept true to two authors, reading once and again their works: JRR Tolkien and L. M. Montgomery.
But now? If you saw my bookshelves at home (at my parents stayed about 70% of my books) you'd see that half of them are cookbooks! I adore cookbooks, the better if they show a bit of the author.
The Barefoot Contessa books are among my faves. Rachael Ray runs a tight second to Ina. Fr. Rick Curry can't be beat when you talk about soups or bread, and Mark Bittman (The Minimalist) has such awesome recipes with an almost nonchalant approach at cooking that makes his recipes so fresh! The ingredients are a bit hard for me to find, but I substitute!
So tell me... What is your fave recipe book/recipe source?
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Testing, testing...
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