Update on Victoria

 Victoria is doing well and will be coming home tomorrow. We are both anxious, nervous and so much more. Victoria has a mental health issue known as Borderline Personality Disorder. Right now she can not be technically diagnosed until she is 18, because in the mental health world your personality doesn't develop until you are 18. I have been reading a book called
 Stop Walking on Egg Shells, which has made so much sense of so many things from when she was a little girl until now. Victoria suffers from a very deep rooted depression that will take a very long time to help her come out of. We work together as a family to build her up so she can hopefully see what we see one day. Therapy will continue through an IOP, Intensive Outpatient Therapy,  program in Stockton 2-3 times a week. It will be a long, slow, intense process and I just have to have hope that my beautiful girl will see a light at the end of the road. 

I get asked everyday how are you doing? Well lets be honest in my 38 years of life so far this has been the most difficult thing I have gone through. Some days are better than others. I feel a lot of different emotions to be honest. I am sad she has to feel this way, I am not looking forward to driving so much, I am not ready for the financial strain this will put on our little family. I was just starting to apply for jobs and this all happened. My ever so patient husband and family say this is my job right now. We are taking it one day at a time for now and hope for the best. 

I appreciate all your messages, texts and calls. 

Just for kicks Whats for dinner?
We are having a jambalaya kind of thing I hope the kids like it.
 

Realizations

Hi everyone I wanted to check in and let you know whats been going on over her in my part of the universe. Carting the kids around to various activities, Tiv to therapy, prom dress shopping with my 17 year old, kids being sick here and there and a couple of mile stones for me. 

First my baby is turning 18 in a few weeks and will be off to college I know I have talked about it before but it is getting closer and I am seeing growth in her I have never seen before. To see your child transform is amazing. I almost feel sorry for my last one I wont want her to go, but we have to cut the cord and let them go. Don't get me wrong my 17 year old has a lot more growing to do but she is doing a great job, I couldn't be more proud.

Tiv has been making good progress in therapy and we are learning so much in the sessions too. We are required to attend the same sessions that she is in so we all can learn the same things, cant complain its going well. 

As for me I am in the beginnings of a spiritual journey and learning about myself on a different level. I had a light bulb moment while driving the other day. I don't know quite how to word this so I will try my best. I kept having kids to fill some void I was feeling inside. Children love parents unconditional when they are babies they look at you so lovingly, they trust you and just need you. I was also trying to maintain happiness in a broken relationship. I do not live with regrets or look back on how I could have done things better if I had only done this or that. I like to move forward and deal with what I have been given in the best way possible. Which leads me into my next revelation I am a professional mom. I was given these children to raise and take care of the best I can. There are hard times any mother will tell you but I have been truly blessed to be able to stay at home and be here for my kids when they need me for the smallest thing to the biggest thing. 

How are you guys doing?

Whats for dinner? I am not sure what I am in the mood for yet so lets say chefs surprise :)

My craft space

Here is my craft space I have been wanting to post pictures right when I moved but life happens and this is when I got around to it. 

Here is the table my husband and I built together. We bought the top laminate piece from Home Depot and used old kitchen cabinets to hold it up. We went back and forth many time as to how to put it together, functionality etc. Below you can see my littlest one has claimed under the table as her club house.

This is where the sewing magic happens. I got this table from my dad and have hauled it with me for years and I am so happy I finally get to use it for my sewing. The bins below hold felt and odd and ends of fabric. The cabinet all the way on the left holds all my pretty fabric, I realize now I should have opened it.

My cutting tools, decorations from the kids.

My books, some embroidery thread, and my lovely metal box that holds all my buttons and misc.

This is my ironing table area. I used to do most of my creating here and have everything all over the counters but now that I have the table I have more space to lat out fabric.

On the other end of the garage, aka my craft room, is my husbands area. Just so you don't think I have all the room in this house taken up my husband does have a whole building to himself on one end of our property, we are just waiting for our landlord to put power out there.

 Well thats it, my craft space. I see all these pictures of cute craft rooms and get so many ideas but I cant make it work in this space. I one day hope to move into the house and have one of the bedrooms for my space. As for now I am very blessed and fortunate to have this bit of space. I am also very, very blessed to have a husband who understands my creativity, and how therapeutic my crafts are for me. Thanks Babe!

Have a good day all!!

Whats for dinner? We are having homemade chicken strips, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Busy week!

So this week is getting off to a great big batch of pink eye at my house. I have 2 kids home today husband picking up meds for them this morning while at his physical therapy appointment, a lot of praying its only these 2. Had a great relaxing weekend catching up on housework, small projects and quality husband wife time. We have a busy week ahead therapy appointments, I clean 2 houses, my husbands 4 kids have this week off so they will be coming on Wednesday, and my sisters going to Las Vegas this weekend and the baby aka "Beefy", will be with us Friday night to Monday night.

Now on to a project I have going on 3 boys dolls and 1 girl doll, faces on the boys were not right for me so after staring at them for a few days I pulled some buttons out and they look so cute now. I like to take my time with the dolls I make I want them to look how I have pictured them in my head. This set of dolls I am working on right now have many details as far as their clothing and such. I am hoping for a good chunk of time today to get them more together.

Well I hope you guys have a great week and I hope to check in again soon.

Whats for dinner? Corned beef sandwiches yummmm

Life is going on here

So this past few weeks have been so crazy around here. My 15 year old daughter is in intense therapy and hour away from our home,So we drive there 2 times a week in the evening, my husband had shoulder surgery, my house is not clean by my standards and we got a puppy, I feel so disconnected. Why? I have weeks where everything is great and moving forward and then I have a few days where I just lose sight of myself, my dreams, goals and everything. I am not writing this blog for pity but to check in with you guys. I read a book recently The Four Agreements and it was an eye opener for me to really look at how I want to live my life and what I should be practicing with my kids. The four agreements are 1- to be impeccable with your word, 2- to not take anything personally, 3- to not assume, 4- to do my best. The first thing I did was start to love my body the way it is stop finding all my imperfections and just love it because it is mine.
 I have also really tried to not assume things about people. This can be hard, we live in a very judgmental society. This really is one to work on with the kids too, they come home and want, want, want and its mostly because other kids have things. They assume I can afford things on a whim for them, that their friends are rich because they have things, you know not important things but this is where it starts with the little things. My son who goes through shoes faster than anyone I have ever met assumed I could just go out and buy some no big deal. I took this opportunity to show him the calender the bills we have to pay and when I could buy him some shoes, he is only 8 but somewhat understood what I was teaching him, money doesnt just show up around here we work for it. 

To not take anything personally wowzers how hard is this one for me, I am like a walking emotional cloud or ray of sunshine depending on the day. But I learned I just need to do things for my own inner happiness not to hear someone else say good job, I can tell myself  "hey you made on hell of a dinner tonight". I am a pretty good cook, friend, sister, awesome wife and a great mom. 

Everyday I pray, sometimes several times and I always end it with let me do my best today with everything I do. Thats all I can ask for to do my best and to be in the moment of what ever I am doing.

Whats for dinner? I think we are having grilled cheese and tomato soup. Its raining here so that sounds good. 

Face care

I have been given many compliments lately about how great my skin looks and how young I look. I have been mistaken by most people, except those that know me, for my two oldest daughters older sister mostly by women. So today I though I would share what I use and how I do it.

 

I am a loyal Olay girl have been for about 10 plus years now. I use these two in the morning after I put my conditioner in my hair I apply a quarter size amount of Olay blemish control to the palm of my hand and a small amount of water then apply to my face. I leave it on while I wash the rest of myself and when it comes to taking it off I don't just rinse it away I use a washcloth to make sure I get all the soap residue. When I am done drying off I apply the Olay complete UV lotion.

                                                                              
At night before bed I was my face with Olay age defying face wash, I leave it one for a few minutes, I will usually apply and go ask the kids if they have their outfits picked out for the next day. After I wash is off with warm water on a washcloth I apply a small amount of Olay regenerist  and a recent addition to my regime has been the Nivea I will apply that after the Olay regenerist, just a small amount and massage my face a little.

Now this might not be what you want to do but I thought I would share what I use and how I do it. Ever since I can remember My aunts and my grandmother really stressed how important it is to take care of your skin so its just part of my life. As far as cost well here ya go

Olay Total effects blemish control- $7-$8

Olay complete lotion- $6-$7

Olay age defying wash- $6-$7

Olay Regenerist lotion- $18

Nivea I have no idea the kids got it for Christmas and gave it to me. 

I use coupons and wait for sales for these things I try to never pay full price for them.

Have a great day all!

Whats for dinner? We are having pancakes! Heart shaped of coarse.

Goals???

                                                                   Goals


 So how has your new year been so far? Ours has been good. Have you kept up with your goals? 

You can read about my goals here in this post. We have been doing very well with some and maybe not with others.

We haven't eaten fast food at all!! YAY!!

I cant report if I have lost any weight yet I do not want to weigh myself until March. 

I haven't been blogging twice a week and I am working on that now!

Exercise well lets see that depends on how you look at it, do you count raking the yard? Cleaning a house moving for 3 straight hours? I have been doing these kinds of things, does that count?

 200 sales in my Etsy shop I am on my way I am currently at 133.

Four more houses to clean I am still working on this, and had some things come up that actually might work out better, I will tell you more about that later.

20 doll sales- I have been working very hard making and creating new dolls as soon as I finish them I will post pictures, one of them will be for sale.

Whats for dinner? We are having Tacos yum!

Why Not

I am having a Why Not sale in my shop today everything is 25% off go check it out!You can have your pick of anything in the shop! Look at these gems.

                                                                 

Thursday Things

Surly Sue

Stinkerella

Retro Kitchen

These are new patterns coming to Stagi Works etsy shop soon. Have you been in to see our other newly added patterns lately? We have great stick figure patterns, our line of Surly Sue is off to a smashing start. 

Whats for dinner? Leftovers for us tonight!

Stagi Works

  My sister Melissa and I opened a shop together a few months ago named project stockpile, selling all different craft supplies and such. A month or so into it we got to thinking why couldn't we do embroidery patterns? So we started selling patterns and art from my sister Melissa. We thought our shop name doesnt really reflect what we are doing here so the name game began. We came up with Stagi Works. Stagi is our maiden name and works is to pay om-age to our parents shop San Jose Stove Works. It seemed fitting, our shop is a bunch of our "works" of art. I hope you enjoy going through our store and maybe finding a thing or two you might need or maybe just want!

Here are a few patterns:

Larry Jones

Surly Sue

                                                                          

Chickens

                                             So to be a little more country we got chickens.

Rhode Island Red Chickens

 The great thing about our new house it gives us the ability to have them. The previous owner of this house used to raise peacocks, swans and deer I guess. There is a little out building on the side of our property the we turned in to the hen house. We started off with five chickens and now have four. We woke up one morning to her just being gone. My five year old wanted to make missing signs, we all got a good laugh out of that one. It was the one chicken who would walk up to you like she was saying good morning. 

They dont require much work as long as you are on top of it. I love going out there in the morning to give them some scraps of food and they all come running over, they run pretty fast.  The kids love to go get eggs everyday, hold them and play with them. We are thinking of getting more during March so it is warmer for chicks. Did you know they have chickens that lay eggs that are green, and blue? Have a good day all!!!

Whats for dinner? We are having beans and rice tonight I cant wait!!!

Questions

I have a couple of questions for you today dear readers. Everyday I find myself wanting to blog about raking the yard for exercise, my wonderful husband, how raising kids can suck sometimes, one chicken ran away etc... 

Then this morning I thought why not ask you what you like to read, I want to get to know the people who take time from their busy lives to read my words.

1- What interests you about this blog?

2- What topics do you want to see?

Please share I would love to see what you want to read.

Whats for dinner? We are having yummy grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Being a Mom

One of the hardest most underpaid jobs around I think. I do everything I can for my kids and still teach them lessons that I feel they need to know. I am truthful, respectful, open and honest with all of our kids, my 5 and my husband has 4, we are a modern day Brady Bunch. There are times when I feel overwhelmed with all the kids and trying to give everyone the attention they need. I don't spoil them with possessions I try really hard to teach them you have to work for things, so I say no a lot. 

 We had a really hard time this last Christmas if it were not for our families our kids would have had no gifts. We struggle just like every-other family, we make it a point to tell our kids when they complain that we have a roof, food on the table and we are all pretty healthy. 

There are times when I hear about my kids friends what they have, are doing and I get a little down but then I remember the kind of family we are and how much my kids love our home we have created. I could not be more proud of my kids they are so smart, caring and conscience of people around them. Don't get me wrong there are some mornings I wake up and the shouting between siblings has started before they even get out of bed. They think I ignore them and I don't, its just for me I pick my battles what lesson can I teach from what ever they are yelling about, and will we be laughing about this later? For example yesterday my 8 year old son had a piece of glass in his knee it took 45 minutes to get it out, the girls all laughed at his crying, I got frustrated and walked away to make our dinner many times and in the end when he looked away I pulled it out. While we ate dinner we all laughed about it.
I have been asked several times over the last 17 years of being a mom "who does a better job stay at home moms or working moms?" We all do our best job that we can. Some moms need to work, some need to stay home I cant judge anyone's situation or why there kid is yelling at the store. I can just know my truth and that at the end of the day I loved my kids as best as I can, I hugged them, kissed them and listened with all my heart.

Have a great day all!


Whats for dinner? We are having BLTs, and a salad.

New Direction

                          CHANGE

I have been battling myself the past few weeks over my blog, should I keep it, shut it down, start new??? 

I have decided to change it up. I started this blog to feature things I sell in my shop and I dont want it to be about that I want it to be about my life and all the things that go on around here. I think it will make for better reading and I can share more things I think about not what I think I should be blogging about. What do you all think?

I want to tell you all about our chickens, how I made cinnamon rolls, crafts I make, crafts the kids make, what I made for dinner you get the picture.

Whats for dinner? We are having lemon chicken, rice and sauteed green beans.

Mystery Bags

I am trying a couple of new things in my Project Random shop. I bundled some patterns and started making "mystery bags". Doesn't everybody love a mystery? I of course take pictures of what is going to be in the bag and you can see what you will be getting in the mail. I have collected so many odds and ends of crafting things and I really had no idea what to do with them. I woke up in the middle of the night remembering going to the Salvation Army with my grandma and we got to pick a "grab bag" of toys. I think this will help draw traffic to my shop, fingers crossed.  I have one posted so far take a peek.

I think its a good thing if I do say so myself. Have a great day all!!

Whats for dinner? Chicken and green olives over here.

Newest creation

 So you all know I have been experimenting with making dolls here it the latest one. I find myself talking to the dolls as I create them, trying to give them a name and personality. I got the pattern from Wendy of Shiny Happy World. I love her shop!

The instructions were easy to follow with some experience in sewing. My oldest daughter fell in love and now wants to make her friends dolls for Christmas, good practice for me I guess. :)

 I have made a couple other dolls, not picture worthy in my opinion. But I am getting some great ideas for other ones.
I was obsessed with dolls when I was younger up until I had my first child. I think it might be my caretaker personality. I love making a doll knowing it will be some young girls best friend, secret holder, pal and comfort.

Just wanted to let you all know I am still here working away!! 

Whats for dinner? Tonight I think we will have Sausage with pasta and salad. 

I am still here

So with the move and starting a cleaning business I have been very busy to say the least. Also I have had trouble with thinking of things to blog about. I wish I could just think it and poof it would appear here. 

I no longer babysit my nephew, it was sad to see him move on to a bigger daycare but it was the right thing for both of us, he needs to grow with other kids and I needed to move on to bigger better things too. 

So far what I hate about living out in the country are the flies and the internet. The flies are bad right now for everyone I guess so that will go away, the internet on the other hand sucks big time we have satellite, a step up from dial up, I will take this as a big lesson in patience. My sister and I are working together for another craft fair next month so we have been busy bees making things. I am hoping to post pictures later this week. 

Well I just wanted to check in and say I am still here.


Whats for dinner?
To be honest I dont know I made a huge dinner last night to only have 4 of us eat it and the power was off for a couple of hours today so that threw off my plans for slow baked chicken. Oh well we will survive. 

Contest!!!

It has been way too long my dear readers and I apologize for that. We moved unpacked every box and are getting back into routine. So much has gone on in the past two weeks I don't even know where to start. 

Today I want to keep it short and let you know about a contest going on at afterninetofive.net the lovely Ashley asked me if I would like to participate in a give away and I picked something super cute you need to check it out click here. Have a great day all I will be blogging more tomorrow.

Whats for dinner?? We are having home fries, ham steak, scrambled eggs, french toast for the kids I want wheat pancakes. 

Reinvention

Have any of you thought about reinventing yourself? Getting in touch with your true passion? If you could do anything what would it be?

I, after some thought would be a store owner up cycled, retro, vintage and craft things. I like when people see things that remind them of their past and of happy times. 

My dad owned a store for so many years and we as his children were never given the option to have a business like that. We were told you need to go to school, after a while that's all I thought I could do was go to school. I never did go to college, I had my first child when I was 19 and then 4 more children later I lost sight of myself, my dreams and goals.

So many of us get caught up in the day to day we forget to make memories, smile, laugh make connections with old friends. I want that in my life. I want to see people be happy I want to help people create crafts, help people find that one piece to a china set their grandmother gave them. I want my children to see what passion is and to discover their own. I have started this to some degree with my online shops and now just need to grow the seeds I have planted. Check them out... www.projectrandom.etsy.com and www.projectstockpile.etsy.com.

I will have to work hard, make sacrifices but it will all be worth it. I want to be in control of my future for what I want, not what society thinks I should be doing.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Whats for dinner? we will be having chicken alfredo.

Camp Tacos

A couple of weeks ago I was asked for some tips or recipes for camping from Campfire Chic Click here to read the post.
You will have to scroll down just a little bit.