Cute but Costly

I was at Target this week - had a few things to grab. I always, always shuffle down the office supplies/organization aisles. Not sure if you've been there lately, but they really do have some cute stuff.

Cute... but costly. I really hate spending a ton of money on something I know I can get for cheaper, or make for practically free.

Take this for example:

via

There is a MUCH cuter picture on Jen's site; however, it also has her son's face. I didn't want to be rude. So be sure to check it out here.

This is such a FANTASTIC idea - that I love so much. So much, so, that I am actually going to go back through my memory envelopes and reorganize them. And since Nic is starting Kindergarten in the fall, I get to start from scratch.

While I love the below folders, I did not like the price ($6.99 for 12).

So I got these. 36 for $3.44. And now I just need to get labels...

But not these labels... almost $9 for 150. That is so crazy!

So I need to find a way to take the plain Jane folders and make them more purdy. I see a fun project in my (very near) future!

THIRTEEN!!!

I spent quite a bit of time combing through photo albums (online and in books) looking for a series of pictures of Isabel I could share. I think I've found a well-rounded group.

Why am I sharing?

Well, today just so happens to be my Uncle Mike's birthday.
And my brother's birthday - he's 38.

But a little closer to home, today my only daughter turns 13. As in, OMG - we are BARELY just starting with the teenage years?!??

I swear it feels like she's been 16 for five years now. ;) But she hasn't.

Bring on the pics! (please note that some of these are pics of pics [my scanner wasn't working] and because I got PS happy, I grouped them by color [action] so as not to make you super dizzy!)

Here is Isabel at her Winnie the Pooh 1st Birthday party in 2000. 

In 2007 - most likely helping give her baby brother, Nic, a bath!

May 2007 (Mother's Day to be exact)

Isabel LOVED sweet pickles. And rollers in her hair (4th of July 2002)... and catching rays. 

 Love all these pictures of my girl.

 This is one of my favorite group of pictures. Starting top left to right, Marcos and I with Isabel in San Diego in 2005. And then Alex and Isa at Hoover Dam in 2002. Then bottom left is Isa on the day she was born. And then bottom right is Marcos, Alex and Isa when she was about a year - we were at Sea World in San Diego.

Here is my chula (beautiful) getting her drink on in Mexico in 2008. :)

And her and Nic in 2007.

And then her last year, on her 12th Birthday; it was jersey day at school.

 

Isabel has been a true blessing. She is funny and witty and beautiful. She is a great helper around the house. She is a fantastic companion at the park with Nic - she gets down and dirty and plays what he wants to play. 

Happy 13th Birthday  

to my beautiful daughter. Daddy and I love you sooooo much!! 

We see a ton of potential in you and cannot wait to see where the next 13 years takes you.

Sew Determined

Nope, that is not a typo in my title. Not today.

For as long as I can remember, for like MONTHS, I've wanted a sewing machine. There are so many crafts and ideas out there, but a lot of them involve a needle and thread. Two things I didn't have readily available.

That has changed, my friends.

I've been a superstar at work (ha!) and I earned appreciation points for a job well-done. I can turn those points into an online shopping spree (from a pre-designated catalog) and buy what I want. I opted to purchase a sewing machine.

Now... I know NOTHING about sewing machines, so I am not sure if it is top or bottom of the line or if it's hard or easy to use. All I know is that I want to do some damage [creatively] with that machine. I am determined to not only learn how to use it, but to also use it well enough that I can make nice things.

Quit laughing. That's not nice.
;)

I can state honestly, that the only time the word "sew" came out of the mouth, it was more like "So!!!" or "So what!?" - and I was probably in the 7th grade and had an attitude the size of Texas.

Well, those days are long gone and the machine has finally arrived and now I need to figure out what to do with it. The machine is my starter machine, the one I will learn on. Marcos has big dreams about computerized machines in the future.

It looks complicated. I should probably up my life insurance, just in case.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions, well-wishes?! I'd love to hear from talented sewers out there.

Yummy Menu Monday #2

Last week's menu was planned out - and I think we executed okay enough... but there were some slight changes. AND THAT'S OKAY. Life is crazy; flexibility is mandatory.

For example. I had beef stir fry on the menu for last Friday. That didn't happen. Instead, we hosted my parents over for a Mexican feast, for my dad's 60th birthday. We also had a 'fend for yourself night' where the kids got to pick what they wanted. As long as it was well-rounded, I didn't care.

This week's menu is planned, using some of last week's ideas because we already have the ingredients on hand.

This week's special recipe is one I haven't tried before. I did some research, combined a few of my favorite things - and came up our new version of Chicken Carbonara.

We have another birthday dinner this week!! I didn't add it to the menu, but my mom is making her special meatloaf. I haven't had meatloaf in years. Isabel requested it... I know she loves the stuff!

Landscaping / Action

I was on Pinterest yesterday... and I re-pinned something fantastic!  31 Days to Learning Photoshop (for Bloggers). It's the basic, good stuff, that bloggers can USE. I've only looked through a few of the tutorials so far (who am I kidding?! I went straight for the Actions), but I am impressed!

The first (color) picture came straight from my camera. I didn't even go all Picasa over it. The second one is a PS Action from Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond). It's called 'Old West.'

Of course, I first had to learn what an action was - and how to install them in PS. Thanks to the power of Pinterest and the fantastic series from Suzie, I figured it out!

So, I decided to go outside and get some more untouched pics. Since Alex was working in the yard (we are adding more shrubs and plants), I used that as a focus.

Here is a lovely bougainvillaea bush that Alex planted for me. Love the color! There are two, they both flank that boxwood on the right of the photo.

Besides the front yard, we are still making progress on the back. The drip line and sprinklers are in. We decided to add two new trees to the back. They are mulberry's. I love them! The big green leafs are adorbs.

Obviously, I need to work on watermarks next. They are easy enough in Picasa, but I need to make them more opaque in PS. Thankfully, there's a tutorial for that on Suzie's blog.

:)

EDIT!!!
I couldn't leave well enough alone.
Look, I figured out a watermark!! (also used a seventies action from PW).

It's Isa!!

 

And here are a few more.

This is FUN. I know... kinda late to the bandwagon. But, I never thought I would get THIS far. 

Anyway - the hubs is going to be home in a few hours. Must. Start. Dinner.

Later!

Sixty Years ago Today

Sixty years ago, today... Earth was blessed with a bouncy baby boy. Oh, I realize that there were probably hundreds of thousands of bouncy baby boys born on that very same day. In fact, here are a few:

• James Manuel Costa - U.S. Representative for California's 20th Congressional District
• Erick Avari - Indian-British actor with a starring role in The Mummy
• Sam Bush - Noted blue grass mandolin player
• Warren Anderson - Former Canadian hockey player
• Ron Dittemore - American Space Administrator

The guy I am talking about studied political science in college, but was never a politician. He is a character, but has never been in film. He can play the guitar... but mandolin, I am not sure. I could never imagine this guy on ice skates, but maybe I am wrong. And this guy has never had his head in the clouds (well... he did live through the 70s. hmmm.), unless you count the multitude of airplane rides he's taken in his life.

All of that is OKAY. Because what he's been able to pull off in the last sixty years is even more impressive than most.

My dad was such a cute kid. And he's such a handsome man. Above all of that, my dad has been (and still is) a fantastic father. I've known it since as long as I can remember. He is proud (in a chest-puffing sort of way), he is supportive (as he's shown time and time again), and he is SMART. Like very, very smart.

He has given us a life that was solid, without fear, with little to no drama (until I hit 18 of course, but that was mostly on me), and a lot of love.

When my dad became a grandfather, he put all other grandfathers to shame. Really.
There is nothing he wouldn't do for his grandchildren. Or his grand-dogs, for that matter.

And because of how he loves them, there is nothing that his grandchildren wouldn't do for him.

My dad is patient and kind. He loves my mother fiercely. He's hardworking. He's patriotic and proud.
Over the years, his hobbies may have changed... from hunting and camping, to building trains and playing golf, but his diverse interests show that he is engaged in life.

My dad's not fancy (although he cleans up nicely!) - most days (heck, everyday?!), you find him in a t-shirt and jeans. I love that about him. Too bad I couldn't find a picture of him in his cut-off jean shorts. Although, I don't think they've seen the light of day in at least 20 years. <<fingers crossed>>

As my brother and I have gotten older, I know we appreciate all our dad has done. We understand the sacrifices he has made. We understand the punishments we received. We understand the pushing, prodding and dragging. It all makes sense now.

Marcos' father passed away when Marcos was only 3. My dad has been our dad since Marcos was 18. And while it's not always been easy (those two are pretty similar considering there is not a drop of shared DNA), I know (because he's told me), that Marcos considers him as his dad.

I am so proud to have my dad in my corner. We are friends. We gossip like school girls. I depend on his knowledge. He cracks me up. I love him with all of my heart and soul. Forever and ever, Amen.

Happy Birthday, dad. I hope that you have a wonderful day (of course you will, Carne Asada and tacos for dinner tonight!).  We love you to bits.

Spicy Organization

That catch your interest?!

Of course, I am talking about my spices and my spice cabinet... AGAIN. I spent a few minutes reorganizing it the other day, and thought I'd share some pictures!


I moved my sugar and flour containers into the spice cabinet... I actually bought new containers for them, too. Along with some Martha labels from Staples, they are now labeled and looking mighty fine.

Yes, I need to add brown sugar to my grocery list.

I got these little containers and the holder at IKEA the last time I was there. Very inexpensive. They were empty for quite a while, before I decide to go in consolidate and fill them up. 

I made some VERY SIMPLE labels for them. They are attached with string.

Finally, that little cabinet and the spice corner are looking much cleaner and much less unorganized.

That makes me happy!

In addition to that area... I also took the time to go through my pantry.
Dun Dun Dunnnnnnn.

I published THIS before a few days back (crazy lady!):

Thankfully, it's looking a LOT better these days:

I went to the Dollar Tree and bought a ton of little baskets and used them to store pre-packaged and re-packaged items (good for snacks!).

There's the left side of the pantry that I failed to get a picture of... but you get the idea.

Love me some organization!