Feeling....

much better and more creative today! Hope you lovelies out there are doing the same. Short hello today cause I 've got no time to waste must get back to my ball and chain - the sewing machine that is....

what do you have planned for today? Hopefully it's something fun and just for you.

- just a thought.... and an old pic that always puts a smile on my face. Hope you smile too!

Ever have...

One of those days where you look all around you and everything is as it should be but you? Everyone is happy and healthy and you lack nothing and still you have no joy? Definitely one of those days today. Haven't been feeling well and can't seem to find out what's wrong but at least I'm still here. Pray for me.

- No thoughts.....just feelings

Now you know....

that I am a HUGE advocate of taking care of you. But how have you been taking care of the one you vowed to honor and cherish til' death? That's right Lovelies! This post is dedicated to the ones who make it possible for us to stay home and care for our little ones - The HUBBIES!

I stumbled upon this question just yesterday morning when I was thinking of the hubs as I woke up. I had been feeling neglected cause he was soooo busy with work, when it occurred to me....perhaps he was feeling the same way?? I really forced me to think about whether or not he was having the same feeling - it cer

tainly looked like it - as he has been withdrawn and was growing a beard long & thick enough for me to use as a tight rope. I began to think of how unattractive it was as well - DON"T LIE LADIES!!! You know when your husband isn't keeping things tight that it's hard to find them irresistible.

Anyhoo, I began to reflect on just how much I used to LOVE taking care of him. In the pursuit of taking care of me for change, I had long forgotten about him. The joy it gave me to know that he felt loved and appreciated - and let me be blunt ladies, it keeps things in the bedroom HOT! LOL! Nothing like showing your man a little bit of extra loving cause more than likely he'll be willing to shower some lovin' you've been looking for back on you. I mean it is in our nature to care for the ones we love - so why not them all the more?

We spent the evening together just chit chattin' while I shaved his head and trimmed his beard. I gave him a mini facial and then lubed him up with some coconut oil..... ok so I won't go there. Let's just say we had fun and I feel like we rekindled that fire that seemed to get a lil' low for a little bit. It was really nice cause he got the attention he was looking for and I got the intimacy I wanted. And let me just say that when I was finished, he looked sharper than the fresh paper that will cut you without you even knowing it!!!

Sooo..... balance is the key. Take care of you, then you'll be able to take care of "us"(you and your hubby) and then us can take care of them(your children)and do it all together as one family unit the way God would have us to. You can't beat that!

Cheers to all the many parts of what makes you who you are(including the hubs cause you are ONE) and celebrate taking care of each other. Bonus? IT"S FRIDAY!!! Enjoy your weekend lovelies!

- Just a thought....

I am so....

EXCITED!!! First of all, yes my A/C is back up and running - Thank you Lord, you really do love me LOL! You wouldn't believe what we went through this weekend with the landlord and the A/C repair technicians but I'll spare you. I'll just tell you it was DRAMA ON T.N.T!

Anyhoo, we are cool calm and collected cause they put a replacement unit in while they service our A/C so I can write this post without losing 70% of the water in my body. YAY! Back to our regularly scheduled programming, I was saying that I am SO EXCITED. If I haven't mentioned it already I am getting ready to launch my Etsy Online shop in just ONE WEEK!!! AHHHH!!!!!

I LOVE to sew and have been so inspired by my little cookie lately. I talked to the hubs about it and he said hey, why not? So I'm putting myself out there with hopes to be received well. Isn't it funny? There is nothing in this world like wanting to be accepted by your peers. It makes you feel like you're back in the 3rd grade again. Know what I'm talking about?

It's like the first day of school I am nervous and excited all at the same time. I have been chained to my sewing machine making samples and taking ridiculous amounts of pictures of my daughter modeling them. Which by the way wasn't the most fun... let's just say it ended in tears - both mine and my daughter's LOL. As beautiful as she is modeling is not her thing lol!

Soooo........I am learning through this process to start laying aside my expectations for perfection- even in pictures- *sigh* and moving forward just hoping that I'm doing something right and if not I figure my daughter will have a whole lot of dresses and outfits that I personally made for her lol!

Here's a little sneak peek...

Isn't she adorable? I just love that little girl!!!!!

By the way, you know I'm not about to let anything get in the way of me asking are you taking care of yourself......so without further adieu... what have you done for you?

- Just a thought.....

Feeling ......

HOT HOT HOT!!!! Only it doesn't make me want to sing and dance salsa. It has been no less than 95 degrees the last couple of days here in Fort Lauderdale and sure enough... MY AIR CONDITIONER HAS PUT IN IT"S TWO WEEK NOTICE! It decided to quit on us.

Wanna know when it decided to do this? 3 a.m. in the morning ......on Wednesday! Me and the hubs woke up with our tongues stuck to the roof of our mouths LOL and while I can laugh now it sure wasn't funny then. It has reduced my child to running around with no clothing on and me and the hubs to fighting not to argue with one another because the heat is so irritating.

Let me tell you, the next time you begin to complain cause you think you are going without something you absolutely need think again and count your blessings - one by one. Do you have running water? Are you AND your children healthy? Do you eat a meal (even if it's not the most wholesome) everyday? Does your husband come home to your family EVERY night? Something about the truth is just sooooo real when everything you think you need, you suddenly don't need anymore. Remember that and while your remember that - try to remember me and pray that this AC gets fixed ASAP.

Now did you forget? Or do I have to ask you again, lol?

What have you done for you lately?

- Just a thought.....

Irony should be....

my new middle name! Hello Lovelies! After a brief post of how much I love my husband and all the wonderful things he did for me this week I shortly find myself with my foot in my mouth.

Talk about irony, isn't it amazing how one day with just one kiss or hug we can fall in love with them all over again and in an instant be flaming tea kettle hot with our husbands? Love is indeed a four letter word but is not the easiest of words to actually live by in my marriage. Sometimes laughing is necessary to keep from crying.

All in all he truly is awesome but I just can't wrap my mind around how I can love him so much and want to commit murder - and in the church no less - LOL! Thank goodness that God is a God of forgiveness and He gives me grace when I feel like I can't take it anymore. Anybody out there know what I'm talking about? Even if you don't reply I KNOW I'm not alone. Nothing like being able to identify with someone goin through the same as you.

Anyhoo, besides the hubs driving me nuts I need help with my lil' peanut. I think that when he leaves for work he puts something in her juice cup so she can act up just a little bit more - no just kidding- It seems like everyone is out to get you when you are going back and forth with your hubby! Like I was saying, this girl is just ........ I DON"T KNOW! She is acting a fool around here lately. Everything is a fight, to brush her teeth, to eat dinner, to go potty (pray for me with the potty escapades), to take a nap, to brush her hair, to get dressed, to get undressed - sorry just venting here, to watch T.V., to go in the car, clean up her toys, to walk instead of being carried and on and on.

Did someone put a hit out on me or sumthin' cause I feel like the world is out to get me?!!! Including my household. Nuff said! I am declaring war on that which is trying to take me down and I will not be moved. I'll let you know if any casualties happen to take place around here - even if it means I have to die to self.

*Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. - Matthew 16:24

Speaking of self, What have you done for you lately?

- Just a thought.....

Sick....

baby and no sleep = no posting.

Anyhoo, I hope your week has turned out well. Mine except for my lil' peanut being sick was fantastic! My hubby and I celebrated 4 years of marriage yesterday and he lavished me with love and gifts. Gotta love that man! Keepin' it short today though just wanted to say hello to the lovelies out there in the blogosphere. Much love and hugs to you all and hopefully there's no fevers or runny noses greeting you at your door today.

I definitely have some catchin' up to do on my me time...How bout' you?

just a lil peek at my wedding day... can't help myself and I love the memories...

It's very easy to....

not believe in yourself.

Do you ever agonize over a new project you are taking on at work? Perhaps it's whether or not you are taking good care of and spending time with your children. I can't tell you how difficult it is for me to balance the ins and outs of anything new that comes my way. I often go into "critical mode" when I see something that another person or mom is doing better than I am. Why is that?

For me when the feeling comes it's a matter of deciphering whether or not I'm struggling with low self esteem, inferiority or or just plain competing to be the best. I don't know about you - I'm going to expose myself here- but even in the world of blogging it's the same. I'll be searching blogs having fun when I begin to notice the amount of followers some other lovelies have. It's discouraging and I begin to feel like maybe I'm doing something wrong. Then it just goes on and on til' I finally snap out of it and say - you know what I'm doing this for me! Nobody else really matters. *I really do care about you all though ;)*

It is so hard to recognize when low self esteem, inferiority, fear, anxiety and self doubt are keeping you from doing your very best and being satisfied with that. Too often we look to be validated by power, people and prestige. Especially as moms, which is why too often, we become critical and set up a false standard we have to live by - and force others to live by. We do this looking to getting satisfaction from ourselves and to be fulfilled by the words of another man or woman.

The truth is you are unique with your own set of creativity & talents. That's what makes us awesome! In spite of the fear, keep moving forward and do what you have to do. The blessing is we don't have to have it all together right now. God will fill in the gaps that we leave open, lest we trip on them! If He believes in us, why can't we believe in ourselves?

Mastering whatever you are trying to master will come with time and patience- just manage your time wisely.

Do the same for your children and encourage them to be the unique & creative individuals He created them to be. If no one else has told you today, God believes in you and I believe in you. Let that be the crutch that helps you to get to the next level.

And by the way.... When are you gonna make that time for you???

- Just a thought....

Somebody please.....

stop the world! I want to get off.

This morning (and many others) I awake to my peanuts gorgeous face- up close & personal- saying "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommmyyyy!!!!!! I have resorted to telling her to call me Uncle bob. Anything to not hear her calling me over and over and over again. It was just one of those mornings - as soon as I got up and sat down in a chair (silently hoping she would continue sleeping) she popped right up and started crying. *Sigh* I thought I was gonna have just a few minutes to myself before the world & time began to spin.

Ever have one of those mornings? As soon as you get the cup to your lips to taste your morning coffee or to get just one bite of your food, instant crying or screaming for you. LAUGH. OUT. LOUD. I have to laugh in order to keep from crying.

All in all, that little face saves me from jumping off the building and yet again I will put my needs to the side to serve hers. I think when you look up mom in the dictionary it secretly means servant. Anyhoo, i got up and dragged my behind to the kitchen to get breakfast started and lo and behold my saving grace - all she wanted was a banana! Thank you God for fruit.

Don't you just love the simple things in life? It reminds me that exactly what we need everyday is readily available if we are willing to lay down what we think is ideal. I won't get to go to my family reunion but I WILL get to be with the man I love and my baby girl. Maybe I won't get that cup of coffee to my lips- when I want to- but surely I will get to drink it - even if it is cold. It just reminds me that God has given me all that I need. Including a couple of extra nerves when Leia is pinching my last one!

One thing I am certainly grateful for is time. My "me time" especially. Even if the rest of the world continues to go, I will be able to "stop" and get off for quality time with just me. Now if only my hubby would get home so I can get to that time NOW. Maybe I'll wait for a nice bath?....A girl can dream can't she?

Be sure to stop and come out of your "world" today with some special time set aside just for you.

- Just a thought...