Recap 2013

Reviewing 2013, I find it was an unusually slow year for business but believe it was due to lack the right
items for sale and the limited time to create items as I was helping my daughter a lot with her new baby.  With all this in mind I must remember and reflect on what is most important.  Is it my small business or spending special time with my new grandson.  I value the time this year I had with him and cherish every minute for soon in this new year they will be moved, daughter and family to another state.  I'm   thankful for the time I have had with him.

  Now, as I think about life and business changes and going through up and downs I need to reflect on what to improve upon or keep the same.  I found that I needed another medium to sell besides aprons.  I added collars and cuffs that were Victorian style for weddings or special occasions.

Later in this year,  I began two Life Groups, one group for making dresses for girls around the world and the other for making blankets for cancer patients.  With these in mind and with  my daughter's help gave me the idea of making children's clothing.  This idea was such a hit I made many holiday pillowcase dresses.  So even though it was slow at times it did pick up and turned out to be a good year.

Red Hearts For Mother's Day

RED HEARTS FOR MOTHERS DAY

  Curated By: BijouxLibellule

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts

"ArtFire has amazing finds to give to your mom !!!"

Lovely finds for Mom.  So thankful to Bijoux Libellule for including my red and white apron in this collection.

Biggest Compliment

Just Sunday I got the biggest compliment from my husband. He stated that he realizes how important it is that I don't have a job outside of the home because the family has needs that only I can provide. I feel I finally got recognition that having a home based business and being available for the family is important work.

I, a grandmother, and mother have many times helped take care of the needs of my grandkids when sick,  daughter after surgery, helped with newborn babies, helped take an  mother-in-law with dementia to doctor apts. etc. And I try to work full time on my home business too.

He finally realized that stay at home spouses can do things that others don't have the opportunity to do, but needs to be done. Family has always been important too me and my husband and most of our children's childhood I was a stay at home mom. I did take some time out for college and a few short years to work but we soon realized that it was best to be at home for the children.

I know some families and women don't have that choice because they are single moms but some just desire more things than the time with the children. I respect them all but those who stay at home help their children realize what the most important in life is besides God is them.  After all they are God's gift to us!

Marcela's Colombian Chicken n Rice Recipe "Arroz Con Pollo"

Ingredients


1 whole cooked roasted chicken, shredded
1 pkg. turkey sausage (like a polish type) sliced and chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1 chopped onion
3 minced garlic cloves
3 cups long-grain white rice or brown rice
1 cup chopped  cilantro
1 tablespoon cumin
1 cup of  frozen peas and carrots or mixed vegetables
 
Directions


Buy already whole roasted chicken and shred.  Cook rice according to directions on package.  I use brown rice instead of white much healthier and cook it in my rice cooker, cooks up faster and super easy to cook.

Chop onions,  garlic, and bell pepper in food processor, then chop ciltanro in processor.  All items won't fit in the processor at once.

Heat oil in a large cooking pot over medium heat. Add green pepper, onions, garlic, and all vegetables, and sausage to oil in skillet. Cook for 5 minutes.   While cooking add spices and cook until all vegetables are lightly golden. Stir in chicken and cook until vegetables are tender. Add rice; cook until all items are heated thoroughly.

You can add paprika, and hot sausage for more flavor, or soy sauce.  This recipe has become a family favorite at our house and goes fast,  we are lucky if there are any leftovers.

Priceless Moments

Sometimes the most simplest things in life are those quiet moments you spend it with a loved one.  My most recent moment is when my grandson, Drew, 13, took my hand while in the kitchen, Saturday, and began to dance with me.  As young boys and girls grow up they become so grown up so quickly that a special moment of a teenager are just too priceless not to mention.  I loved the quiet dance in the mist of all the family chatting and visiting.

This special time would not have happened if my daughter hadn't relized that she was in a toxic relationship.  Sometimes it hard to let go of a painful situation to only know you have to stand alone and raise your children alone because its the best thing to do for yourself and for your children.

I'm so thankful for the wisdom and strength my daughter has to made with this hard decision.  I'm thankful that I and her father are there to help her through this all.  But I am most thankful that she has God in her life so she can depend on him and learn to grow in this new season in her life.

It's Beginning to Look like Christmas

I'm finally getting around to posting my holiday decorations. It took me forever to finish it all, even with it all being less than normal. Too much pretties to put out and then take down so this year I decorated sparingly but it still looks good if I say so myself. I started Thanksgiving weekend and finished it about a week afterwards but then I would add touch ups as the days went by.


Main tree in the living room


Fireplace in the living room


Dinning table decor



Buffet decor, if you haven't already noticed I love the Victorian look.


Patriotic tree in the family room



Nut crackers on the entertainment center. The family room is decorated in things my husband loves and my room is the rest of the house. hehe. Well at least I gave him a room. We did share the office but I just recently took it totally over too. I had to have a place for my business.

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We got a Wii

My husband decided to buy us a wii on Friday. We got the sports version. It's so much fun. We had some of the grandkids over and they just had a blast. At first they thought Nana and Papa are too old for one. Then when we played with them they realized that we were not too old. Kids are so funny.



Wii is the only game my husband and I even considered buying because its the only game that you are actively involved and not just sitting on your bottom. I bowled with 3 of my gradkids from 11-7. Wii makes you feel like you are right at the bowling alley. All the games are so fun and you can get physically exhausted from playing. Wii is a great family game and I would recommend it to anyone you has children or grandkids. Heck tonight, only adults are home and we are still playing.

Comanche Pow Wow

This last weekend was the Comanche Fair Pow Wow. All those who can come gather together in Lawton, OK for the big Pow Wow. People from all over the United States come. Although its a Comanche Pow Wow, other Native American tribes come as will as those who are not Native American. The fair includes free rides for the kids, runs, horse shoe tosses, dances to watch, food to eat and plenty of vendors for you to purchase Native American Treasures.

This was my second year to attend, my son-in-law is half Comanche. So we went to celebrate with him and his family.


Here I am with the matriarch of the family Grandma Nivea. She is my son-in-law's maternal grandmother.

The Eatmon tepee with my daughter in front. The real tepees are in the background on display. The real tepees are available to use for nominal fee.


Part of the family traditions are that the women always cook and serve the men folk and the men eat at the head of the table while the women and children eat at the back of the table. Women always wear aprons so my daughter and I wore the ones that I made just for this event. I learned how to make traditional Native American foods, like fry bread, Indian corn, Indian green chili. I also learned how to make Mexican Red Pozole, grandpa is Mexican so we have to make one of his dishes too.


My granddaughter LaRyn and her cousin Sara were so excited to meet the real Pocahontas from cartoon movie. Irene Bedard was the voice and she was the image the cartoon was created to look like.


There was the parade to watch Saturday morning with Native Americans in full regalia.


Amazing mural painting was done on the side of this bus and entered into the parade.


My two my little Comanches, Christian and LaRyn enjoying the rides.




I even got to buy some real turquoise to try my hand at making some necklaces.




And what's a Pow Wow without dancing? Not a real Pow Wow. So last but not least here is a video of Men doing fancy dancing.

Friday Blog Featured

Today's blog featured is Purple Lizzard Design by Emma!

Interview with Emma:

"I've been creative my entire life; for as long as I can remember, I've been watching my mother create amazing things, and I've always had something creative happening. The types of things I make has changed over time, but the act of creation has been something that has been important to me my entire life. As a teenager, it was beadwork and art. I took drawing classes at the university, despite generally being the least talented person in the class! Drawing is not my forte. I painted, embroidered, cross stitched, and eventually took up sewing, which is where I've found my creative home. I love fabric, I love cutting up fabric and then putting the pieces together to make something wonderful. And a few (more than a few) object failures along the way. But hey, those are learning experiences too!

On my blog you will find my latest craft projects and even some how to make some items. I'm a part time SAHM to two beautiful daughters, and they are my inspiration. Almost everything I make starts as something for them, and then once I perfect it, becomes something I add to my store. The joy on a child's face when they see something beautiful made just for them is such a thrill."

Be sure and check out Purple Lizard's Designs blog: http://purplelizarddesign.blogspot.com/

On Purple Lizard Design's blog you will find the projects she is currently working on, some tutorials, and some gardening tips.

Listed below are a few things in her shop:




Baby leg warmers - Funky stripes


Little Wooden People Set with case - Rainbow family


Messenger bag - Sonya



Doll Accessory Set (diapers, bib, blanket/burp cloth)

Check out the Purple Lizard Designs:
shop: purplelizarddesign.etsy.com
blog: http://purplelizarddesign.blogspot.com/

What Do You Do When You Don't Have A Sitter?

You make do and improvise. You either stay home or you take the kids with you. So we took the kids with us golfing. We all had a really good time. It wasn't too overly hot and we all played. Of course the grandkids, LaRyn and Christian who are only 9 and 6 didn't play eighteen holes. Instead we let them tee off and putt and that seem to make them happy. Christian made a hole in one on one of his putts and LaRyn learned to drive a golf cart.


The Twinkies LaRyn and Nana wore peach and Khaki while the others found some other non-conforming outfits. LOL





LaRyn loved learning to drive the cart. She also caddied for her mom and Nana.



LaRyn and Christian were quite naturals golfing, you would have think that had private lessons. It's amazing how well they played compared to Mom and Nana.




Everyone putting but my daughter, she sat this hole out and was able to get some pics.

Adoption of Sam & Joe

My brother Jim and his wife Sonia adopted to beautiful boys, twins, Samuel and Joseph from Kazakhstan. They have been with them for about 3 years. You would have never thought they weren't their biological children as they look just like them. Joe is on the left and Sam is on the right. (top pic) They are as different as night and day. Sam is more curious and adventurous, always checking things out, including perimeters. While Joe is more a soft cuddle bug, he's so loving and affectionate.

They were officially adopted last St. Patrick's Day 2008 and they all wore green T-shirts. It was so cute. Sam and Joe are to well behaved children, my brother has done such a great job with them. I know families always feel their children are a hand full but Sam and Joe are so polite and respectful. I meet them last year and in one year's time they have been growing into quite good little boys. Of course they have there days like all 8 yr. old boys but by far they are the best I've seen in a long time. This Sunday they just celebrated their 9th birthday!

(Sam on the left and Joe is on the right)


I will never understand why women abort babies. First, abortion should not be used as a method of birth control. There are so many methods of birth control these days. Second there are so many people out there just waiting to adopt because they can't have children that its just a shame hear of those who choose abortion.





I give kudos to my brother Jim and his wife Sonia for such a good job!