A Random Rambling and Confession....

Okay.. I'm going to say it.. I am the archetype of procrastination with a HUGE side order of LAZY (the lazy part..I secretly despise.)

To the outside world, I'm sure it looks like I do much more than I do and that I don't find time to sleep, so NOT true. People ask me, "How do you do it all?" and to be honest I think to myself .. "I don't do enough." Granted I do start my day early, 5am.. and for the first 3-4 hours of my day are spent on the computer, catching up with business duties, some facebook time, dreaming of my next big project from Pinterest, blogging, budgeting etc. Yet, I get nothing accomplished that I am proud of. I have all these thoughts of "doing this and doing that".. but they are just thoughts that eventually start to become this little burden b/c I WANT to do it and it never gets done.. ever... because this is where the LAZY kicks in.

I will say my house is tidy and clean. I do run a tight ship when it comes to organizing and cleanliness AND that is where it ends. ALL I do is run around my house, wiping down, cleaning, picking up, organizing this, straightening that and I do it EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

OH, and let's now even get to my Mt. Washmore laundry tasks. THAT in itself is a job! With (3) kids who change their clothes on average 2-3 times a day EACH *****.. yeah.. laundry is the devil!

BUT getting back on track.. internally I'm fighting this personal battle.

I am the queen of the organizational notebooks. I have my life organized in every aspect possible in a notebook, except for making time for me. I have notebooks for mostly everything ... the general household upkeep and maintenance, menu planning, gift giving, sewing, soaping, knitting, even our budget is in a nice neat notebook. I swear my notebooks are more organized than my actual life. I think I need to create a notebook for time management. (see how easily I create work for myself but not do things I actually WANT to do?.. I swear I am my own worst enemy)

What do I want to do? I want to create! I want to be as productive as these people that I waste hours on pinterest and blogs on gawking over pictures of their creative life. I admire pictures of peoples artistic creations, I simply get lost in the construction of the item, the blending of colors.. it begins to stir emotions of inspiration in me and also at that moment, I suddenly start feeling like an uncreative troll - semi loser for NOT using my talents and being so DAMN LAZY!!!!

I WANT TO BE THAT CREATIVE PERSON! I WANT TO CREATE! I WANT TO LOOK AT MY FINISHED CREATIONS AND FEEL PRIDE! I WANT TO HEAR WILL SAY TO ME, "WOW BABE, THAT'S AWESOME" Nothing is sweeter than having your talents and hard work acknowledged. It's this overwhelming sense of inner joy, pride and sense of accomplished artistry.

(but here is where it all comes to a screeching halt.)

I love to sew, I get this creative bug and all I can think about is designing and creating my next "big creation" but when I think about it, I mean REALLY think about it, the picking of the fabric, the cutting, the measuring, the ironing, the serging, the sewing, the ironing again .. the urge suddenly leaves me. It no longer feels "fun", but a "chore", a "job", a "nuisance", "something I don't have TIME for."

I feel the urge of creativity and inspiration slowly dissipate as quickly as I can exhale and I say to myself.. "meh, I don't feel like this doing this right now, I don't have the time for this, maybe tomorrow." Well, as you can tell by my empty etsy shop and the lack of my craft stall at the local Saturday market, that "tomorrow" never comes.

I used to journal ALL.THE.TIME. I have a huge tote full of my writings, poetry, short stories, my unfinished novel I started when I was 14. I was at one point, quite the creative writer. I was once asked by my high school english teachers to have my works published in their books (which I declined and now regret.) I have written speeches, papers and acceptance letters into schools for friends in which they got a response to join their creative writing departments. (that seems like a lifetime ago!) But like sewing and everything else.. I pushed it out with the excuse.. I don't have time.

"I DON'T HAVE TIME..."

I find myself saying that ALL.THE.TIME.

I never have time to make friends, I never have time to call what friends I have or drop them a letter, I never have time to go here, I never have time to go there, I never have time to sew, I never have time to make soap, I never have time to just sit and read a book to Emilia, I never have time to play a board game with the boys, I never have time to MAKE TIME FOR THE IMPORTANT STUFF IN MY LIFE! But where is all the time going? It's being wasted on excuses of NOT having time! I am sick of my own excuses of NOT having time!

I actually feel like I don't have "TIME" to be creative. Like something is more important that needs to be done and all I end up doing is running from one room of my house to the next, all the while feeling the burdens of wanting to do what I want (sew, make soap, etc) and them NOT getting done. BUT the burden is there.. heavy in my mind, in my thoughts and this unexplainable weight of guilt b/c I'm NOT making what I should, what I want. It's the quintessential infinite cycle, and it's bogging me down emotionally.

I have this "NEED" to keep running around my house like a robot, doing nothing at all productive really.. just running back and forth, tidying. I open a closet and "BAM" I start organizing it b/c the towels aren't aligned right, I mean REALLY? COME ON! I have the most organized towels, drawers, cabinets and closets around! So WHY do I feel the need to take the WHOLE closet apart and redo the WHOLE darn thing?!?

I simply can't stand it anymore!

Changes need to happen.. for me... I need to re-catorigize my priorities... I'm tired of telling my talent/creativeness AND my kids.. "one minute", "not today", "tomorrow", "I don't have time", "I have to do this first", "Please stop asking, I said I couldn't do it today" etc, etc, etc....

I MUST MAKE A CHANGE!!

So from today on..
To start making the change I need, I am making a vow to myself to follow these rules:

That I will spend.....
* 1 hour a day doing something creative / crafty/ fun FOR ME
* I will spend LESS time gawking at other's creations and start making my own!
* I will spend LESS time writing my blog posts (2-3 hours a post is TOO long)
* I will set a time limit on viewing other's blogs, pinterest and FB pages.. this is NOT enhancing my life or that of my family's.
* I will take the time to read 1 book to Emilia each day
* I will take the time to work with Emilia on her sight words
* I will take the time to sit with the boys doing whatever
* Execute Family Game Night - Wed nights (which fell by the way side)
* and spend LESS time trying to reorganize the already organized parts of my life and focus on what NEEDS to have my attention.

I KNOW this is going to be a huge, difficult step for me, but it is a step that HAS to be taken. I'm tired of feeling like I'm failing everyone I love, including myself.

SO today, I AM beginning with a baby step, I'm going to find my timer and create a Priority Time Management Schedule for myself, incorporating the tasks I VOW to myself and one's that I would LIKE to accomplish (being realistic.)

Once my schedule is complete, I begin the scheduled task, set the timer for the time allotted AND do it! (cleaning, business time, personal computer time, crafting, blogging etc) If the timer goes off and my task is NOT completed, depending on the importance of it I will try to complete it in another allotted 15 minutes. If it's not completed after the additional time, then it will be on the task for completion the following day.

I have to start somewhere and that's a good place to start right?

Wish Me Luck!

Love and Light!
=) Kristina

**** Disclaimer: (the reason why the kids change so much is they play with friends with cats and since Will is direly allergic to cats, if they are at their friend's houses, I ask that they change their clothes so that cat dander won't be spread in OUR house making Will miserable with his allergies in OUR house, SO it's not them just randomly changing b/c they want to.. they do it out of respect, so I'm NOT complaining about that.. but it's ALOT of laundry!)

Life has been hectic ...

When life gets hectic I always find that my personal blog is the thing that suffers the most.

Since my last post, the kids have finished school... Armando is an 8th grader, Giovanni a 7th grader and Emilia is officially a 1st grader!  Where has the time gone!

I am so proud of the boys, as they finished the year with Honors - Straight A's & B's.  They worked very hard this year and their hard work shows.

Armando finished up his season of C2 Soccer. They advanced into the State Finals but didn't progress any further.  We had some very talented players and it's sad to see the season end.

Giovanni is completely healed from his surgery and all is well with his mouth. Now we just have to wait to see how his teeth naturally align to determine if braces are in the future or not.

Emilia lost 2 teeth in a matter of 2 days.  Her top left front and one that is on the side bottom left. When she talks she she is making a  "SHP" sound... when she is upset and trying to vocalize her frustration it takes a strong hold of self control on my part not to giggle, run to get the video camera and record.  It's so cute.. almost like Elmer Fudd.

OH.. and I almost forgot Reina.. the puppy that is lucky to be alive after I found her making my reading glasses her new chew toy.  She has never destroyed anything of great value.. some kids toys here and there but she always kept herself entertained with her toys. She is now 7 months old and we have had her for 4 months and this was really the first time I recall being spitting mad at her.  She has house trained wonderfully and always goes to the door and barks.  She is a great puppy and my $300 glasses will just have to be a lesson to me to make sure they don't fall off my nightstand.  (but wow.. such an expensive lesson)

As a family unit, we are doing well.  Knock on wood that everyone is healthy. We have hit summer full blast.  Not only are the kids home and enjoying the freedom, it seems like it has gotten hotter than Hades too early in the season.  We have 93+ days for the better part of the week with 80+% humidity.  It's brutal.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, Will and I gave the front yard landscaping a facelift and overhaul.  We haven't touched it (other than basic weeding) since we moved in in Dec 2010.  It was time for a revamp.  The bushes the landscapers planted were all wrong for the space and started growing out of control.  We snipped them back, replaced the mulch, added edging stones and replanted some of the flowers.  We didn't add any fresh flowers or color to the mix, we will do that next year after I actually planned for it.

We are in the midst of planning our first family vacation for the end of June.  I wouldn't really call it a vacation per say. There aren't any amusement parks,  mouse houses or water rides in our plans.  We choose to take our vacations to spend time with much missed family 1,200 + miles away.  We haven't seen most of our families in over 2 years.  I can not wait to see them all. I miss our families so very much. We have lived away from them for so many years that one would think that missing them wouldn't be as much.. but daily there is a reminder of how much they are missed and how lonely it is w/o them.  Definitely a void missing in our lives.

I'm out of time for now.. if your interested you can check out why I have been away for the past few weeks. I've been working on promoting a new lil notebook I created and then writing all about it here: Let It Shine Design Blogger Page. 

Love & Light!
=) Kristina

as promised.. some recent pics:


Em's last day of school before her Graduation Program.

Em feeding the white peacock at the Fountain of Youth Park in St. Augustine Fl. 

My  after Armando's birthday celebration.

A Girl's Only Weekend..

Emilia and I made an impromptu trip to the St. Augustine house to see my mom.  She was there for a week and with her being so close I decided to just go and visit her.  It was a tough decision for me as Armando had soccer tournaments that weekend for the State Playoffs the following week and I wanted to be there to support him.

But I had to see my mom.. So Will had a boy's only weekend and I had the Girls only one.

Here are some highlights from that weekend.  We met up with my Big Brother Stephen (who is also the guest museum curator for his display at the MOSH museum in JAx..http://www.themosh.org/victory.html )

My brother was a participant in Ve-Day remembrance gathering to celebrate the 67th Anniversary of the Allied victory in Eurpoe at the St. Augustine Fountain of youth so it was a great time to spend time with him. It was a great experience for Em to as she was exposed to history amongst people who loved it.

here are some pics of that great event:

Stephen, Mom and Emilia

Stephen and my mom (boy she looks more and more like her mom every tiime I see her)

 Stephen and his buddy Dan. 

 Emilia filling out her rations card. 

 Stephen and Dan talking to a War Veteran Mario. 

I simply loved her look.. such a classic timeless look.

Mr. Dan in front of his 1941 jeep. 

 Another pic of a lady dressed in the era's clothing. She was fun to talk with.

A 3-Star General's Dodge?

OH.. and did I mention the peacocks at the park?  Holy Cow.. there are over 90 of them roaming free.  They even ate out of Em's hands.  I will share those pics in another post, I took over 300 pictures of the peacocks alone! They are simply gorgeous.

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll share more soon!

=) Kristina

The Organized Sewer's Notebook

I am soo over the moon to introduce to the sewing community: The Organized Sewer's Notebook.

It was a project in the making for a long time. The nagging need for something to organize my creative life was overwhelming and I had to do something about it.

So I organized my thoughts and created a 90 page notebook, including inventory pages, knowledge pages and logs of projects.  I have never sat so much in the weeks it took to create this.  I have never spent 8 hours at a time in front of a computer. My butt still hurts! But it's done and now I'm mentally working on project #2..  BUT.. I wanted to share with you TOSN..

Here are some pics of TOSN.

I was uber excited to read the reviews which have all been super positive thus far. Keeping my fingers crossed!

OH.. and I am also planning an Organize-A-Long on the yahoo group: Sew It Seams.  This is really going to be alot of fun.. come on over and join us!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SewItSeams/

Happy Organizing!

Happy Easter!

Easter was always a special time for me as a child.  I remember giving tulips to my Great Grandmother.  I remember her smile, her thick glasses, her white hair and her deep Czech accent.

Easter to me is of kolache's, braided bread, ham, egg battles and family. The smell of my Grandparents house is etched in my senses, it is a smell I have never smelled anywhere else, but I remember it.  I remember the egg hunts at my Grandparents house in Baltimore City. Oh Easter.. how I love the memories you have created for me.

I miss it all.  Easter is the holiday that most reminds me of my Grandmother Hunter.  I remember her all the time.. but Easter is HER.  It is her memory that makes it so very special to me. I wish my children could have known her.. she would have made an ever lasting impression on them as well.

I must go now to hide the eggs for my kiddos..  but I wanted to share with you this:

May your Easter be filled with love. laughter, blessings and family for a lifetime of cherished memories. 

Happy Easter! 

<3 Krys 

Memories....

Will surprised me and bought me a new camera to take pics of Armando playing soccer.  I needed a faster shutter speed to take action shots.. here are some pics I took during Armando's practice.. this camera is impressive and I now have to learn ALOT!

Inspiration... Move Me Brightly.....

The title of this post is a lyric from one of my favorite Grateful Dead songs.. "Terrapin Station".  Terrapin Station is actually the conclusion and blend of another great jam.."Lady with a Fan".  Usually you won't hear one w/o the other intertwined. Many nights I spent gazing up at the stars just getting lost in this song.  The song weaves into a beautiful story that takes me to another dimension in thought.  Almost as if it opens another door of perception and then my creative juices begin to flow!

Right now... I need Inspiration to move me.  Being a stay at home mom .. while it's a blessing, it feels like I am not contributing much to anything.  I have found my creative drive all but non existent, my life is full of "tomorrow's" and then I feel guilty of not getting all that I want to get done done.. Lord knows I have the time.. it's the drive I am lacking. I have a sketchbook full of designs, my head is overflowing with possibilities, my closet is full of materials, my goals are set, and my "to do" list keeps getting longer.. it's the spark that is not present.

BUT .. that is going to change.  I found a book on a lady's blog called... " 365: A Daily Creativity Journal, Make Something Everyday and Change Your Life" by Noah Scalin.   I haven't ever heard of this book and I found it intriguing.  Although I most likely won't purchase the book, it has still inspired me to begin to make a project a day.. hopefully getting me out of my slump.. lighting that proverbial fire under my ass to get behind my machines and do what I love to do... create.

Will also bought me a camera.. it is a combination Mother's Day, Birthday, Christmas and "ALL that".. gift.  He cracks me up.  While we had a good camera before, he bought this for me to take action shots of Armando playing soccer.  I have MUCH to learn on how to use this camera properly.  I was playing with it yesterday and wow.. it's ALOT of camera.. not the point and shoots that I am used to!

My new camera has also inspired me... to at least take a picture of SOMETHING every day... photography is not something I want "to get into".. I don't feel I have the talent or the "eye" for it.... but it's something I would like to do everyday... just to take 5 mins to stop and find something interesting and take a pic of it...  I am an artist at heart....I just love all things creative. AND to think.. I had a college art professor tell me that I should quit his class b/c I didn't have an artistic bone in my body and that he was going to have to fail me... obviously he hasn't seen my fabric artscapes OR my make-up artistry skills.  I CAN still design, draw and create art.. it's just not with charcoal pencils, water colors or pastels... it is with fabric, thread and make up.

I am so glad I didn't let that man totally squash my inner artist... Thank God my need and love for the arts was stronger than his ignorance.. he could have broken what I hold so dear.

With that note.. I am off to create my list of crafty projects for next week.  I am going to begin on Monday.  I am going to reorganize my craft room (lovingly called Room of Chaos) to get ready for my return.. ... I simply can not wait...

The Vet's... ugh..

So.. I took Reina to the vet's today to get her booster shots...  Poor thing is so sore.. you touch her shoulder and she SCREAMS out in pain.  It didn't help that she fought the vet tooth and nail and she had to keep sticking her in the same area 3 times.  I think shelter life was difficult.  She is very open and loving with us.. but when a vet or vet tech starts handling her.. she gets terrified.  It's not the average.. oh there's a stranger touching me.. it's sheer and utter panic with her.  It breaks my heart.

I sustained an injury as well... Reina's nails totally scratched up my hand.. looks like I got into a fight with a vicious cat.  Oh Well.

We decided to join the Banfield Pet Care program.  We had it with Nina and it saved us a total of $300 today alone.  It's worth the $25 a month.

I know I have to post pics of Reina.. she is not included in my slideshow.  I'm still working on updating my Iphoto and Photobucket.  But trust me when I say she is cute!  Since her last vet visit she gained over 3 lbs (Jan 29th)  the vet couldn't believe it! Reina is so much more healthier now than from when we first adopted her.

Well... it's time for me to do some house chores b4 the chaos hits when the kids arrive home..

TTYS!

Have a GREAT weekend!

I'm Getting the Swing of Things Again.....

My lack of blogging has left me feeling like an incompetent fool.  I have been trying for the past hour and a half to create a slideshow to post as a header. While for some it's an automatic thing to do, and at one time it was for me as well, I find myself creating error after error and getting frustrated, yet... I'm still determined.  I forgot how to read HTML which is BAD! I studied it once to create my very own website. In which I did and I was damn proud of myself!  At one time I could fly through codes and rewrite them to fit my needs.  Um.. not so much anymore.  The old saying "If you don't use it, you lose it".. well, that saying is true and I am proving it to myself day after day while revamping this ole' girl.

Right now tho, I am beaming.  But that wasn't the case about 5 minutes ago (or for the past hour plus).. I managed to upload the photo slideshow BUT I was disappointed.. it wasn't to my specifications.  I wanted it to be "just right".  Of course Photobucket and Blogger didn't offer exactly what I wanted.. so after looking at the HTML code for hmmm about 5 seconds.. I switched it up (while I was holding my breath, crossing my fingers AND toes while doing so) .. and VOILA.. it worked.  I swear I felt like I just climbed a mountain.. if Reina wasn't sleeping.. I would have jumped up out of my chair and did a full on Toyota moment  (that's giving away my age isn't it?).  But alas, I clapped like a crazy school girl, saying out loud all the while pointing the computer saying.. "Aha.. you SOB.. I did it"  in which then commenced into full song.." I did it, I did it" (you know.. when you start bopping up and down with your arms swinging from right to left) Yep.. I did THAT!

Now.. at this point and time, you are probably realizing I have done lost my mind.  I would conquer.  After having 3 children and a puppy recently added to the mix to contend with.. (and let's not forget the darling hubby) I have learned that if I don't become silly.. I'm just gonna cry or even possibly lose what is left of any sanity I had.  My kids look at me like I'm crazy half the time.. that's good tho.. I'll keep them guessing.. that way they are too scared to do anything that they are afraid I might go bat shit crazy on them for. It works to my advantage tho and once they get older they will understand. But for now... let them behave and have me in a good mood!

I am going to be spending more time uploading pics from my phone .. I always just save them onto Facebook.. it is inconvenient that I have 4 places I store photos.. my phone, iphoto, facebook and photobucket..it's going to be a job that is for sure! But one that I am anxiously awaiting to do.  I can't wait to see the finished product...

Okay.... now that I have spent most of the morning playing on Photobucket and posting my thoughts on it.. its time for me to eat. My stomach is rumbling and the coffee is just not doing the trick anymore.

Love & Light!

As Good As It's Gonna Get For Now...

Today the blog has a new face.. not sure if I'm 100% satisfied, but it will have to do for now.

My next step:  to create a catch up photo collage.

I will be working on that sometime this week.  I literally have thousands of pictures to go through.

Well, now I'm off to the library, the books I have requested are now in.

Toodles!

I'm Back!!!!  ... Hopefully on a weekly basis. I may even get lucky and I'll find the time and or inspiration to post more frequently. I have missed blogging. I wasn't in it for glory, fame or to be rated on how popular my life is.  It was simply a journal, like the one I wrote in when I was a younger girl. A place where I would write down my thoughts, my fears, my hopes, my aspirations and my joys... BUT this is unlike the journals I kept as a young teen.. THIS journal I welcomed my family to read, to share in and to partake in our lives from across the miles.

Family is VERY important to me...  I seem like a stranger to most of them now.. it's been so many years in which we have been apart.  My heart aches for those Sunday family dinners,  birthday parties, picnics in the park, Halloween parties, Christmas mornings and just those days that after an amazing dinner you take a short nap on your mother's couch. It really doesn't get anymore peaceful than that.   So many family traditions in which we began with our children are now just bittersweet memories.  Every holiday is spent, with just the 5 of us and while we are enjoying the day, we have a void.. and let me tell you.. it sucks!

BUT ANYWAY... I didn't want to revamp this blog on a soggy, sad, or boo hoo kind of note... that is NOT my intention. It gives you a perspective as to why I am taking charge of it again.  I simply miss my family sharing in our lives. Period.  I miss my creative writing outlet.  Even if it is just about my life.. I miss writing about it.

I would love to catch up with a collage of pictures of what has happened in the past 3 years in which I have not shared our lives.  Pictures are somewhat self explanatory right? BUT... one thing.. I have forgotten how to post pictures on the blog.  I am going to have to relearn the blog workings even if it kills me.  First off, I am off to change my template.  Since we have started a new life, a rebirth in many aspects of our lives, I find it only fitting to revamp the blog to suit us now. So with that being said.. I'm off to give this ole girl a new coat of paint and I'll be back to begin the photo collage.

Au Revoir!

It's been years! So much has happened in the 3+ years since I have posted. We are now living in Louisiana and experiencing the Big Easy and Jazz... it is simply wonderful.

I am excited to get back to blogging, to share my experiences, my family, my crafts and my business, Let It Shine Design.

I look forward to posting in the next day or two!

A Year Has Passed (Almost!)...

WOW! Where has the time gone?  It's here on minute and then POOF gone the next...  SOOOO much has happened within the time frame of my last post.

We have celebrated a years worth of holidays, birthdays and anniversaries.

I will do my best to take the time to continue my posting.  I miss it, but time has not allowed for much "free mommy time".

Today.. I will try to "catch up with the lost year" in a few pics and short explanations...

Christmas in Florida 2007. Our 1st Florida Christmas and we missed the cold and snow.  Seeing Palm Trees decorated was a strange site, but definately cool to see!

Emmie's 2nd B-day!!

Easter 2008! 

Emmie at Giovanni's Party Oct 30th waiting for some cake!
















Willie, Carina and the kiddos!

Guga and Nono at Nan's house Aug. 2008.

Armando's 9th B-day (yes.. sorry.. totally out of the sync.. April 2008)  His birthday cake was a YUMMY sweet milk cake Tia made for him... I can still taste the yummy goodness of it!

Giovanni's 8th B-day (2008)

The boys in Jan 2008 at the Cub Scouts Regatta Race... Our boys made awesome boats and had a GREAT time!

that's it for now folks... I will update more later... Enjoy the teaser!

Hugz & Luv!

=) Kristina

Original Thoughts....

Just a little thought.... about Original Thoughts...

they are priceless, they are worthy of the person who originally thought them, they are created by an education, by life experiences, by opening the doors of perception, but they are original, and they rightfully belong to the original thought owner.

To take them and even twist them is still none the less, plagerism, copyright infringement and STEALING!!!

These also.. these original thoughts, can absolutely be mandated by the original thought owner who can seek legal action to cease and assist the plagerism/copyright infringement.

So, if one does not have the said above skills or experiences, then one should not be writing at all. If they wish to borrow the words, then as well as all copyrighted material must get prior permission.. or with plagerism.. give credit to the original thought owner.

But stealing these original thoughts of others, stealing their words and stealing formats IS AGAINST THE LAW!

PLAIN AND SIMPLE!

THE TIMES THEY ARE A'CHANGING!

My Emmie is getting big...so very big everyday. She is no longer a baby, but has entered into the world of toddlerhood. Emmie is the big "1"! She is walking, talking, whispering, singing, clapping and just a joy!

She looks up at me, with her toothy smile and sparkling eyes and I am lost in a sea of emotion. She manages to melt my heart each and every time. It's like falling in love over and over again. I am so very lucky!

Emmie's Party was quaint and only family. We haven't made a ton of friends up here yet, b/c it is just tooooo cold to go out much.


Armando and Giovanni are getting bigger everyday so it seems. One day clothes fit, the next they don't.

The shirts that they are wearing are from when I taught arts n crafts at the boys school. One day I taught beading, another class was tie dyeing, then soap making and then foam craft. We had a really fun time!

Here is a pic of them with their Emmie. They are forever the devoted brothers.

My business has really kept me busy, that is reason why I haven't kept up my posts. I am forever ordering, finding vendors, cutting, designing and still fulfilling the role of wife, home maker and mama.

I am trying to be the best at it all, but sometimes I fail and the laundry pile wins! Mt. Washmore is what I have learned to lovingly call it. It grows and grows and as soon as it disappears it reappears faster!

I have opened what is called a HYENA CART. It is a web site that allows shopping advantages. I have given up the lovinbundles.com and picadilydaisy.com and have combined it to: www.hyenacart.com/lovinbundles I will be featuring left overs from my main group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lovinbundles and making accessories like this:

The purple bag I made for my niece Daniella for Easter. I think it turned out super cute. The pink purse I made for Emmie and put a rubber ducky in it as her Easter Purse. I really enjoy making these little purses and I will continue to make them to sell. I actually have FUN doing them.

I have also found enjoyment in making cotton crochet washclothes, thanks to my mom. I find myself whipping them up in a matter of an hour and a half. I am stocking up on them to put up to sell also. I have big plans for myself, if only I could find the time.

I must go and pick the boys up from school.

Big Hugz to all.
{{{}}} =)Kristina

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all the other great holidays that I have missed since I haven't written.

I have been very busy chasing after a very active 10 month old. (Yes, My baby Emmie is now 10 months!) and my business is really starting to flow nicely. You have to check out my store. It is still under construction, but is coming together. I am NOT a graphic web page designer, so my first attempts aren't so shabby. Not only have I registered for my DBA for the town, but I have also made it official with Uncle Sam.. yep.. a real, true EIN! Now, I have to file quarterly taxes and all the lovely legalities of owning a small entity. But being my own boss, buying these awesome products and practicing parenthood by proxy (thanks dr. schlessinger!), is very important to me. And I know that the future will only hold the best for us.

Here is Emmie opening up one of her gifts at home. We had a very long day, we were in NYC for X-mas eve and had X-mas morning there and this was later on in the afternoon.. We were all tired!
I honestly think that more paper went in her mouth than on the floor! She was the garbage disposal of her gifts! I was getting more paper out of her mouth then she was playing with her toys!







In the pic below: Armando, Giovanni and Emmie in front of our Christmas tree before all of the commotion started! Trust me.... the floors weren't this clean AFTER the gifts were opened!

I rang in the New Year flat on my back with a severe cold with
flu like symptoms. I was one sick puppy, but this year thus far has been GREAT! So hopefully I left all the bad kharma in 2006!
I am now prepared to continue keeping this blog up to date. I never imagined that my friends and family actually read it. It's kind of like looking into the proverbial fish bowl.. with permission! After all, I am sharing my life on the internet!
We are still in the process of selling our home in NY and looking for a home here in MA. We love our little town and are trying our best to stay in it. The boys love the school and I don't want to uproot them again to change schools. So.. our seed has been planted.. now all we have to do is take root in a home of our own.
Well, unto later.. I must go and tend to "little me"..
Hugz, =)Kristina

IT'S OFFICIAL...I'M A DBA!!

Yesterday I went to the town hall and registered my business! I am sooo psyched! I finally feel as if I am beginning to accomplish something with my SAHM time. I have know officially entered the WAHM world and am looking forward to it. I began a small co-op selling fabrics and sewing notions: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lovinbundles .. I then acquired two domain names..1 for my overall business.. www.lovinbundles.com and one just for the diapers... www.picadilydiapers.com
The web pages are still a work in progress. I registered for my library card and took out web design and web page design books. I didn't realize just how comfusing a computer really is. It's a completely different language. Thank God for... Web Pages for Dummies or I truly would be lost!

Emmie is now 8 months old, she's pulling herself up to stand, she's talking and just soo active. Her personality is really starting to show through and she is just wondrerful. I am truly blessed to have such beautiful children. I love them all the same amount, but my love them all differently. Armando has a sense of humor, he's athletic and can design and build stuff out of lego that would blow your mind. Giovanni is my quiet scholar, nothing gets past him, he's right on que. Emmie, well, she's my lil angel. She's happy, she smiles and I just get lost in her eyes.

I'm out of time for now. I have to take the boys to the bus stop.

Keep Warm and God BLess!
Hoping that you have a Thanksgiving full of laughter,happiness and treasured family memories.
Love,
K

True and Sad...

"Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?". This was a quote from an email I received from a dear friend. It is a true and all so sad fact! Take the Bible out of school and the prisons are full, that's what they say! Children today just aren't taught right from wrong, the ten commandments, or salvation. For the most part, children today are without any sense of religion .. they are lost, wondering souls, trying to find their place in the world. And unfortunately many find the wrong path and go down a very sad road. Which becomes a vicious cycle.

I will get off of my soap box now. Not that I am preaching anything, but think about how our society and government has declined without morality, respect and just plain old humanity. If your not corrupt in one shape, way or form than politics is NOT the career for you.

I am very disturbed by the recent events (I am meaning in the last 5 years or so)in politics, especially since the political race for senate has been up and running. I know that the polls are closed now, but PLEASE people, can we at least show some sort of POSITIVE influence to the children? All of this mud-slinging and back stabbing.... get a LIFE! If you want to prove something to someone.. go build a shelter, donate $ to the local schools or library, redefine the child foster and adoptive programs, follow up on abuse, donate computers to schools, offer more funding to lower economic societies. Make a difference in the area in which you want to represent. Don't just start your mud slinging to make your self look good. Do something good, show us "the People" what you plan to do. Talk is talk.. walk the walk if you want to make a difference and prove that you are worthy to represent me as my voice to the top governement. Listen to "the People", Hear what we are saying. Our children are OUR future. Our children are YOUR future. If we leave them uneducated, homeless and without proper care in today's society then they will be Tomorrow's decline.

Okay... now that I've gotten my blood pressure to curdleing..and my soap box is begging for me to step down....I am ending this rant of mine to take care of my lil lady which is in dire need of some mommy love. Her top right tooth is cutting and my lil ladybug is MISERABLE.

Hugs to all.... (this is strictly my opinions and not meant to offend anyone...just take it with a grain of salt....... and love me anyway! :) )

SAND & STONE :

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING

THROUGH THE DESERT.

DURING SOME POINT OF THE

JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN

ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND

SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE

IN THE FACE.



THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED

WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT

SAYING ANYTHING,

WROTE IN THE SAND:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.



THEY KEPT ON WALKING,

UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,

WHERE THEY DECIDED

TO TAKE A BATH


THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN

SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE

MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING,

BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.



AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM

THE NEAR DROWNING,

HE WROTE ON A STONE:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SAVED MY LIFE.


THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED

AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND

ASKED HIM, "AFTER I HURT YOU,

YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,

YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?"


THE FRIEND REPLIED

"WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US

WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN

IN SAND WHERE WINDS OF

FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES

SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,

WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE

WHERE NO WIND

CAN EVER ERASE IT."



LEARN TO WRITE

YOUR HURTS IN

THE SAND AND TO

CARVE YOUR

BENEFITS IN STONE.



THEY SAY IT TAKES A

MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL

PERSON, AN HOUR TO

APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY

TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN

AN ENTIRE LIFE

TO FORGET THEM.

Take time to live!!!

A "Spooktacular" Revelation

We have been in MA now for a little over a week and all I can say is .... I'm loving it thus far!

The boys first day of school went well.... we lost Armando for a time being, but found him in the cafeteria surrounded by a table full of girls eating breakfast..... by the time I found him I was sooo outraged and scared that all I could do was start laughing (outloud I might add) at the relief of finding him and looking at the situation from an outside point of view. I mean ...this was raw comedy at it's best.... "picture this"..here he is.. the only boy, at a table full of girls, his faced smeared with cream cheese and what looks like a drop of chocolate milk on his shirt and saying.."I'm eating breakfast with my friends"... this was his FIRST day of school!!!! Well, that's my Armando... the social butterfly.

Giovanni's first day of school was his 6th birthday and the teacher had a special treat for him.. all the children in his class made him a birthday folder... it really is something cute. All the children drew pictures of what they would like to wish Giovanni for his birthday. It was a great night time read! I also took in cupcakes to share with all of his classmates.

Emilia.... this little lady... well there isn't any stopping her! She is crawling, pulling herself up to a standing position and taking a few steps. She is teething her 3rd tooth, trust me.. this poor angel is really feeling it.. and is just leaving drool around the house like a snail leaves an ooze trail! Everything she touches goes into her mouth.. she is even trying to eat the dog's nose.. and NINI just stands there and lets her....

To get to my "Spooktacular" Revelation. The reason the post is called this is because of the revelation I had on Halloween. It isn't scary, twisted or even Spooky... I just liked the sound of it. Here's the story and my revelation:

Trick or treating began at 5:30. Armando wanted to wear his old Karate uniform, Giovanni was a lion and Emmi was a ladybug. We shuffled the kids out of the house.. down the street and found the first house decorated and with the outside lights on. First house... we proceed to ring the bell... trick or treat?... treat...yippee! It started out that it was just the 5 of us... then we heard what sounded like a whole village behind us... sure enough.. the approaching children started yelling to the boys and now we are engulfed in the "swarm"... the sounds of little footsteps ..."trick or treat" and giggles are all that is heard in the still air. The Moon is 3/4 full and the sky is slightly cloudy. Parents approach my husband and I and they introduce themselves and welcome us to the community. The parents are already familiar with my boys... "the new kids". We apparently are already famous!. One of the mothers asked.. "Have you been to the Dr and Mrs Whitman's house yet?" I replied no...she said you have to go..I replied, "we will, thanks"..so... as we continue to walk.. the parents swarmed.... walking slowly..all of the while the kids are running ahead..from house to house...it was then..that I had the complete feeling of "exhale-ing"..I turned to my husband..and put my arm around his shoulder while he is pushing our "ladybug" in the stroller.. and said "this is what people dream about"..."this is the american dream".. short of the white picket fence... this was the dream! Older looking colonial homes on a tree lined street, with neighbors and children outside playing... laughter in the air.... we caught it... it is in our grasp.... the vision that so many seek, so many long for, it is here for us now! vAt that moment.. sheer and utter peace! I haven't felt that content, (well not since March 17th anyway), that soulfull, that blessed, that at ease in quite a long time. The weeks of packing, of possibly being jobless, the moving, the traveling from state to state.. it really was taking a toll on my emotional and mental state w/o my real knowledge. But it was there.. at that moment.. on Halloween that I realized...Yes.. this is what life SHOULD be... this is what my life IS... this is what I will SAVOR..this is what I will remember......

And for one splitting moment.. I thought... But could this really be perfection? am I still in the honeymoon phase?... well maybe... but I am being skeptical and even though I know that every silver lining has a touch of grey.. I am going to keep my belief that this is a little slice of heaven.... one which I will devour slowly and enjoy every little morsel of. I will continue to live in my bubble.. b/c who knows when I will ever find this kind of exhale-ing moment...

oh and after trick or treating: we went the the good Doctor's and Mrs' house.... and here it was... a garage decorated to the hilt while the Dr. and Ms. Betty were serving apple cider and sweets.. neighbors talking about the football season, how each child was doing in school, the who of who's are there, it was like one big family! .. this is small town living at it's best.... this was nothing short of a Norman Rockwell painting.. a Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tale... and....If this was only Halloween then I know that without a doubt.. I'm sure that Charles Dickens will be around for Christmas!