DIY Gudetama Valentine's Box

I just had to share this awesome Valentine's box. My son is obsessed with Gudetama(the last egg). This is made out of styrofoam, felt and foam. Every year Ty comes up with these amazing ideas and we are left trying to figured out how to make it happen. I hope you like it as much as we do❤.

Bring The Music Back

I know it has been a very long time since I've posted on my blog.  I think time has had a lot to do with it but today I'm feeling very reflective.  I'm afraid that in an effort of building a new life I have lost a part of myself.  I found myself listening to a new talent on you tube and it brought tears to my eyes.  I have somehow in this chaos of my life I lost the one thing that made me ME! I lost my voice.  I lost the ability to feel.  There was a time that the only thing I could think about was singing.  How I could get my next fix. lol.  Singing gave me such an exhilarating high.  I would open my mouth and the feeling of release was everything.  I'm not sure how to describe it.  I can't put into words what it did for me and all of my emotions.  I have always had a flare for the dramatic but with age it has subsided so very much.  Today I find it raring its ugly head.  Is it a bad thing though? My life slowing down enough to deal with some of the unpleasantness of my life?  Maybe not.  I have been through so very much pain and change in the last seven or eight years.  I've lost count. Autism. Divorce. Bankruptcy. Infidelity. Sociopath. Forgiveness. Through all of this I've tried to remain true to myself. Owning up to the mistakes I've made and trying to help those around me.  Giving back so maybe others wouldn't make the same mistakes.  I've tried to come out the other side unchanged but my life has completely changed me. God brought me to my knees two years ago.  He brought me to a place where all I could do is look up.  I really learned how to stand on my own. There are a lot of aspects that have greatly improved.  My ability to surround myself with genuine people.  Loving people.  It was just brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago that it seems as though I'm punishing myself by not singing.  Are they right? Maybe half right.  What most people don't understand is that when I open my mouth to sing.....the only thing that comes out is PAIN!  Pain that is almost unbearable. Like a knife in my heart! As I sit at my computer writing this the tears flow uncontrollably.  I want to give my son the gift of music but I don't know how to anymore.  The one gift that God gave me and I don't know how to use it anymore. How has this happened?  Couldn't music be the one thing that changes Ty's life as it has mine?  Why does it have to hurt so much?  I find myself wanting my son to know who his mother was not just who she is now.  Why does becoming a grown up mean losing parts of yourself?  I do have so many questions that I don't have the answers to.  All I know is that it is time for me to be transparent.  I've learned showing vulnerability is showing strength.  I suppose its time to bring my piano back in the house.  Dust off what was and bring it to the surface.  Walk where its not quite so comfortable to walk.  Start a journey to bringing the music back.  I can do this.

What's the old saying "Time Heals all Wounds"?

Wow its been a while since I've posted on my blog.  Today I was watching a movie I haven't seen in 10 years and I was reminded of just how much I love it.  I love it so much that I wanted to share with you my favorite scene.  There is a very good reason that this movie strikes such a chord in my heart, my mother.  As a daughter, I have always looked back on my childhood with joy but also with tears.  The bond I have with my mother has been the rock and foundation on which I've shaped my life.  My childhood had some pretty good little bumps in it.  In my 30's, I started to realize this perfect life I had placed in my head wasn't exactly the truth.  One part my fault but also one part my mothers.  We spent a lot of my time trying to convince everyone that our life was perfect.  I've found that now I'm dedicated to living an authentic life.  The truths are that there is NO perfect life. 
     I sit here at my computer just a few days after my 42nd birthday and realize that I am a very blessed woman.  I have come full circle.  I'm so blessed my best friend is my mother.  In the last few years, our relationship is real.  It makes me smile.  The band aids have all come off to reveal a life time of hurt.  When we finally talked as genuine and as real as we could, we could heal.  I no longer blame my mother for all that is wrong with my life.  lol.  I did that all on my own.  I'm so happy that we could move through the past because the joy I have being with my parents is insurmountable.  My 20's I spent a lot of time on myself.  Concentrating on who I thought I should be.  I was just trying to figure out who I was.  My 30's was spent living my life.  Doing all of the things that I set out to do in my 20's.  Living a pretty selfish life.  Learning that all that I wanted in my 20's wasn't what I really needed.  My 40's have just begun and so have I.  I'm starting over, a redo.  I would be lying if I told you I knew what I was doing.  Lol.  I don't have a clue but I will let you know when I figure it out.  I'm learning what a creative person I truly am.  I'm learning that I have a lot of love to give.  I also have a lot of life to live.
Sorry I seemed to have strayed of topic a bit;)  I just want to share with you this wonderful scene where the mother and daughter are healing their relationship.  The mother is speaking to her daughter and having an a-ha moment.

And then it dawned on me, all those years that I prayed, that I begged on my hands and knees for God to make me more.  Make me better.  Make me stronger.  Make me saner.  Make all my dreams come true.    Right there in one person.  All I’ve ever wanted to be and there you are.  You came right through me and I never even realized.  I hate it when its right there in front of your face, don’t you? 

What a wonderful moment when God reaches through the muck and the mess of our lives and blesses us.  I have been so lucky to get to hear some of these same words come out of my sweet momma's lips.  Thank you Lord for healing our family.  I don't think I could feel any closer to my parents than I do today.  My mother now takes the time out of her day to tell me all of those things that a daughter longs to hear.  "I'm proud of you."  "You have turned into a wonderful mother."  She lifts me up when I'm down.  My number one cheerleader.  I love you mom.  I will be thanking God for you in my prayers tonight. 

Mason Jar Chandelier

I couldn't wait to share these photos with you of my new light fixture for the dining room.  I'm so excited that Chris is so talented to build this ideas I have.  I saw this light fixture on Pinterest and fell in love with it.  He saw and said "I can build it".  It has turned out truely amazing.  It was NOT as easy as the blog we read said it was but we improvised.  The original light fixture was done with clear mason jars but I really wanted a vintage feel with the blue jars.  It took a couple of days of junkin' to find the jars we needed.  The hardest part was mounting the chandelier itself.  Once it was hung we still weren't happy with it because it just wasn't hanging like we thought it should so a little adjustments.....shortening some of the wires.......we now absolutely love it.  I hope you like it as well.  Now Chris has ladies wanting him to make them one too:)  He is actually flirting with the idea of selling mine.  I don't think I like that idea........BOO!



Simple and Functional Craft Space

I don't have a lot of space in my house for my crafts.  Therefore they have to be Incorporated into the house.  Here's how I try to make it look nice but still functional.  I went to my local flea market(Riverside Antiques)and found mis-matched old shelves.  One of my shelves is a drawer from and old desk and one is an old painted window box.  I'm still collecting unique glass jars.  I put all of my scrapbook brads in the jars.



Penne Alla Vodka

Here I go, my very first food blog.  Most of my friends know that I love to cook.  In the last few years, I've found a passion for cooking.  Chris and I have actually gotten spoiled because we are now cooking things better at home then we get in the restaurant.  I wanted to share this recipe with you.  I did find the basic recipe online but I have tweaked it to my liking.  I hope you try it and you love it as much as I do.  You will definitely be in a carbohydrate coma after eating this meal.  lol

Penne Alla Vodka

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of olive oil

8-10 cloves of garlic(finely chopped)

1(28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes

1(14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes

1/8 cup(heaping cup) dried basil

1/4 cup of citron vodka

1 pound penne

1 pint heavy whipping cream

Salt and pepper to taste.

1.  In a large skillet over medium heat, cook finely chopped garlic in olive oil until its tender.
Watch your heat so that you don't burn the garlic.  Cook a couple of minutes.
Stir in both cans of tomatoes.  Break up the whole tomatoes a bit.
Stir basil and salt & pepper simmer for about 15 minutes.

Your sauce will reduce down and look similar to this.
I did go a little heavy on the basil on this day. 

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Don't forget to salt your water or your pasta won't have any flavor.

 Add pasta and cook for about 11 minutes or until al dente.

Stir in vodka and cook 10-15 minutes more. 



Stir cream into sauce and cook 10 minutes.
Be sure to keep stirring during this time so tomatoes don't settle
on the bottom of the pan and burn.



Your sauce will thicken a little while it cooks the last 10 minutes.

Drain your pasta.  (like my vintage strainer?....just like my mother had.)

Toss sauce and hot pasta in a large bowl.

Serve and enjoy.  This is a quick and easy meal.  Its low in cost.
You can buy the ingredients for this recipe for around $8.00.(not including the vodka)
Once you buy the bottle of vodka($15 a bottle) its a very cheap recipe.

Vintage Angel Carousel Chimes

I just saw a picture on television of one of these chimes.  The show was taped in Toronto so not local.  When I saw the angels it thrust me back in time when my mom put ours out every Christmas.  My parents always made Christmas such a magical and special time.  I wish I could go back in time to feel the joy I had at Christmas when life was much simpler.  I would love to be able to find one of these chimes.  I want to be reminded of everything my mother did at Christmas from the homemade candies, old tattered ornaments, tinsel garland and a card board fireplace.  I love you mom and dad.