Wordlessly Wednesday – This is Halloween

Wordless Wednesday – FOOTBALL

 

All pictures courtesy of my lovely niece Jennifer LaRue McBroom

 

My 10 Summer Must Haves

I was prompted on the idea for this thanks to the lovely, and wonderful Nicole and her post about ‘Summer Must Haves‘.  I have seen a few other lists as well on blogs, websites and in magazines.  Here is my ‘ 10 Summer Must Haves’ List:

1.  Sun Block – We currently favorite the following in our house and use them on every outing that involves the sun, especially our boating excursions.  We have been lucky enough this summer to only have a few occasions were sun burns happen, when in other years it was a constant during the summer.  However, thankfully in the process, we are all developing ‘Florida tans’.  I use a trick I was told in Hawaii of putting on the SPF for protection and then tanning lotion for enhancement.  It seems to work, or at least I think it does.

Coppertone Waterbabies SPF 50 – for protection

Neutrogena For Faces SPF 70 – for the face

Australian Gold Tanning Lotion SPF 15 – over top of the SPF 50

2.  Flip Flops – A must have every summer I think in every state….but especially in Florida were you can wear them almost year round.  I currently own more flip flops then other type of shoe and in many different styles and colors.  I would love to own a pair of these

Fish flip flops

 Or these:

Hello Kitty Flip Flops

3.  First Aid Kit – These are also a must, at any time.  We have one in the truck, one in my car, one in the boat and a travel one that is usually in my purse or whatever bag I happen to be carrying at the time.

4.  Bags – I have an assortment of canvas and cinch bags I put things in and carry with us.  I have a bag for the boat (titled ‘The Boat Bag’).  I also carry plastic grocery bags as well, especially on the boat and to the beach to put wet items in.

5.  After Sun Lotion – Ok so maybe this should have been up with or closer to sun block but a must have in my household during the summer is Banana Boat After Sun Lotion with Aloe.  It helps to take the sting out of burns as well as moisturize the skin and allow tanning to last longer with out peeling.

6.  Nail Polish – although I might not get regular pedicures (because of time & price constraints) I do regularly work on my feet at home and keep my toes painted.  I love colors and love to change colors, sometimes weekly.  My favorites right now are:

Sally Hansen – Hard As Nails – Xtreme Wear – #42 Gunmetal

Sally Hansen – Hard As Nails – Xtreme Wear – #140 Rockstar Pink

OPI – Texas Collection – Houston We Have A Purple

OPI – Texas Collection – Austin-tatious Turquoise

OPI – Pirates of the Caribbean Collection – Mermaid’s Tears

OPI – Pirates of the Caribbean Collection – Skull and Glossbones

OPI – Pirates of the Caribbean Collection – Steady As She Rose

OPI – Hong Kong Collection – Jade Is The New Black

OPI – Alice In Wonderland Collection – Thanks So Muchnesa

7.  Fruit – Gotta love summer fruits….grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, pineapple, watermelon….all so good.

8.  Bathing Suit – I recently found a full piece that is perfect for me.  It fits me well, covers enough but also shows enough – if ya know what I mean.  It is black with design and has a ‘boy-short’ type bottom even though it is a full piece.

9.  Hair stuff – I always have a ouchless pony tail holder in my bag or around my wrist.  I try to buy ones that are brown in color to match my brunette color so they aren’t as noticeable but I also have ones in colors to match different clothing I have.  Also, my hair is naturally curly and living somewhere like Florida, humidity is a problem and so is frizz.  My current frizz product of choice is Agadir Argan Oil Treatment.  Plus it smells really good.

10.  iPod – got to have your tunes while relaxing by the pool or on the beach.  My playlist changes quite frequently depending on my mood or where I am going.  The iPod is also good for long car rides to get to the destinations.

Wordless Wednesday – Remembering

Kemah Boardwalk - Rich & I - 1999

Kids - Halloween - 2009 - Texas

Isa & Elaine - Christmas 2007 - Texas

Sammi & D - Sammi Birthday - April 2010 - California

Nic, Miss & I - #VegasBB - December 2009

Napoleon & Mei-Ling

 

 

30 Days of Truth – Day 4-5-6

Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.

I need to forgive anyone I have hurt.  I know that might sound selfish, and in many ways perhaps it is but there is reasoning behind this.

You see when you hurt someone; whether it is done intentionally or not, whether it is done because of reason or none, whether it is done in sickness or in health, whether it is done when you are of full sanity or on the brink of insanity; there seems to be preconceived notions and misconcepted thoughts about you as a person.  These lead to people thinking or believe that you will continually be that way, do those things, say those things or act a certain way.  Even if it has happened only once, and you have apologized, the ever lingering feeling of, “you are going to do it again” is always there; and I need to understand why that is and forgive them of that feeling, because after all I am the one who placed it there.  The feeling of mistrust, of walking on eggshells, of tip-toeing around things because you are afraid of what might happen again can be strenuous.  I need to forgive people for feeling that way about me because it is not all their fault, it is mine for making them think, feel or believe that is the way I am or the only way I can be.

But you see this is hard for me to do because I wonder…if I was sick with say cancer or lupus or fibromyalgia…and I said or did things like I have with my depression that have hurt people; would the pain still be lingering?  Would they still be walking around me like I am fragile and might break at any moment?  Would relationships stay destroyed?  Would friendships still be ruined?

 

Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life.

One of the biggest hopes I have in my life for right now is to go back to school and finish my education.  I had started on a track for the medical field.  Every time I tried to return to school; which has happened on three different occasions now; I have ended up pregnant….and well frankly that isn’t going to happen again so this is one hope, one wish that I know I can make a reality.  So within the next 3 months I will be returning to school, starting back on the medical track and with-in 15 months have a CNA license.

Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do.

Something I hope that I never have to do is watch any of my three children have their hearts broken.  Unfortunately I know this is going to happen, probably with each one of them.

But, if I had to pick one particular thing I hope to never have to do it would be to see their hearts broken; because after having mine broken as bad as it has been, I hope that it never happens to them.

30 Days of Truth – Day 3

Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.

Something I have to forgive myself for is for hurting the people I love either with my actions or my words.   I have to own these actions and words as they are mine; even if some of them happened during episodes of my depression when I wasn’t medicated properly or when I was on an “episode” as they have been called.

Unfortunately, I have been quite ugly and mean when I have said and done some things, and it wasn’t always intentional; and unfortunately, sometimes it was.  There were times that I convinced myself of things that were not true but for whatever reason, I believed that they were even if the proof of them not being true was in front of my face.  There were also times that I was just so low on myself that nothing seemed right or perfect and it felt like it was easier to just give up.  I know now that is a coward’s way out.

But I have figured out that until I can fully accept these misfortunes that I have brought upon myself; and make amends with the people I have made them upon, I will never be able to forgive myself.  And believe me it is hard to accept these things because I know that I hurt people I love and care about.  That was something I never meant or wanted to do.

What Christmas Is…

Christmas is supposed to be a time you spend with friends and family.  It is hard to spend Christmas alone.  Even if your family drives you crazy; being with them is better than being without them on the holidays.

I have listened to a lot of people complain about having to be around their families or having to cook for their families or travel to see family.  I would give anything to have family with me on Christmas day.  See being here in California, holidays are spent just the five of us.  And believe me, I am every bit thankful for that.  But I cannot deny that I would love to have family or even friends around; lots of people, like the holidays are supposed to be.  Like the holidays always have been.

Last year was slightly different than this year.  We arrived in California the day before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving was spent eating Korean BBQ, as it was one of the only places open.  This year; I cooked my first ever full Thanksgiving dinner; turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, spinach, cranberry sauce and bread; and I did a pretty good job at it.  Although we ate turkey leftovers for quite a few days it felt more like Thanksgiving Day than just another day.

I didn’t decorate much last year for Christmas; we have a little tree and no outdoor decorations, as I had sold a lot of them prior to moving from Houston to Los Angeles.  The “less is more thing”.  This year, we have more decorations; the small tree is still up, and the nativity is set up across the mantle of the fire place.  The gate and fence are decorated with bows and candy canes, with a festive banner saying Merry Christmas hangs across the porch.  Paper cut outs of Santa, snowmen and reindeer décor the windows of the house along with fake snow.  No lights, even though I would love to have icicle lights to hang across the front of the house; maybe next year.

Cards and boxes are arriving from family in Texas and Florida, filled with gifts from grandparents, aunts and uncles.  Every television station is running Christmas specials and episodes.  It’s nice to watch the classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Carol, and A Christmas Story (“You’ll shoot your eye out!”) with my kids just like I did with my parents when I was their ages.

If we were in Florida we would be spending Christmas Eve, probably at my grandmother’s; opening stocking stuffers, eating meatball subs or chili and playing games till the wee hours of the night.   Christmas Eve in Texas would be spent at one of my sister-in-laws, exchanging gifts between family and having a nice dinner.  And as with both family, Christmas morning would be at our own homes with our kids opening their gifts then off to whoever’s turn it was to host dinner that year.

Christmas Eve last year Sammi and I spent with Melissa and her family watching movies (Christmas Vacation) and making tamales.  Being away from everyone in family for the first time in years at Christmas, being in a family atmosphere like that was exactly what I needed to help keep the holiday blues away.  I can never explain to her, or thank her, for how much that meant to me.

This year we are watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music to get (and stay) in the holiday mood.  The time has come to start work on Christmas cards to send from our family, and perhaps the few gifts that will go out; as well as decorating the stockings, adorned with our names, to hang on the fire place.  Shopping for each other is always fun, I love buying for my kids and seeing them excited on Christmas morning.

Helping to write the Christmas lists and letters to Santa has been a joy.  Listening to and reading the items they are requesting has been blissful.  It is heart-warming to read things like, “For my family to be happy”; and laughable to read things like, “Chocolate milk” on the lists.  Sammi and Alex want almost everything they see and have lists that span 3 plus pages.  Then there is Robert, who at 13 knows exactly what he wants and his list is short and precise.

And I wish with all my heart that I had the means and resources to give them everything their little hearts desired.  But, unfortunately I cannot.  We are fortunate for what we do have; as I know there are plenty out there with a lot less.

I am hoping this year though I can express to them again that isn’t about how much you get or even how much you give; but about being together.  That the holidays aren’t all about the gifts, but that they are about something more…family, merriment…cheer…and most of all the spiritual meaning behind why we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ.

Thankful – Seven Things

There are many things I am thankful for, but some a lot more than others:

1.  I am thankful to be alive, every morning I wake up no matter how good or bad the day is I am glad that I woke up to it.

2.  My husband.  I am so grateful and lucky to have a man like him.  We have had our ups and we have had our downs but I without a doubt know that he loves me; and I am so thankful for that.

3.  My children.  I have three beautiful, healthy and loving children.  They are my world and I am thankful for them every day and the smiles they bring to my face.

4.  Friends.  Although there is distance between us, I know that I have friends who love and care for me.  I am very thankful and grateful for that.

5.  Simple things.  I am thankful for some of the simplest things; like a comfy pair of jeans, a hug or a warm blanket.  Sometimes the simple things are a lot.

6.  Music.  There has been a lot of times that music has been an escape for me.

7.  Love.  Need I say more?

Maybe I’m Amazed

This song sums things up for me.

This is for my husband.

This is for my friends.

I chose the version by Jem.

This song was written by Sir Paul James McCartney.

And it is one of the best songs ever.

Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way You Love Me All The Time
Maybe I’m Afraid Of The Way I Love You
Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way You Pulled Me Out Of Time
And Hung Me On A Line
Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way I Really Need You

Maybe I’m A Girl And Maybe I’m A Lonely Girl
Who’s In The Middle Of Something
That She Doesn’t Really Understand

Maybe I’m A Girl And Maybe You’re The Only Man
Who Could Ever Help Me
Baby Won’t You Help Me Understand

Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way You’re With Me All The Time
Maybe I’m Afraid Of The Way I Leave You
Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way You Help Me Sing My Song
Right Me When I’m Wrong
Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way I Really Need You

Maybe I’m A Girl And Maybe I’m A Lonely Girl
Who’s In The Middle Of Something
That She Doesn’t Really Understand

Maybe I’m A Girl And Maybe You’re The Only Man
Who Could Ever Help Me
Baby Won’t You Help Me Understand

Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way You’re With Me All The Time
Maybe I’m Afraid Of The Way I Leave You
Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way You Help Me Sing My Song
Right Me When I’m Wrong
Maybe I’m Amazed At The Way I Really Need You