{Three things thursday}: things you hate to eat

I am linking up for the first time with Myranda and Kristyn for Three Things Thursday!

It's a little fun activity to particate in! even the smallest of facts about ourselves is cool to find out!

So this week's theme is: 3 things you hate to eat!

Oh wow, there's quite a few, but I'll keep it to three.

1. Peas. Eckkk! I can't stand the way they taste nor the texture. I have a thing with weird textures, just like soggy bread!  I might be able to eat peas if they are mixed in lightly with say, rice. But other than that..nope!

2. cow's tongue. Yeh, I know that sounds extremely gross and it is (to me!) In Mexican culture (as I've found) some people really love cow tongue tacos!! Omg..I cannot do it. I've tried a bite of it and So chewy and I keep imagining elsie's face! lol. side note: there was this little dinky mexican food place diagnol to my junior high and they were famous for these kinds of tacos!

3. salsbury steak tv dinner. gleehh! (that's my vomiting noise). SO distusting! The meat itself looks weird and then again, the texture! Kinda rubbery with like no flavor! Not even adding salt or pepper will help this fellow!

So there you have it. my top 3 things that popped in my mind first that I can't stand to eat!!!

What is your least favorite food!? come join the partay ! Maybe i'll see ya there! :)

crazy about crazy love

You guys, I started reading a new book over the weekend that is punching me in the guts and making me stop in my tracks to examine my heart.

The book is called, Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

Earlier this year, this book was added to my list of books to eventually read!

Now, when you hear or in this case, read the title, Crazy Love what comes to mind? 
A. a wild romance
B. dating relationship gone wrong
C. a parent's love for their child/children

It's neither of the above but almost close to option C.

It's about God's immense love for us, his children and how he wants us to love him with all our heart, soul & mind. ((matt 22:37-38))

Me & my bff C decided to read it together. She has it on audio I believe. We both have read through chapter 5 (as of last night). It's insane! I love that we are reading this together to help keep each other accountable (something I am not good at alone!) and to spiritually grow with God's help, his grace.

Some people, even Christians may call the ideals in this book, radical, but Chan writes that God wants, deserves and demands our best. Not drawing near to God out of guilt, but out of genuine love.

From the back of the book, I quote, "Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working  harder at a list of do's and dont's-it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."

WOW!

I've taken some notes from the chapters I've read so far. There is so much to digest. There is so much more I could share. I'll probably pick back up on chapter six tomorrow night.

In one of the chapters, we are reminded from Luke 18:27, "what is impossible with man is possible with God." Amen, right!?

Gosh, I LOVE that! Through God, all things that seem hopeless in our life don't have to be that way. With God, there IS hope, possibilities and opportunities!

Have you heard of Crazy Love? Have you read it or are you reading it? 

What do you think about it?

p.s. if you haven't, check out the current giveaway! :)

two beauty products review

Happy Weekend friends!!

I am about to head out this afternoon with one of my besties for a little girlfriend time!

Below is a video review of two beauty products that I've recently tried: an eyeshadow palette by hard candy and neutrogena moisturizer with spf 15.

I am all about preventing skin cancer, so I love finding & using products with a built-in sunscreen. I want a higher spf though specifically for my sensitive face!

Watch if you'd like and since it's Memorial Day weekend, use code SUMMER for 15% off all ad spots! whooohoo! good til Tuesday May 28th! 

life lately & {giveaway}

Hello Lovelies!!

It's friday and the start of the Memorial Weekend! Any special plans?

I'd like to thank the women & men who serve our country as well as their families who hold down their homefronts and support them!

Tomorrow one of my besties is coming over! Can't wait to catch up with C, my twin.
Then monday, my mama is coming over & we're heading to the mall (shopping may be involved) to def check out this new coffee shop that isn't starbucks! (Gasp!) I know...i am betraying my beloved starbucks but i am fond of independent coffee shops as well! lol I absolutely love spending time with my mom.

So yeh, I've slacked this week with blogging. I haven't been sleeping well: waking up with weird dreams, waking up with anxiety & that preventing me from going back to sleep, or stuff w/my lungs.

I've been so tired and the past couple days have been pretty slow meaning I've been slow as a turtle lol.

Here are a few scenes from my lazy days lately:

chopping veggies for yummy salad

took me only 50 minutes to do! haha

 coloring & drawing with a little help from washi tape, with my little friend P.

nothin like seeing the wonder & imagination through a child's eyes

 awake @6:24 AM early breathing treatment

 starbucks/grocery mini-run

And we're gonna have a little giveaway that is approximately worth $45!
Starting today we'll celebrate all kinds of good,fun happenings that go on in May and June!

*Memorial Day weekend-remembering & honoring our military and sales galore-you know it!
*Birthdays (my little sister's, friends, cousins, stepmom)
*happy birthday sister J! i love you & hope you have a lovely dinner & fun time next weekend w/yo friends!*
*Graduations (most significantly paco from grad school! i'm so proud of him!)
*Summer Vacations begin because SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMA! Oh Alice!
And because I love you, my dear reader!! :)

To get excited for summer, I am giving away some of my favorite things to one lucky ducky!
This little package contains items to enhance your natural beauty & help you relax poolside, in the mountains or on the beach:

Book: The watchmaker's daughter by Sonia Taitz (loved the book. Holocaust related.)
Coffee/tea/choco chip frap?: $10 Starbucks giftcard
Fave eyeliner: Almay liquid eyeliner in black (it's smudge-proof! perfect to withstand the heat!)
Eyeshadow: Ulta baked eyeshadow in Covet
Lip stuff: C.O. Bigelow mentha liptint in magenta mint (a nice sheer, moisturizing lip color with )

Enter via rafflecopter below!
Make sure to read the rules regarding this sweepstakes in the widget.
U.S. residents only please. Sorry! Shipping is expensive!
All entries are optional.

Have an amazing three day weekend!! xoo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

love is prevalent

fragile.
how life truly is fragile.
even when people are injured, hearts broken, spirits tried, the love between humans is so prevalent.
I love that there really is more goodness in the world.

how could I not say something about recent events. even if I am here in AZ, i want to help. I wish I could travel easily and volunteer there, but
I can pray.

I am sure just about everyone has heard about the horrific tornadoes that swept across Oklahoma. I know of tornadoes, seen the destruction they do to communities whether on the news, in the movies or in photographs of a magazine, but for this one, this one that happened yesterday felt different to me.

Maybe because it dozed through a school that was filled with children.
Maybe it is because my old friend from junior high, Holly, and her family live in Moore. (they are safe!)
Maybe because of hearing some witnesses firsthand accounts; hearing the fear and worry in their voices.

Not much to say other than love wins. hope is present. help is on the way.
prayers and positive thoughts are sent toward you all Oklahoma and to those who have family & friends there.

my mind & heart is with you.

If you are interested in helping, even if you are states away from OK, grace of grace for gayle wrote a post today with some helpful info!

passion for fashion #1 & mini-view on beauty

Two purposes for today is share my passion for fashion and to address the topic of beauty. 

First, I am posting a fashion post on a friday because i want to..and because i felt motivated to really get dressed today and put some effort into my appearance. It's almost my first time linking up with Beth and Lena for Passion for Fashion Fridayyyy!! woot woot! a clap of hands all around everybody!

 I liked what Lena & Beth say that, "Fashion is for everyone. Whether you're single in the city or a stay at home mom from the country... we all have a passion for fashion!"

With fashion, we are most likely talking about the clothes, accessories, shoes we wear and that's great! What we decide to make or buy to wear is our choice and our choice alone. It's a choice that expresses our creativity, style, comfort and personality.

 I can't afford fancy, expensive designer brands, but might occasionally "splurge" on such brands IF i happen to see a good deal like a huge percentage of savings & free shipping or coupon codes! I am pretty content shopping clearance racks first then browsing around Target, Oldnavy, Ross, Forever21 or Walmart.

Everyone has a sense of fashion, their fashion and what they like. For me, when I get nicely dressed and put makeup on, I feel better and most of the time, feel beautiful. Let me take this moment to say that we are beautiful no matter what...you, me, us. Even if I don't feel like putting a stitch of makeup on and wear my capri yoga pants and a tee shirt, I am still beautiful.

I LOVE Ellie and her mission to empower women, young & old, by reminding them that self-love, self-respect and self-confidence makes you beautiful! Have you heard of Ellie? She's a wise beyond her years teenager who founded Speak Now.

We've all heard the cliche saying, "beauty counts more on the inside of a person." and to me, that is quite true. In my 30 years of existence, I've encountered more than a handful of people who were so beautiful on the exterior--what I thought they had perfect makeup, perfect hair, outfits so stylish and put together BUT their personalities and behaviors made them ugly. I actually felt bad for them.

It doesn't matter if you're a size 2 or size 22, each of us IS beautiful because we are loved SO much by our Creator! Our worth is not based on a number!! Our beauty speaks louder in the displays of kindness, love & service that we do. I am still learning to fully love myself despite being a size 18 jean with my budha belly as I call it lol. All I can do is live right now. Be in the now.

Sure, I do and can take baby steps toward being more healthy, just like with anything else, improvement takes times, but I can be present and embrace who I am now and still feel beautiful barefaced or dolled up intentionally. I will love myself today. Can't worry about tomorrow, nope. Though, i will then too :)

This is me today.

undershirt: downeast basics
shirt: ross
skirt: target
headband: gussy sews
earrings: gift

sisterhood of another kind

weird, right? Outfit of the day on thursday! haha yep..no rule following much around here this week and that's ok! Even my friend Sue backed me up on that and that it's ok to not feel obligated to do such and such...we don't need any added stress..just blog when, what, where and have fun!

So one thing i'd like to say is with blogging as I've learned is that sisterly bonds are formed between women who blog. One example, I can say that this is true and a wonderful result of blogging. I was fortunate to receive some suggestions and positive feedback from you about what color/type of shirt to wear with my orange rusted striped skirt. See, that's the next best thing to me stopping by your house & asking what should i wear with this? as we look in your closet to see if there's something that I could borrow. Granted we were the same size/s. :)

Most of you recommended a grey or navy blue solid shirt. which as you will see, I FINALLY got one: a navy blue slug baseball tee from the Gap. It arrived in the mail over a week ago that I happened to snag for around $9.

Here's my outfit of the day with the same skirt as last week where i paired it with a printed shirt.

girl needs to color her hair!

So back to the sisterhood thing. I am thankful to have a sister. I love my sister J! No doubt I love my brothers too, but there is a special bond among sisters. Even if you don't have a sister, there is sometimes a  sisterly bond with other women, your friends, co-workers, neighbors or bloggers!

Before this week, I was feeling sort-of blah. depressed. going about my life ho-hum. I sometimes feel stuck in a rut, same routine, same faces I see and voices I hear (not that that's bad), it's just I'm dying inside for some break-up of the monotony. I came across this quote somehwere while surfing online yesterday that said something like:

"set up your life so that you don't feel the need to escape it."

First thing that popped into my mind was: vacation.

That's how i view vacation. a time to get away from my regular life. a time to relax, be nearly stress-free, to enjoy nature and see sights that aren't part of my every-day, have fun & take a more than necessary amount of pictures!

Now, my life, situation and living dynamic is much different than the average person.  
Hello!! being on a ventilator and having limited mobility! haha, but it got me thinking that attitude plays a HUGE role in the overall happiness and peace of my life.

Introducing a phone conversation I had with my friend Val a couple nights ago just really made my week so far.

Talking with her for over an hour just filled my spirits with joy, thankfulness and appreciation for her being in my life. She helped me throw my negative nellie mindset in the dumpster! A couple months ago we re-connected after about 5-6 years (never stopping being friends), but again we just jumped in and picked up right where we left off. I see a theme here lately, reconnecting with dear friends & family. I should quickly note that I'll hopefully see my cousin Richard in early June. He lives in Connecticut and one of my fave persons ever! 

So Valerie and I talked & laughed about many different things and things that only women deal with. After my phone completely died while we were still talking, I became quite aware at how God has blessed me with having a close connection with Val. I seriously believe God gave & created the gift of sisterhood for us. Sisterhood helps us deal with issues,  share our troubles, laugh together at the ridiculousness of things, and gives us the ability to love, serve and learn from each other.

Val is not my sister by blood, but I certainly think of her as my sister. Younger she may be, yes, but she's a true sister in heart.

What I've re-learned this week that'll help me set-up my life for peace & happiness:

I clearly see that I do need close connections and heartfelt convos even if/when i don't feel like it.
I clearly see that I do need time to myself to write, read, pray, reflect.
I clearly see that I do need to keep an attitude of gratitude.
I clearly see that I do need to be creative in some way expressed daily in: makeup, what I choose to wear, crafting or writing. let me dream!

But i still want to go on vacation!! lol.

What about you? Do you have any sisters? Who do you consider a sister even if you aren't related? What's the best thing about your sisterly bond?

Shirt: the gap
Skirt: Target
Earrings: Oldnavy
Headband: F21
Eyeshadow/Hard Candy Palette: Walmart

DIY: painting a wooden birdhouse

I know today's Wednesday and I *usually do an outfit post, but really, I haven't gotten fully dressed since Sunday and haven't taken pics of my outfits so we'll go with a DIY project.

I know Mother's day was a few days ago, but I wanted to share the gift I made for my mom.

She hinted a few months ago that she'd like a bird house for her front yard. We were in one of the craft aisles at walmart then and we saw the pre-made wood birdhouses. She showed me two that she liked and I told her I'd paint her one for Mother's day.

Here's the bird house painting process I did.

Supplies:
Birdhouse ~ $5 @ walmart
Various acrylic paints ~ .60-.97 cents each @ walmart
Stencils, brushes, burlap type string and modpodge I already had 
staple gun & clear spray paint supplied by James

This was my first time painting a birdhouse and the whole process from this 1st pic to modpodgey-ing it took me about 3.5 hours (including letting one layer of paint dry.)
What can I say, I like to pay attention to detail lol.

le house

 le paint

not pictured is a rose colored pink

le stencils. I only ended up using the dragonfly one

getting ready 

 scotch tape to the rescue for a clean line at the base

 drew and traced a bird. flipped it over for the other side.

 

 added little hearts for a whismy feel

 

 mod podge this baby. I used matte. let dry overnight.

next day, James sprayed it with a clear spray paint to seal it even more from the elements.

He also staple gunned some burlap type string on three of the sides and braided & knotted with adding a key ring so my mama could hang it.

 

All done! This little house will surely add some color & cheer to my mama's front yard!

BTW, she loved it! yay! :)

and this is in no way a sponsored post.

happy list currently

what ya know!? it happens that this is the first day that I've joined Blog Every Day in May challenge, hosted by the creative genius Jenny at Story of My Life.

It makes me happy that I've jumped in today, even thought it's about half way over. Who cares, right?


Things that make me happy. 

1.Making others happy by sending notes, handmade cards or a thoughtful little gift.
2.Hot showers, no matter the season of the year.
3.Creatures. Seeing dogs or puppies and getting to pet them. A hummingbird or birdie hopping around the rose branches in front of my bedroom window. Horses. Goats and llamas.

4. catching up with old friends and spending time with family whenever I get to.
5. reading at night, cozy in my bed & quiet.
6. getting new notecards, stationery or postage stamps to feed the crazy need I have to write constantly to my penpals. I am currently wanting this set or these!
7.MUSIC! I love my collection ranging from singer-songwriter to country to pop to christian rock to a Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. (80's kid here!)

8. Taking photos.
9. scoring items or clothes for really cheap! I love to coupon, shop clearance and find the best deals.
10. chicken ceasar salad & coffee. starbucks at any time of the day, rain or shine, i love me some frapps.

11. (only supposed to be 10) but I really love sunshine, farms and mountains.

and just for kicks, I'll leave you with this tune that played in my head last night when I awoke from a weird dream. "Home Again" makes me smile. Thanks Michael Kiwanuka

newlyweds: A & E

A couple weekends ago, after six years, A & I saw each other. She and her husband E,were visiting from Florida. They are both brilliant in the accounting field. They wed in Hawaii last summer and moved shortly thereafter to Florida for their jobs.

I had never met E before, but heard good things about them since they started dating in 2008. From what I remember, A told me about E in 2007, when they had first met and were just friends.

A & I met in our early days of college. We quickly became best friends as I also befriended her sister W. A & I spent alot of time together because of our involvement with our college's honor society chapter PTK(Phi Theta Kappa): meetings, fundraisers, community service events, etc.

Us three ladies were always hanging out, meeting for lunch or shopping. Her & her sister used to pick me up together literally, into their little suv and then pick up my electric wheelchair into the back of their car. We'd crack up because they were skinny winny's but still had muscle!

I remember one time probably in 2005, as my health was declining, I wasn't feeling well enough to leave the house, so W & A brought me a salad from Wildflower, chocolate cake & some Godiva chocolate to celebrate my birthday. That is just ONE example of what good friends they were to me.

Ever since I met A, she has been such a bright light in my life. She'd call me flirt & all sorts of nicknames.

but after she graduated from college & well I got sick...and time passes and life happens.

We have kept in touch, but don't communicate as often as we did in college. but that's ok.

Seeing A&E and how happy they are together made me smile so much. I've missed A so much & felt so thankful that she & her hubby wubby had time to come see me.

I wasn't even nervous about seeing her or even meeting E for the first time.

I think that is a testimony to how well A & I click.

When E first walked in, he gave me a hug. He gave me a hug when they left too and by the time they left, I already knew that I considered E to be my friend too.

He says A is the princess of the house. I can tell how much he adores her. He is such a good, caring guy. A just beams with happiness.

They have such a cozy home, perfect for them! E showed me pics on the tablet. He also showed me photos of their two cute dogs, Lucky & Spock. I relate to Lucky because he has scoliosis too! Those babies are in good hands because A & E are wonderful pet parents to them & love to spoil them. A wrote me in an email one day last year they they feel that their dogs were sent to them to prepare them for children! haha

With them still being newlyweds, I asked A, what was the best thing about being married?

She replied, "just knowing that you always have someone there. someone on your side."

It was great catching up and just visiting. Three hours was not enough. The time went by so fast.

They brought me a gift. A pretty sparkly, pink Swarovski star keyring. it nearly matches my tattoo!

I wrote to A and told her thank you and that this keyring will hold the key to my future home with my husband, wherever & whenever that may be, or (maybe just my home?)

A & E's love story certainly inspires me.

 it is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid [silly] with them.

---Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love A & E and can't wait til they visit AZ again!

*silly (my words)