Maddies First Birthday

Celebrated Maddies first birthday today at the beach. 

How cute is this kid!!!  She will be 1 on the 4th of May.  Already walking and with a little personality of her own.

My nieces, grand daughter and grand-nephew!!  Lord that makes me feel old.

Kaitlynn and Vince.  Vince is my niece Melissa's baby boy.  He is such a little man!!!  

I have no idea why she does this but she has been doing it for months now!!

It seems like every picture I have of Kristina, Derrick and the girls are exactly the same!

Kristina bought her a mini cake to destroy. She also got one for Kaitlynn at her first birthday party, but Katilynn didnt like being dirty. As you can see, Maddie does not have an issue with it!!!!

Maddie and her godfather Eric.  I really love Eric.  I am so glad that he will be her godfather.

My little "cherub".  

Tio Charlie and Maddie.

A doting Abuelo and Maddie.

I can't believe Maddie is already a year old!  And think about it.... my THIRD grand child is due in just 5 1/2 months!!  I really hope Kristina figured out how this happens!

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Beautiful Pictures

The other day, I was driving back to the Keys from Miami.  The weather in Miami was horrible.  Torrential rains and lightening made traffic (which is horrible in GOOD weather) a total nightmare.

The turnpike takes me straight into the Keys from Miami.  As I was approaching the stretch (the road that connects the Keys to the mainland), it was like heaven was opening up for me!!!

I took these pictures on my iPhone while I was driving.  Aren't they the greatest?  I LOVE these pictures!

Thank you!

For your emails asking about my mom. Unfortunately she does not seem to be getting any better but we are hoping its just too soon.

We transferred her to a wonderful rehab center yesterday.

One day at a time.




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PS: Have APP will travel!

Weight Watchers is now an app on my iPhone.  Lord have mercy!  There is an app for every damned thing!

Getting started

Okay, I am not one to procrastinate once I have made a decision so I have just joined Weight Watchers Online.  Thanks Pat for the advice!

I have taken a little "tour" around the site and am clueless about any of it but I will figure it out once I've had some sleep.

I will be creating a journal this weekend to keep track of all this.  I think that the entire exercise is much more psychological than anything else and I find it interesting.

I have never failed at any of the goals I've set for myself.  This one should not be any different but when you really sit down and think about it - beyond the aesthetics of losing weight - it really is a no brainer for many reasons.

So let's see what happens.  I am looking for some old pictures of when I was anorexic.  Not very attractive at all.  And then some new ones where I am overweight - also not very attractive at all... I will post them both and put them in my journal.  The goal is to be somewhere in between?  Maybe.  If nothing else it will be an insightful journey!

GOTTA LOVE THIS KID

Since I am on this subject with some of my friends I figured I would share a little Kaitlynn story with you (my 4 year old (going on 15) grand daughter).

The other day Katilynn calls me on the phone and we have this conversation:

K:    Hi Abuela.
Me:  Hi Princess.
K:  Abuela can I ask you a question?
Me:  Sure baby.
K:  What is a fucker?
Me:  EXCUSE me!!????
K:  What is a fucker?

(I now hear my daughter Kristina cracking up in the background.  She is laughing so hard she can barely talk and she yells "Little Faulkers" (the movie!).

K:  Yes, Abuela, what is a little fucker?
Me:  A bratty little kid like your mom!

(Kaitlynn repeats this to her mother who was probably on the floor laughing at this point).  Kaitlynn comes back to the phone very serious and whispers:

K:  Abuela, I really don't know why my mommy thinks that is so funny.

Gotta love it!

On Turning 50

Okay, when you sit in a hospital for days on end you have lots of time to think.

About a lot of things.

One of those things is that I am now 50 years old.  Have been since December.  Not really happy about it.  Okay, the alternative would be worse - dying at 49 - but it still doesn't make 50 look any more attractive.

But there you have it.  I am 50.  Nothing can be done about that.

So, having accepted that, it seems that I should at least do something significant in my 50th year.  Something with some depth - some... how would you say it????  UMPHHHH.

As I have told you guys before, I have a very short bucket list.  I have very few regrets and that is great.

But there is something that has been bothering me A LOT lately.  I am 45 pounds overweight.  I am quite unhappy about that.  I am uncomfortable with the extra weight.  It doesn't FEEL right.  And I also hate the way it looks.

I am a firm believer in choices.  We all have them.  There are certain things in our life that we can't change no matter how unhappy we are about them.  I would LOVE to have been taller, naturally blond and to have had my dad's blue yes.  Not in the cards for me!  I am 5 feet tall, I can't even remember what my real hair color was (although now it is completely silver) and my eyes are brown.   Can't do anything about that.

But my weight?  Yeah, definitely something I can do.  I don't exercise AT ALL.  I eat totally unhealthy food - and, being Cuban - eat dinner at 10:00.  So.... if the weight is making me unhappy it is nobody's fault but mine.

Again - choices.  I can either be unhappy about it or change it. I am choosing to change it.  I have to be careful how I do it since I was anorexic for years in my 20s and really REALLY don't want to go through that again.  Very easy to become obsessed with weight.  But I am a much stronger person than I was at 25 so that excuse isn't going to fly either.

I am going to start a new journal - no idea what I will call it yet - but it will be solely about this new adventure.

Writing has always been therapeutic for me but on top of that, writing things makes you accountable.  Really.  It does.  Even if it's to no one else than yourself.

I went to the doctor recently and he weighed me (I HATE when he does that!).  I weigh 168 pounds.  My weight should be 130.  I have decided to lose 45 pounds instead of 38 to be on the safe side and just because I like the number!

I don't own a scale and I will not buy one.  Those things can make you nuts!  No, I will start my journal this weekend when I have some free time and I will weigh myself on the 1st of each month.

I have no idea HOW to "eat healthy".  Never had to.  I've gained this weight due to cortizone which I no longer need (hallelujah).  But I am sure it can't be that difficult!  It's just very sad to think that everything you really like is probably fattening and unhealthy!

The biggest thing is probably the exercising huh?  That means giving up some of the little bit of time I have for my art but so be it.  I have a brand new Bowflex treadmill which has yet to be connected into the electricity so that part is easy.

I will take the time to educate myself a little on nutrition (remember I am CUBAN - "nutritional" food in my household was always cuban bread soaked in condensed milk; white rice cooked with pork lard and fried EVERYTHING.)

I will keep a life change art journal.  I do not want to call it a "weight loss" art journal because the idea is not to only to lose the weight, but to keep it off by learning healthier habits.  (Geeez!  That sounds so damned boring!).

Anyway, a new adventure!

So here is the deal

The surgery went well. Successful I think is the word they used.

I slep two hours last night and am running on adrenaline. My mom seems fine... Very well actually ... Until she starts speaking.

Ready? A taste of my day... "Why did you bring me here?".
"Bring you where mom?".

 "To this place.".

"You are in a hospital mom.".

"In a hospital? This is not a hospital. Do you think I am stupid?"

So, I explain to her - for the 100th time... You had surgery... You are fine.. Everything came out great."

I even let her feel the bandage.

Not having it. Any of it.

"Why have you done this to me? I have always loved you?!".

Yep, now I am the one that caused her head injury!

Hates me... Will never forgive me...

She has calmed down this evening, I thought the craziness had passed. Not even close.

Our last little chit chat?

 "How did they choose you?".
"How did WHO choose me mom?'.
"Well, there are tons of women that work in this hospital... How did they choose you to take care of me?".
"Nobody chose me mom. I am here because I am your daughter."

She gives me this little chuckle... "Yeah. Right!"

Its going to be a long night. The nurses assure me that this is just the anesthetic and that it will wear off.

In the words of my mother...  Yeah. Right!!


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Happy Easter Everyone

Just wanted to wish you all a happy Easter.  Tomorrow my family and I will spend the day together, brunch and swimming in the pool - to hot to do anything but lounge around in water!

My mother is having surgery on Monday morning.  They are going to put a shunt into her brain to drain the liquid that is accumulating in her brain and causing her to lose her motor functions.  It's scary.  She is 75 years old, she has a kidney transplant and her health has been deteriorating for the past year and a half.

I have faith that the surgery will be successful and that she will improve after this shunt is put into her brain.  Prayers have worked miracles with my son.  I have faith it will help my mom too.

THERE ARE SOME REAL CRAZIES OUT THERE!!!

I just read this post on Teresa Collins' blog.  What a NUT JOB!!!  She sounds like one of those freaks in the movies on Lifetime!!!  Holy cow!! This b**** needs some serious meds!

If I were Teresa Collins, I'd be spooked.  There is no way that woman is playing with a full deck!

JUST CONFIRMING WHAT I ALWAYS KNEW

Enjoy!! 




  

11 PEOPLE ... ON A ROPE 

Eleven people were hanging on a rope, under a helicopter.

10 men and 1 woman.
The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave,
because otherwise they were all going to fall.
They weren't able to choose that person, until the woman gave a very touching speech.

She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman, she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids or for men in general, and was always making sacrifices with little in return.

As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping . . .. . . 

SIMPLY TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE!!!

TO HAVE THIS PATIENCE!!!!

This incredible woman makes these works of art with nothing but a sheet of paper and a blade!!!  I would NEVER have the patience for that!!!

THE ROYAL WEDDING

This video is too much fun not to share!

PS

Charlie is still doing WONDERFUL!  Still loves his job - still clean... The power of prayer... it's just amazing. Thank you so very much for asking about him.

Will post some pictures of him soon!

MY GIRLS ARE GETTING SO BIG!

My grand daughters are getting so big!  I can not believe that Kaitlynn is 4 already and Maddie will be a year old May 4th.  And, and did I tell you???  Kristina is 3 months pregnant!  Yep! I guess she didn't figure out how it happened the last two times!  It would be great if this time it were a boy but, honestly, I think 3 girls is awesome too.

These pictures were taken yesterday.

TRUE STORY

I have been hunting down a set of stamps by Donna Downey called She Says and it has been discontinued.

Went searching EVERYWHERE on the internet and NADA.  So I wrote to Bill Downey (Donna's husband) who is ultra cool and I say ... hey,  I WANT these!!!  He has none and yes, they have been discontinued.  Does that deter me?? Of course not!

Two weeks later (or this past Saturday) he sends me an email and says that Two Peas in a Bucket has 4 sets left.  I whip out my iPhone to immediately order them (as I drive because God forbid I should wait to get home to do this) and my phone freezes every damn time I try to check out.

So I call  my dear friend Jacquie - I was going to ask her to get on line and order them for me but she doesn't answer her cell.

So I call my daughter Kristina - she immediately proceeds to tell me that I have issues and that no, she is not home.  So now I call Leonor (my youngest daughter) who totally GETS me and orders them for me online.

So now (an hour later) Jacquie calls me... "You okay???  You called twice." (I don't normally do that).  So I proceed to tell her I had been having a panic attack but that my daughter took care of my "fix".  I told her about the stamps and why I absolutely HAD to have them.

Sunday we had a surprise party for her 50th birthday!  Oh, sorry Jacquie... her 40th birthday!  (Wink!!) Which was GREAT by the way!!! She was totally surprised and more than that - happy!

So Jacquie says to me... I think I have become Tracy (my sweet friend from Washington who absolutely can not handle me having something she does not have).

"Huh????" (Mind you, this is in the middle of her party).  "Yep, I pulled a Tracy.  When you called me yesterday and told me about that stamp set and that it had been discontinued I immediately whipped out my iPhone and Ordered them!!!  You can't have something i don't have!! Especially something that is discontinued!".

"Jacquie... honey... did you even LOOK at the set before you bought it?  Do you even know if you LIKE them?"

"No", she says, "too small on my phone.  Just figured if you had it, then I have to have it too".

TRUE STORY.

WE ALL NEED HELP!!!

I AM SUCH AN ADDICT!!!!!

I couldn't resist.  Went and bought both Texture Town AND Pixels and Paint!!!  Couldn't help it!!! They both look so damned awesome!!!

Come on - don't let me be an addict alone!!!  Join me!

JULIE PRITCHARD and CHRIS COZEN

If you guys have not taken their online classes you really HAVE TO!!  Julie is fun and easy going and Chris is the nicest lady you could imagine!  She has two books (I am not at home right now so can't remember the exact titles) which are like my BIBLES for color and for transfers.  One day I sent her an email with a question and she wrote me back immediately with advice!! Gotta love that!

There are tons of classes available on Julie's site LAND OF THE LOST LUGGAGE.  I have bought ALL of them except for two, Pixels and Paint and Texture Town which is their last one.  My favorite?????  Probably Super Nova 1 and 2 with Calm and Chaos a close second.  Every single one of these classes are full of videos, PDFs and the best part???? You go at your own pace and they are there for life!!!  Or pretty damn close to it!

Anyway, Julie is having this FANTASTIC giveaway!!!  If you buy a class, you get entered into a random drawing - if you win you get ALL their classes (including all future ones) for FREE!!!  How awesome would THAT be!!!

Her's her video:



FREE CLASSES FOR LIFE!!!  WOO HOO!!!  Way to go Julie!!!!

STREET TEAM

I absolutely LOVE this site.  Michelle Ward's Street Team.  Every month she has these GREAT challenges.  I have been meaning to start doing them for MONTHS now!  I am definitely starting it in April (oops!  it IS April)!  Okay, I am definitely doing it this month.

This month challenge is:

If you go to her blog Michelle gives you some great ideas on this journaling prompt.  She is one of the most generous people I have ever seen!  Even gives you a collage sheet of tags you can use!

So come on and TAKE THE CHALLENGE!!!

(Challenge 50!!!!  I wonder if I could ever find the time to go backwards and do them all!!  God I would love to do that.... let's see if I can do THIS one and then I will take it from there!)

Join me on the Street Team!!  We will encourage each other to do this!