A new year, a refreshed Attitude.

    I am not the superstitious type. I don't believe in Karma. I walk under ladders, black cats cross my path, and I never watch where I step as far as cracks are concerned....

    I don't believe in New years resolutions. I fully believe we should always do our best to be our best and strive to fill God's purpose for us in our lives, ALL YEAR LONG, OUR ENTIRE LIFE LONG.  I won't get preachy... That's just not me.

     I do my best to do my best and My best is the best Me I have, and maybe... just maybe God can use me for something greater.

     I live with the pre-conceived notion to try not to judge others, treat others as you would want to be treated, Love your neighbor (and no a "neighbor" isn't just your next door neighbor, a neighbor is anyone who inhibits this place we call Earth, I did say that as TRY right? I mean gesh no one is perfect.)

     I am not a linguist, I don't write beautiful poetry or have an extremely large vocabulary. But I am by far not a simple minded individual. I may be from Texas and my accent may be thick, therefore I may sound ignorant or stupid, and I may screw up my words from time to time when I talk, or sometimes I may  not make sense, but I am a COMPLEX, and great minded creature. And if you pay close enough attention you may find that out for yourself.

    I never ever let others influence my decision on people, places, or things. Seriously. You may get me to try a recipe, visit a location, or talk to someone, but every one's experience is different, and I respect that, and expect the same. People talk. Not always is it true.

    I refuse to let others change me! I am me, accept me or don't. I value others opinions, but I don't let them define me.

    I may not wear name brand clothes, or live in a fancy subdivision, have an I phone, or whatever may be "in". But don't discount me as poor. I'm not. I'm rich beyond your imagination. Maybe not so much in monetary value. but in the value of family, friends, and heaven I'd consider myself the richest person there is!

      I am a classic. "retro chic"... everything that's old is made new again. That's my style. SIMPLE yet fabulous. And I'm sticking to it!

   I am NOT a supermodel. I will never be a supermodel therefore I will never look like one...I accept that. <---- this has been the hardest thing for me to do,and sometimes I need to be reminded that just because I'm different, doesn't mean I'm ugly.

    I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. I don't believe in the perfect manicure (I can't even paint my toenails perfectly.) But I love the beauty in nature, and am at peace with a beautiful yard and therefore manicure be DAMNED!

    I love being girly, going shopping, getting my hair done, the colors purple and pink, jewlery, princesses, hearts, flowers and butterflies, and all of that stuff. But as a mother of boys, I've learned to love catching frogs and lizzards, and reciving muddy kisses, dirty handprints, lizzards in army men tents (for real)... building forts, and gun noises with spit included, and playing superheros. After-all the imaginations of my children may be the only mark I leave in this world. And to me thats the best gift I could ever give this planet!

  I don't plan for a certin future. I strive to obtain small achievements toward a better life for my family. I believe we all could have a better life.

  This year I have made it my mission to reaquaint myself with myself.  Somewhere I lost focus of me and all that I wanted to accomplish with my life, and was just humdrumming it through life living from day to day like a bump on a log. I lost my voice in the day to day. (no not my physical voice, my inner one)

               It's monotonus and easy to do. Trust me. It's hard having beliefs and sticking to them. Accepting others  decisions when you haven't fully accepted your own. And generally being happy with who you are and all your best qualitities.  You are more valuable than you know, You are more loved than you can imagine, and if you can look in the mirror and say I matter then and only then can you find your true self-worth.

               After a lot of prayer, I woke up one morning and realized what I was doing wrong. That very morning, I started my new attitude, way before the new year, and have made some huge phenominal changes in my life, I'm still happily married to my husband, with 2 amazing children, but I have changed. ME.  and when I changed ME my world fell into place. So with the start of the new year I am refreshing my new attitude.

 ~HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS~

It's a SUPER BAT. Kind of Christmas!

I guess I should explain because I'm sure you are wondering what exactly is a "SUPER-BAT". Super-Bat comes from my children's love of all things Superman and Batman. Any time I find a Batman something or another I always have to find a Superman, and visa versa. Trust me this is not as easy as it looks.

   Anyways several years ago we had a Superman/ Batman birthday party, Batman even visited us! So when the Invites went out we officially dubbed it the SUPER-BAT party. That same Christmas my Mother-in-law, got the boys a Superman and a Batman ornament for the Christmas tree. Fast forward 4 years we now have 4 Superman Ornaments and 4 Batman ornaments and a stocking for each with their character on it. This love of Superman and Batman has extended to pjs, Tshirts and other clothing,  Stuffed characters, Action figures,  Halloween costumes, Wall Decor, 2 years worth of school supplies, and the list goes on (and on, and on, and on, and on, and on... you get the idea).

There are so many I couldn't even find all of them!

Christmas was one time where I never thought that I'd have a "Super-Bat" invasion. So when I asked the boys to go pick out our wrapping paper, I never in my wildest dreams expected them to walk back with batman and superman themed Christmas wrapping paper.  Needless to say I was flabbergasted. Yes , I know I have a problem saying no to my kids. I mean I say no (obviously because we don't live in a Krypton style mansion, and I don't drive the bat mobile.) But no within reason just isn't in my vocabulary.  Expecailly when I can tell they were really excited about the paper.  I sucked it up and bought the paper.

Our Wrapping Paper

My Ideal Christmas tree looks like this. (no it isn't my picture I googled Angel Christmas tree and this was one of many it brought up)  Since I was a young girl I have collected Angel Christmas Ornaments and I have tons, but when the boys came along and then started crawling there went the idea of having all my glass pretties on our tree.

Sort Of what I wish our tree looked like



So we did the plain Jane plastic balls instead. It wasn't perfect but it was safe and the boys love it. Their favorite colors are Blue and Green. So the first year it was just Blue and Green ornaments on the tree. Then the next we added Purple and Black, and then all colors a couple of years ago. Then we've collected a few kid themed ornaments along the way. So our actual ornaments are few and far between they hold special meaning to us.

Unlit tree

All SHINY

But I must say even though "Super-Bat" invaded my Christmas,  I'm surprised at the results. I don't totally hate it, and the boys compromised and let me put plain colored paper with it so it isn't ALL "super" themed, But it's actually kind of cute. At least Its secluded to the inside not outside. (so far....)

These pictures were taken from my actual House and yard THIS Christmas.

What have you decorated your tree with?

10 Reasons NOT to take your 6 year old to play Mini-Golf

After recently taking our 6 year old twin sons to play a round of mini golf, My husband and I decided to compile a list of warning for those parents who haven't ventured out to the local mini golf place with their children.

Reason # 1- They learn to cheat at a really young age

Reason # 2- They pass gas every time they putt or pick up the ball and blame you for it.

Reason # 3- They complain about the weather more than the elderly. " It's too hot!"

Reason # 4- They try to go swimming in the cement ponds.

Reason # 5- They turn their putters into Hatchets.

Reason # 6- It takes 15 minutes PER hole Minimum to play a round.

Reason # 7- They fight and give each other a hard time.

Reason # 8- Any time you think you may have just putted a hole in one their club suddenly becomes and obstacle in your balls path.

Reason #9- They have absolutely NO concept of the game no matter how thoroughly you explain it, it just goes WAY WAY (OUTER SPACE WAY) over their head!

Reason #10- They don't sell Life insurance policies at the mini golf place, which you'd need because playing with them is like playing Russian Roulette with a loaded gun.

If you manage to read this list and STILL do not heed our warning, you are guaranteed to laugh and make some excellent family memories! (At least I know we did.) Oh and If you really want a laugh make sure to WATCH THE VIDEOS! (still trying to fiugre out why they wont upload)

Cute charmed picture frame necklaces

Okie dokie folks, I am WAY behind on my crafting posts lately. So I'm trying to fix that little blunder now. I saw these absolutely adorable picture-frame necklaces and just had to make one of my own. It's so easy you should make one too!

All materials can be found at your local craft store ( walmart sells some cheaper versions, but I must say its worth a few extra dollars for the better quality, and snazzy looking ones) Or you can get a supply bundle here. (please note if you are using a glass tile kit without a frame there are a couple of differences in the technique.These instructions are for framed pictures only.)

You will need:

Scissors
Small needle nosed pliers
Fasteners (also known to the technically inclined myself not included as BAILS)
Picture frame kit of your choosing
Chain of some sort
Picture re sized to 1x1 inch (or however big you want your pictures)
and Charms of any sort you wish

1st- Re size your picture and cut it out the size of the frame: mine was 1x1 inch and I used the glass insert for a stencil.

2nd- Open the frame but be careful not to bend it too far or it will break.

3rd- Insert picture into the frame (between the glass of course)

4th- Careful not to bend too much or force too hard, close the glass in the opened picture frame.

5th- Open the fastener- and close the "loop" from the picture frame inside. Again careful not to bend too far.

6th- Slide it on your chain along with any charm or embellishment you'd like and TA DA there is your super fancy new necklace! I've seen them done with all kinds of insides from pressed flowers to beads, to pictures of cities ect. One of the things I loved about them was that it's completely customizable and can be changed again and again with pictures to suit your mood.

*Please note these necklaces are not waterproof. 

So do you think Hand-made Christmas gifts are ok to give and receive?

Pilgrim hat cookies

Just in time for Thanksgiving this year we got an email from Disneyfamily.com... (awesome website) and one of their ideas for kid friendly cooking was Pilgrim hats.. I'd love to take credit for the idea and recipe but it isn't mine... so the boys and I booked it to the store this morning and purchased all the ingredients... here's what we have so far...

Gather all the items...

You'll need:
1 bag of large marshmallows
1 package of chocolate striped shortbread cookies
1 handy package of yellow icing
2 packages of chocolate (make sure it can be melted)
1 roll of parchment paper
toothpicks
(You will need a microwavable bowl or a double boiler)


First  boil water for the boiler once boiling melt the chocolate

(in the mean time)

In list the help of some extra hands (but make sure they are clean first)

Have extra hands put toothpicks into the middle of the mallows and sort 1 mallow per cookie

once chocolate is melted cover mallow in chocolate and place on cookie chocolate side up (stripes down)

let cool on wax paper or parchment paper

find something to do while chocolate sets and firms (can be sped up in freezer)

once chocolate is cool and set pipe yellow buckle on mallow

and tada!!!!!

 (ours aren't quite finished setting so I'm using the pic the site used)

Here is the link for the oficial web demo for the cookies.

Odd facts about me survey

DO YOU SNORE?	No, unless I'm really sick!
LOVER OR A FIGHTER?	Both, I love, and I fight, and i love to fight
WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR?	I have too many to list. But the dark is high up there
AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO BUILDER?	you betcha
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY TV"?	I hate it. litterally despise it!
DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?	Sometimes depends.
WERE YOU A CUTE BABY?	ABSOLUTELY :)
HOW IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU?	Null and void... Sorry I'm taken (10yrs)
WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD?	Black
DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER?	ALL THE TIME
HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED?	Heck no I have a fear of heights and falling
ANY SECRET TALENTS?	I see dead people! jk, nothing secret haha
WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT?	Anywhere Vacations area all IDEAL
HAVE YOU EATEN SUSHI?	No and doesnt sound appealing to me
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "DONNIE DARKO"?	Nope
DO YOU GIVE A DARN ABOUT THE OZONE?	Um, not really
HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP?	I havent found out yet I always bite!
CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS?	VERY SLOWLY
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON AN AIRPLANE?	YES :)
ARE SPEEDO'S HOT?	EWW just plain EWW, no respectable man wears speedo's just sayin.
WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING?	Deer meat is yummy, killing for sport is awful though!
IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE?	Lord I hope so I'm a married woman!
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?	Sometimes, mostly no though
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?	I'm begining to think everything. DUST! (and selfish people)
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU"	about 5 min ago
IS TUPAC STILL ALIVE?	who? jk jk no hes dead
DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS?	Depends
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?	Egg whites only
ARE BLONDES DUMB?	I'm blonde and I'm smart so Nope
WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP?	In my boys sock drawer. ALWAYS
WHAT TIME IS IT?	8:30 am TOO EARLY
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?	Patty is because my name is Patricia... Say Patty~Cake and were not friends anymore
IS MCDONALD'S DISGUSTING?	mostly, but the yogurt is yummy!
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR?	Yesterday afternoon. (suburban)
DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS?	SHOWERS AND MAKE IT HOT
IS SANTA CLAUSE REAL?	HECK YES!
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?	HECK YES!!!!!!! I have nightlights all over
WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO?	Coke-a-cola, my ipod, my nook,& lots more
CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER?	Creamy
HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE?	Nope
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH TODAY?	2 because I was up past midnite.
IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE?	YOU BET YOUR BOOTY
ARE YOU WEARING SOCKS?	Nope
HAVE YOU EVER HITCH HIKED?	Um no scary
WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?	Mostly Green, sometimes gold
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?	My birthday and I wont again.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE?	Nope I LOVE it!
WHOSE LIFE IS BETTER?	I dont know because I'm content
ARE YOU PSYCHIC?	No but I might be an  Empath or medium
HAVE YOU READ "CATCHER IN THE RYE"?	Yes and Hated it
DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS?	LOTS :) but want to learn the piano
CAN YOU SKATEBOARD?	HAHAHA no I'm not coordinated enough
DO YOU LIKE CAMPING?	Depends
DO U SNORT WHEN U LAUGH?	If I laugh hard enough YES
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?	WHO DOESNT!
IS A DOG A MAN'S BEST FRIEND?	Nope. That position is taken by a person!
YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE?	Depends.
CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK?	HAHA wouldnt that be a sight to see
DOES YOUR MOM KNOW YOU HAVE A MYSPACE?	haha yeah and so does she
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?	a bowl of  lucky charms
DO YOU WEAR NAILPOLISH?	only on my toes and only sometimes
DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE RIGHT NOW?	I like everyone, I love a few people :)
WHAT'S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL?	gotta be the "do it with a friend commercial!"
DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE?	Never have, not to say I wouldnt
FAVORITE Song or Band  AT THE MOMENT?        Jason walkers- Echo, Demi Lovato- Sky Scraper, Quietdrive-time after time, Greg Laswell- this womans work Addison Road- This little light of mine                                 What is something odd about you?

Halloween Survey

                                                      This or That:

Ghosts or Goblins?:                                      Ghost
Zombies or Vampires?:                                Vampires
Witches or Hags?:                                        Witches
Werewolves or Frankenstein?:                     Frankenstein because hes the coolest!
Black Cats or Bats?:                                     Cats
Trick or Treat?:                                             Uh Treats of course!
Candy Corn or Candy Apples?:                    MMMM candy apples
HALLOWEEN QUESTIONS:
Do you like to dress up for Halloween?:     Not anymore, but I love to dress up my kids!
What were you last year for Halloween?:    The last year I dressed up I was an Angel
What are you going to be this year?:           The candy bag holder
Favorite costume you have ever worn?:        Unicorn
How do you spend your Halloween?:           Walking with my kids around the block then home for the evening
Are you or are you not going trick or treating this year?:    Of course!
Did or do you pull Halloween pranks?:            nope I'm not a prankster sadly i have a conscience
Do you believe in ghosts?:                             HECK YEAH
Do you decorate your home for Halloween?:   Nope not in the slightest
Have you ever been to a haunted house?:        a real one or one where people both jump out at you? Yes to both!
Have you ever been to a graveyard on Halloween?:       UM NO THANKS NOT MY CUP O TEA!
Have you ever been to an amusement park's Halloween event?:    Actually yes years ago when Houston still had Astroworld
Do you watch scary movies on Halloween?:             I dont like to watch scary movies period!
Have you ever had your candy stolen from you?:            Nope (unless you count by your parents but i consider that sharing)
Did you ever steal any ones candy?:                     nope I was a good little girl!
Has anyone ever gotten hurt due to your prank?:           Nope not a prankster
HAVE YOU SEEN:
- Amityville Horror?:                 yes both versions
- House Of Wax?:                     Yes and it was stupid
- Tales From The Crypt?         I've seen pieces of the movie.
- The Exorcist?:  yes
- Dracula?:    Yes bram stokers is the best!
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre?: of course i think every texan has!
- Pumpkinhead?:     Nope
- The Grudge?: Yes the freaky girl was crazy!
- The Sixth Sense?:  Yes and prolly the only scary movie I actually like
- The Others?:  Yes I have
- All or any of the Nightmare On Elm Street?: Nope
- Nightmare Before Christmas?:   Nope

Insanity

That's what I'm claiming right now. SO out of the million things I want to blog about here's a few.

Yeah that about sums up my life about now!

  I wanted to share this really amazing apple cake recipe with you guys. I made it once we all loved it, and I didn't take pics to document the process plus I always test the recipes before sharing them. anyways so One out of Four tries at this cake turned out good the rest it didn't. so yeah needless to say I gave up. If I ever get the courage to try it again I might share.

(what it is supposed to look like)

I didn't end up with fall wreath orders but I do have about 7 Christmas wreath orders for this year. So as soon as I find the spare time to finish those up and take some pictures I surely will post that awesome how to. Super easy!

I'm getting a job. Not because I have to, but because I want something that's mine. and right now I just don't feel like going back to school. I had my 28th birthday and went OK that's it, its time to feel like I've accomplished something with my life other than my children. Yes raising children is an AMAZING journey. And I do not take that for granted. But sometimes you just need a little extra. It looks like I will be taking over my old job at my husbands office. Not a bad gig considering that its pretty much the only job I can get where I work from 9am-2pm, so that I still can get the kids to and from school . Not to mention he could really use the help! (luckily its out of my house this go round ) I have a few applications out there floating but so far no bites. Its really hard to find a job right now because pretty much everyone is looking.

Halloween. Every year we enter our local Halloween fall festival costume contest (and every year we've won our age division) so after a long consideration and debate I decided to relinquish the title for the next family to take our place. It was fun while it lasted and I really enjoyed making their costumes, but Its a lot of work, and its more fun to watch. :) Here's a few of our costumes. I wanted to post how to's on these. but well i never got around to it. If you want to know reply and I'll email you some directions.

Huck Fin and Dennis the menace '09

A mad scientist and his helper Igor '08

Not homemade but too cute... 05

Poptart and Milk Carton 06

Superman and Batman actual Halloween '10 (not homemade)

Disco ball '10

 This was taken Halloween '07 (sorta homemade)

Space Alien and Robot 07

Totem pole'10




Sorry my pictures are all scattered I'll fix them later.
 My mom used to make our halloween costumes a couple of my favorites were the matching dinos my brother and I were, the unicorn costume (I'll try to find you guys a picture sooo cool!) and then the princess costume.
Whats your favorite childhood Halloween costume?

oh my, oh my!

By now I'm sure I've lost a few followers. What can I say sometimes life just happens and you have to choose where you focus your attention. Obviously that was NOT on my blog. SO lets fast forward past all of that and get reacquainted shall we?

Summer ended, school started. Along with school starting we now are involved with boy scouts, and soccer. And that's just to name a few things. We also now have Homework and daily routines that make the week fly by faster and faster.

Fall will officially be here on Friday. It surely doesn't feel like it's that close. We are still seeing somewhere in the upper 90's for our weather and if you had talked to me last week it was still in the triple digits. YEAH SUCKS! We really don't have traditional fall type weather here normally anyways but the HEAT for so long is killing me, just a tiny bit more, everyday! Come on 80's and 70's!!!!!

Anyways with fall comes some of my FAVORITE activities. Traditionally fall is not my favorite season if you'd have asked me a few years ago I'd have said winter. But I'm beginning to see the beauty in Spring and Fall. Fall Is fantastic because well I was born during this season. HAHAHA. JK JK but seriously yes part of fall's appeal years ago before I started rapidly inching my way to 30 was the fact that My birthday is in the fall. But so is my hubby's :) and my moms, and my brother in laws, and my grandmothers, and my cousins, and my baby brothers. (geesh that's a lot of people with birthdays in October and November huh?)

Another thing is this is Fall is considered ultimate CRAFT season. And NOTHING gets me more excited that staying busy doing Crafty things! Fall Wreaths, homecoming mums, Halloween Costumes, Christmas Wreaths, Christmas Decor, food, Food and More FOOOOOOOD. Want to learn how to make one of the above? yeah thought ya might! Stay tuned. no really stay tuned! ;) I'll show ya how!

Plus fall is the season where my "summer" wardrobe finally can be rested some. I get to mix pants and jackets into my normal monotonous t-shirt and shorts and flip-flops house wife style. Mix that with the fact that we can finally start being outside again and whew yeah Fall just might be my new favorite!

This is from Halloween 2 years ago and yes I made both boys costumes, Dennis the Menaces and Tom Sawyer.

What are some of your favorite fall activities?

Kindergarten Graduation

Here are a few pictures from the kindergarten graduation And the last day of school as I promised.

It wasn't a terribly extravagant event. We all showed up and sat/ stood on the back row so that we'd have better camera angles or so we thought, people kept standing up in front of us and walking in front of us so just when I'd line up a shot it wouldn't focus again on the child. but that's OK we still got some pretty good ones in spite of it. They all received their diplomas. and they sang a couple of songs and then they did a slide show at which it was difficult not to cry. It showed just how much they did throughout the school year and just how much they grew.  They can't wait to be first graders this year. MOM however wishes they'd go back to being babies. You know the kind that just want to be held and loved. *sigh*

(My big guys)

(Last day of school VS. First day of school. Look how much they changed!!!!)

(They wouldn't cooperate much I guess I can't blame them since it was 7 am)

(Chris receiving his diploma. I think this is funny because Josh always picks on him and says I'm older. (by a whopping 2 min. OH MY) and so now Chris can say you may be older but I graduated first!!!)

 (Dad worked the video camera)

(Josh getting his diploma)

 (These were hanging in the hall, so cute to see what all their favorites are!)