Yes, I am alive

Not sure why I have not blogged in so long... my blogging mo-jo has just been off and I haven't really been reading other blogs for that matter.  I am determined to do better.... I have lots to blog about and 2 great giveaways from two fun companies. 

I am excited to reconnect with my blogger friends and keep my personal friends and family in the loop.   

My daughter thinks its summer

The littles were playing outside ever so nicely and this is what I find...Scarlette Grace playing in the water...yes its in the high 60's today...but really its not summer!!!

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Rocket ship

My sister got graham this rocket kit for his birthday...it only took chad two hours to build....we will be launching in 20 minutes.

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2011- A Year in Review

2011 was a year filled with highs and lows ... just like any other I suppose. I am grateful for the continued health of my kidos, hubby and myself... and looking forward to NOT moving this year!!!

HERE are some Highlights from 2011:

I taught myself to Crochet
I became a coffee drinker
I gave up diet coke multiple times
I am the proud owner of a vintage trailer
we moved twice...UGGGGGG
Gabby started High School and Gwen Started Middle School
I started to home "pre" school Graham
I posted 129 times to the old blog...even less than 2010
I sold the Vintage Sheet blog
I only completed one quilt all year:(
I pinned 1161 things on pinterest
Gabby got her braces off and Gwen Got her Braces on.
I Found lots of vintage goodies at estate sales and thrift shops.
I got a small space to sell some of my vintage goodies at a local antique shop.
I started making my bed everyday...
Our Dog was hit by a car...:(
Our fair fish Herbet died:(
Quit my part time job and am now watching a sweet baby boy a few times a week.
Gabby turned 14, Gwen turned 11, Graham turned 4, and Scarlette Grace turned 2.

Looking forward to a more productive 2012.

Dream On....

I want to share a note from my Papa... it was in response to my last post about dreamers VS realists.

It is a sweet note and I love it:) Love you too PA!!!

Dear Jen,

When I think or dream about my family I see only beauty and goodness and could not be more grateful. To be realistic I can’t imagine what the world would be like with out the dreamer and what our family would be like without both the realist and the dreamer.  I don’t know if the dreamer could survive on its own.

I’m happy you have the dreamer gene and that I may have played apart. What makes me the most thankful however is that all the girls in our family are very strong and those genes are from your grandmother and great-grandmother. To be strong, creative, and realistic makes the ultimate dreamer.

Love you just the way you are.

Pa  

Thoughts From My Bed....

This post is prompted by last weeks episode of Modern Family....which if you don't watch, you need to....it is great.

ARE YOU A DREAMER OR A REALIST? Or as I like to call my husband a dream crusher...which clearly makes me the dreamer.

We got our FREE vintage travel trailer two days ago...(pics coming soon)....and she needs some work....a lot of work...but I love her and see her potential and the family memories we can make in her....Chad just sees work...and while he was moaning and groaning about the problems and work that needs to be done...I called him a DC (dream crusher)...he quickly came back with (because he is also super clever and funny)..." No I am THE RC"....the reality checker.... Which was pretty funny.

I got the dreamer gene from my Papa...its both a blessing and a curse...as a dreamer you spend a lot of time coming up with great ideas, projects, & plans.....but you also get your hopes dashed when things don't turn out how you imagined them to be...you do however find the good, in people and are less cynical than the realist.

Clearly it is important to have both in a relationship...to keep balance...we have to keep things interesting for our realists;)

Off to dreamland....

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Pinterest Meetup-San Francisco bay area

I'm going are you?...my friend Melissa informed me about this event and I am actually able to attend....pinterest is my obsession at this moment...you can follow me on pinterest by clicking on the icon on the right side bar..

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Our view...

On the wharf in santa cruz

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Thoughts from my bed....

Tonights topic is.......Big families.
Not talking crazy big like 19 kids and counting big.....but bigger than the average family of 4. Do I consider my family of 6 big...Yes !!

The world is set up for the perfect little family of four....tables at restaurants, hotel rooms...most cars are made for the smaller family...I'm sure there are more examples that I can not think of at this late hour.

That being said the pros of a big family out weigh all the semantics.

I am friends with this great family that has 5 siblings....that are all adults, and they all love to be together so much....recently their grandma died and I watched a couple of their kids so they could go to the viewing.....as the 4 sisters left I felt glad that they had each other...and glad for my kids that they have each other.

My 3 older kids are visiting their cousins in oregon for the week...so I am a parent of one....it has been soooooooo many years since that happened. It is a bit too quiet on one hand and on the other it is pretty amazing...and super easy to only have one child to worry about. I missed the kids after they were gone half of a day....sheesh.

To late ....must sleep...

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Thoughts from my bed.....

I'm sure you are wondering what does that mean....I thought it would be a fun new segment...where I actually write about some things I want to write about, but never do because I have so many other things to post about.....and I am typing from my bed...which is nice because I am not hunched over the computer...but laying in my cozy bed.


Tonights thoughts are many but I am going to focus on the womens lib movement, and how I feel it has done more harm than good.

I know that statement may cause a lot of controversy...but its how I feel.

I think about this a lot...but tonight it is on my mind because my niece is in the hospital a short two weeks after my sister went back to work.

By creating the womens lib movement....and getting women so prominently in the work force...we have made it near impossible for women to stay home and take care of their children and homes. I know not all women want to do that but so very many do that are not able to.

My sis likes her job and likes working but it would be a whole lot easier if she could stay home with her kids especially since my niece has special needs. If she could afford to stay home with her babies she would.

Chad and I chose way back when gab was born for me to stay home with the kids. Financially it would be huge if I worked outside of the home... But I want to be with my kids (most of the time...ha ha)...they need their mama....even at 14 Gab needs me more than ever....not that she thinks so...but someone needs to guide their choices and decisions at this age ....especially with boys in the picture, and drugs, alcohol, friends , internet safety ..and much more facing todays teens.

I wish we could rewind back to the 1950's....I feel like that was the golden age in america...the ideal time to live.....realistically I know there is no such thing as perfect...and there were issues..but as a whole it was ideal.

I know there are women who love their jobs and want to work and find a way for their partner to stay home...which is great too...but I'm sure as any average one income family will tell you...it is hard.....and it is even harder with four kids in todays economy.....yes I know I didn't have to have four kids...But I wanted to... I have to remind my self of this when I can't go get that cute new pair of shoes I want. Truth be told I might have had more if we could have afforded it...

One other thought on this topic...
Because we as women have made it so that we can do anything a man can do we have taken away some things from our selves..... Things like being treated more delicately....I personally like haveing doors opened for me, and if I have my hands full of kids and groceries having a man offer to help is amazing...we are also expected to keep our emotions in check ....and it has also affected how we dress...I personally like wearing dresses and looking pretty....

Getting bleary eyed....enough for one night.

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My Vintage Sheet Blog is Famous...

The Vintage Sheet Blog was chosen as one of the top 55 quilting blogs by Quilter's Home Magazine.  So exciting.  My little ol' VS blog is among major quilting super star blogs.... I am in awe.

Here is the link to the VS Blog post where you can read the actual article.

 I had hoped this blog was the one that would be famous.... maybe someday.

48 hours...with out my blog or email

For some reason unknown to me google disabled my email and blogger account. It took countless hours of sending in forms and reading forums to get my account re activated.... it was torture!!! I was begining to think I was never going to see my blog again...I was trying not to freak out....tomorrow I am going to back up my blog...

It was crazy to have no email...so many times I went to look something up and couldn't.

Anyway...I am happy to be back!

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Tuesday's Task List

I like making a daily list, it helps keep me on track. I did pretty good today.

-Estate Sale Blog Post

-Clean up Kitchen

-Laundry

-VS Blog Post

-Load new Items into Shoppe

- Play room tidy and organize

-Go to dance

-Answer more emails

-Hang up clean clothes in my room

-work on sewing room 

I could go on and on... trying to be realistic.

What Tasks I Actually Completed & Todays Task list

Yesterday was a productive day, I completed quite a few of the items on my list. I lined through the items on yesterdays post... so you can see what I accomplished.  We got off track and did a few items not on yesterdays list...they were however on the big list of things I wanted done.

We moved Grahams toddler bed downstairs and into the garage. We then moved Gwen's twin out of the big girls room... they had two doubles and a twin in their room for a couple weeks. So Graham now has Gwen's old bed.   Need to get some boy bedding. Right now he has a blue chenille coverlet on his bed.... under that lurks pink striped sheets.. poor boy. I told him we would get boy sheets soon.  We had to rearrange the littles room in the process... whole process took awhile.

We spent a lot of time in the garden.  

We made yummy fish tacos for dinner.

-Taxes almost. waiting for one piece of info!

-Laundry A few loads

-RUN

-emails mostly

-Estate Sale Blog Post

-VS Blog Post

-Email winners of VS giveaways

- TONIGHT- Organize sewing room Started the project... it is going to take a few days! YIKES

I will line through these tasks as I complete them.

Sunday Goal List

Here is a list of all the things I/we would like to get done tomorrow...
I say we, because some of the projects require Chad.

-hang shelf in sewing room
-set up bookkeeping for my boss
-go for a run
-get Gwen's bed put together and painted.
- photograph estate sale finds.
-clean and organize playroom.
-groceries
-blog
-respond to many emails
- finish emailing vs winners
- laundry  a few loads
- makeover island

There is much more but I am trying to be realistic. I will come back tomorrow evening and report on my progress.

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Hail in April??

We went from hot and sunny weather to this:

Graham in the hail... barefoot.

Gab ran out in it for a minute too... didn't capture that though.

Just another day in sunny CA! ha

Feeling Inadequate...

Lately I have been feeling inadequate in sooo many ways....

Not thin enough and out of shape, don't cook wonderful meals often enough or much at all lately, not parenting my kids correctly=too much yelling and unacceptable behavior, not enough play and learning with the kids, house is never clean...much less unpacked or decorated, sewing room is not walk through-able... which is stifling my creativity=not creative enough, blog and shoppe not where I want them to be= not successful enough, not organized enough=piles and projects everywhere, not getting enough done=staying up late to get some things done=TIRED.  

It all seems like a vicious circle and not sure how to fix it.  I want to be the type of person who makes their bed daily, who's house is decorated perfectly and CLEAN, who plays with their kids and helps them learn and teaches them to be wonderful caring people, who makes amazing things and has a wildly successful blog/shoppe, who cooks amazing meals daily and.....  I want to look fashionable and thin while doing it all.

Are my expectations unrealistic? Do I need to quit napping? Quit watching tv?
Anyone have the answers... because I sure would love to know what they are.  

What I Wore Wed.

I didn't get to post last week as we were in Southern CA on spring break and the wireless in the hotel room was horrid.  So, that means we have almost two weeks worth of outfits. Chad keeps asking where all the new clothes are coming from.... still clothes from my bday, just hasn't been nice enough to wear most of them.

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy for WIWW. Also linking up with :

Two Friday's ago... Going to work. Was on my period and felt so fat and uncomfortable in this outfit it was miserable. I didn't even take my picture the next day because I was wearing my frumpy fat sweater and pants to compensate for the bloated fat feeling.

Converse jeans- hand me down

Fushia shoes-ross- getting worn out

Sweater Old navy(new)- on clearance and a 30% off coupon-ended up being 6$

Green skinny belt-Old Navy

Pinkish  T-shirt Kohls- new $6

Cami-Forever 21

Vintage Aqua bangles- Estate Sale

Green Ring-Forever 21

Necklace- Vintage Pearl... It has all my babies names on it... a gift from my good friend Melissa after Scarlette was born.

A picture with my head.

With my coat on... it was super cold out still.

I got this great vintage coat at an estate sale in NC when we lived there.

Sunday, Travel day headed south for spring break.

Blurry pic... But I like it anyway.

White top target

white cami-forever 21

chunky sweater- BCBG from the thrift.

One cute baby girl made by me:)

Bronze flip flops- Old Navy.

I love bronze, silver and gold shoes... they go with everything!

Mermaid green toes-Wet and wild- It has stayed on my toes great- Fingernails not so much.

Army green cargo cords- Old navy years and Years ago. Pulled them out of the skinny box and low and behold they fit! Faux pearls-hanging at a weird angle. Cream bracelet from the shop I work at.

Graham is wearing a polo I got from the kids consignment sale in the fall.

Hubby is sporting his Nike sweatshirt, jeans and vans.

Monday AM- walk on the beach in Santa Barbara Area... before heading farther south.

Dark Skinny's Guess Outlet

White cami-Forever 21

Polka dot top- (New) forever 21

Black Cardi- (new) Target

Vintage necklaces-Estate Sale-I think

Vintage Aqua bangles

Aqua Daliah Ring- Coming to my shoppe soon.

Mermaid green nails -which started chipping right away...bu I love the color sooo much.

Cute babies- Made by me:)

At hotel in Santa Ana- later that day- Had to change clothes- managed to get filthy.

Girls wanted to see the Hollywood Walk of fame.

Each time Gabby takes my pic, she takes one of me walking toward her and this is how they all look... Is this how I look when I am walking....Yikes I hope not.

Same Skinny's and Cami

navy floral tank-target or Khols

White Shrug- forever 21

Gold sandals- Rocket Dog- Local Dept store- Clearance for $9.99- orignal $39.99- They are comfortable too:)

Same vintage necklace and I added a Pink Rosey ring from my Shoppe.

Wed. headed to Huntington Beach for the day. I remember when I was a teenager and I made fun of my Mom's white ghost legs- Guess who has them now- EGADS! Need to get self tanner-STAT.

White Shorts- Lucky Brand from Nordstroms- Years ago- Pulled out of skinny bin:)

White cami-Target

Navy polka dot top-Old navy

Cream Boyfriend Cardi- Forever 21- I managed to forget to pack a sweatshirt- not that I have any- need to find a cute one though.

Change of clothes for dinner- We went to Sushilicious- So fun.

Same Cami, top and sweater.

Jeans- levis

Rocket dog sandals again.

Betty Lou Necklace- Bought at the Napa Arts and Craft Fair Last summer. She is made from a sterling spoon. LOVE her!

Vintage Tooled leather clutch from the Shop I work at!Love it!

Wed. we headed to mission beach... this first outfit I didn't end up wearing... but I had all ready had Gabby take pics so you can see what I didn't wear:)

Loving Graham in the Background doing God knows what. Gabby's famous walking shot.

Scarlette and her mimi aka Lovey snuck into this one.

Gray Cardi- Forever 21

White tank- Target

Pearls from estate sale, ring forever 21, Rocket dog sandals again

Skirt I got at the nicest Goodwill I have ever been to.... Picked it up the day before in Irvine - $5.99.

 What I actually Wore

Vintage Red Bangles- Picked up here and there- Estate sales etc.

Red t-shirt Target

Jean Capris- hand me down from Heidi

Dress Khols

Same sandals

Thursday was a travel day forgot to take pic.

Friday off to work. Took these after work hence the head cut off... wasn't looking great after a long day.

White Dress- New forever 21

Pink shrug- Nordstroms- Years and Years ago.

Ring- Gift from my friend Sarah- It was waiting for me at work! LOVE it

Same Vintage Necklace from above.

Bronze flip flops again- YOU will see these often.

Saturday- Headed to work.

White ruffled tank- old navy

White cami- Target

Goodwill Skirt

Same sandals

White cardi/shrug- Target last summer

Vintage Yellow necklace- Betty's Girl- Local Boutique- Have had for Years

White faux flower- hubby bought for me years ago.

Yellow/white Bangles- picked up at Estate and Garage sales.

Ring from Sarah again!

notice the thumb- could not get the green polish off that nail for DAYS.

Have been in sweats since then. Migraine Sunday. Monday and Tues, I have been doing chores.

Will I wear real clothes tomorrow.... to be determined:)

crazy wildlife while out for a run

I went for a short run this evening and this little guy was crossing the street then ran straight toward me and paused for a photo. He was about 6 feet from me.

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No More Braces:)

Gabby got her braces off today! The orthodontist gave her popcorn and candy...so fun.

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