2010 Reflections

image by PaperScissorsCake

I started 2010 with great expectations...pregnancy expectations... that failed...I can't deny I still feel sad to think about our failed Invitro... I shed lots of tears... secrets tears because I wanted to look strong but at times I still I dare to ask God why??  Only he knows the reason, after all he is our maker and he knows best. Now I try to focus not only on what I want but on what he wants for me.
In 2010 We grew more comfortable in our new home and new town.  As a mom and wife I tried to do my best to take care of my family.  As a business woman I put my heart into my etsy shop and I am happy to say it grew oh! and I opened a second shop.  I also put more effort into my blog and found new sweet friends that I thank God for. We, The Aguilar's are ending this year together with health and happiness. Enough reasons to thank God. I make a toast and wish for all of us a Happy New Year!

"When you're lonely, I wish you Love!
When you're down, I wish you Joy!
When you're troubled, I wish you Peace!
When things seem empty, I wish you Hope!
Have a Happy New Year!" - Anonymous

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Happy Mail

A couple of days ago I received some Happy Mail,  a really pleasant surprise.  A Christmas card, a very special one that I was part of it.  You might remember that I blogged about an order of custom made Vintage Music envelopes .  Well my customer was kind enough to send one my way!  Beautiful address labels as well as  gorgeous seals, inside a exquisite 8 page booklet  with pictures of her good looking kids acting out "The Twelve days of Christmas".  Such an intimate and well thought Christmas card made with talent, love and best wishes for her family and friends.  It made me very happy seeing the final result and I'd like to think that I helped with the wrapping of this lovely gift!  Here are some pictures:

Isn't this one a keeper! Thanks again to amu7 (etsy name) for letting me be a part of this!

 

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Seasons Change Week 14

Season:  one of the four periods of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, but geographically at different dates in different climates.

Every morning on our way to my daughters school  we go past a ranch with a long row of big trees that surely change with the seasons but we hardly notice.  My kids and I have decided to embark on a project that will help us notice that gradual change on the trees.  My daughter Sophia  will take at least a weekly picture after school for a whole year, I will post it on my blog entry on Fridays and my little one Xavi wants in it too so he will take a picture of some cows from a different ranch and improve his picture taking skills.

We had a drop in temperature this week and also some rain.  Some more rain is in the forecast for this weekend also which is good! Christmas is almost here yay! Pictures taken on 12-16-10 Can you believe on week one  when we started documenting three months ago these trees were so green and full of leaves?? 

As far as the cows we don't know what happened??  They're all gone...where?? we don't know.  We have not seen one all of this week.  Now my kids are on a secret mission to figure out the case of the missing cows.


We start our Holiday vacation today.  Two whole weeks off school and work.  So probably no tree pictures for the Holidays.  We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Santa Claus is coming to town!

Yes Santa Claus is coming to town in Spanish!  Song by Luis Miguel my favorite Mexican singer, producer and songwriter.  Luis Miguel is called "El Sol de Mexico" (The Sun of Mexico) by his fans and the media.  And as a minor note he could have been my babies' daddy!  But I went for my dear husband instead.  :)

By the way, since Santa is almost here!  are you in need of one of the following??

 A gorgeous Floral Arrangements by dewdropdaisies

Some Holiday Party invitations by bnute

What about a beautiful Holly Hair clip by TreasuredDetails

How about this beautiful stencil by maisondestencils

I bet you don't have a Pill Box as cute as this one by mmim

Wishing you a Feliz Navidad!!!

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Rules

  I will start this post quoting my third grader's teacher on her last progress report:  "Sophia is a very cooperative student, she is a team player and works cooperatively with others and willingly takes on responsibilities in the classroom."

At the beginning of the school year one of Sophia's  responsibilities was to help a fellow student.  She was paired up with a girl from Colombia with limited knowledge of the English Language.  Sophia being bilingual acts as an interpreter and translator when needed.  The teacher told Sophia that if at any given point she wanted to stop helping she could do that.  She says she likes helping Tammy.  A couple of days ago I found these two pink cards in her pencil pouch with a set of rules she had written.  I asked her if I could blog about it and she loved the idea.

 First set of rules read as follow:

1.  Tammy don't write on my things.

2.  Tammy don't bother me.

3.  Don't tickle me!

4.  Tammy don't treat me like a toy!

5.  Listen to the teacher!

Second card of rules read like this:

1.  Please in the morning don't touch my homework.

2.  Don't touch , or please do not read my sticky note!

3.  Please don't ever look IN my desk!

4.  Please don't touch my name tag or it will fall off.

5.  Don't play with my water bottle.

6.  Don't right (write) on things that you don't have to.

I just thought it was way too cute!  I am so proud of her for setting rules, taking care of herself and her belongings and for helping Tammy in the classroom.  I love you my sweet Sophia!!

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Seasons Change Week 13

Season:  one of the four periods of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, but geographically at different dates in different climates.

Every morning on our way to my daughters school  we go past a ranch with a long row of big trees that surely change with the seasons but we hardly notice.  My kids and I have decided to embark on a project that will help us notice that gradual change on the trees.  My daughter Sophia  will take at least a weekly picture after school for a whole year, I will post it on my blog entry on Fridays and my little one Xavi wants in it too so he will take a picture of some cows from a different ranch and improve his picture taking skills.

 This picture was taken on 12-9-10  The temperature is still in the mid 70's and can't really complain!

 We got real close to the cows time!


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Gingerbread Man Cookies

No cookie says Christmas more than a Gingerbread Man!  So I Googled some recipes and found this easy recipe from Cooks.com ,  if you like baking!  If  you don't, you can just go out and buy them! 

GINGER COOKIES - GINGERBREAD MEN

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1810,150189-247199,00.html Content Copyright © 2010 Cooks.com - All rights reserved. 2/3 c. shortening 1/2 c. brown sugar 2 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. cloves or allspice 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1 egg 3/4 c. molasses 3 c. flour, sifted 1 tsp. soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder Cream together shortening, brown sugar, spices, and salt. Add the egg; mix thoroughly. Add molasses and blend. Sift together (twice) the flour, soda, baking powder, and add to the molasses mixture. Stir well and chill. Roll out a fourth of the dough at a time, on floured board to a little more than 1/8 inch thick. Cut with a gingerbread man cutter or other shapes. Bake on greased cookie sheets in moderately hot oven (375 degrees), 8 to 10 minutes. Cool before decorating.

I wonder which one of the following Gingerbread man runs the fastest??

The Hanging Gingerbread Wall Decor from lisabees

Or the Gingerbread Man Shea Butter Soap from SoStinkingSweet

Perhaps the Gingerbread Painted Wood Pin by JamBee

Maybe the  Gingerbread Man Large Glass Tile Necklace by crystalboutique

How about the Gingerbread Man Fine Art photograph by mingtaphotography ?

I usually don't do this!  But this time I just have to add my Gingerbread Cookies for Santa Note Set by yours truly

Now I am wondering which one taste the best??

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Children a reflection of us.

I was doing a white load of laundry a couple of weeks ago and you know socks for 5 people can make you crazy!!  By the way I'd like to thank my husband because his socks are the only ones that are still white!  As I was saying too many socks to sort out, so I called for some backup.  My little four year old came to the rescue.  We had gone to In & and Out Burgers earlier and Xavi had been given a paper hat like the ones they wear at that place and he was a "trabajador" a worker he said.  He had been flipping burgers non stop.  So Xavi was in a mood to help.

I noticed how meticulously  he sorted out his socks out of the basket and stacked them!

Very proudly and delicately he also did his daddy's socks.  

You know how they say children are a reflection of their parents and as they're growing up we strive to make sure they say 'please' and 'thank you'.  We tell them to respect others, say 'excuse me' and hold the door for others.  They model our behaviors and personalities so we better set a good example if we want them to be well adjusted adults in this crazy world!  Sunday for example right after breakfast my husband starts cleaning and organizing the kitchen cabinets...oh my...you know that kitchen drawer where you keep a bit of junk, I mean papers, bills, matches, coins, paper clips, you think of it...well, I used to have one not any more! 

So far my Xavi is following is his daddy's footsteps a super organized man!

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Seasons Change Week 12

Season:  one of the four periods of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, but geographically at different dates in different climates.

Every morning on our way to my daughters school  we go past a ranch with a long row of big trees that surely change with the seasons but we hardly notice.  My kids and I have decided to embark on a project that will help us notice that gradual change on the trees.  My daughter Sophia  will take at least a weekly picture after school for a whole year, I will post it on my blog entry on Fridays and my little one Xavi wants in it too so he will take a picture of some cows from a different ranch and improve his picture taking skills.

So we didn't post any tree pictures last Friday.  It was Thanksgiving Holiday, so we took a break!  Here are two pictures taken on 12-2-10 taken from two different angles.  On one end the trees are still yellowing.  On the other end some trees have lost all of their leaves.  A ah!  I knew at some points these trees would be naked! 

And here is the bit of snow I wanted to show you before on The San Jacinto Mountains

And here we have the usual cows and some horses that we saw near the ranch with the trees.  Have a nice weekend!


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Art Gift Set by mllamb47

I'd like to share with you what my friend Melody from mllamb47 put together as a unique Art Gift Set for these Holidays:

Sets contains the following:
* Four handmade cards with her original art
* Four handmade envelopes 

* Four custom postage stamps
* One cute little organza fabric bag
* One foot length of silver colored cord
* One sheet of gold tissue paper
* One wee little gift card (on which to write your special someone's name).

Asterisk #2 This is where I come in.  She had those envelopes custom made by yours truly!

Yes, beautiful pastel colors!

So if you'd like hop on to Melody's etsy shop  where you will find charming miniature paintings and unique art gifts go ahead don't be shy!

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A trip down Candy Cane Lane!

Aww December!!  Candy canes traditionally surrounds the Christmas Holidays... red and white flavored with peppermint yummy! I thought we take a trip down Candy Cane Lane with etsy's help.  There is something for everybody on this gift guide

If you want to dress up your table these are the perfect red and white place mats by Pianolady123

To stay in the Christmas spirit and to run your errands with style this great looking  OOAK tote by CalviRee

For the knitter at heart  in your family these great Handmade Glass needles by MarthaKauppiGlass

Aww for that little Ninja in your life!  Ninja Tree Decorations by Lilley  I just placed my order!

To stay warm this season this extralong handknited bulky scarf by karmalogyclynic

Ok, so what about the dog?  I bet he'd loved to be in the spirit also! Holiday  Candy Cane Bandanna by Pawsitively1precious

For that special man in your life be it your husband, boyfriend, friend you name him...ok ok not so Christmassy but we will let it pass this time...let it be candy to your eyes.  Shirt by onegearclothing

Christmas is just around the corner!

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Postal Service

So we left last Wednesday, destination: San Diego, Holiday: Thanksgiving.  We had a great time, cooking chatting, eating with family.  Great family news also, my sister is engaged!  My cousin and his girlfriend are expecting their first baby!  I come back home and Happy Mail is waiting in the mail box!!  What could be better??  Great looking box nicely wrapped from my lovely friend Kary and her son Miguelito

The box was addressed to Claudia but my little one was anxious to open it!  This was really a Christmas Kickoff we cannot thank you enough Kary and Miguelito.  I would like to share some of the pictures of that special moment!

Isn't that a great looking box?  Xavi had shed some tears because he had been wanting to open it but we had to unpack first :(  oh and he got a haircut!

Inside there was a lovely letter from Kary and individual packages for each one of us! All of the items were very nice and we already put them to use...chocolates, candies, pencils, coloring books & crayons,  toys, notepad, a lovely purse for Sophia, body spritz and lip gloss, Christmas socks and pedicure set for me and a bracelet!  Oh my! how thoughtful of  Kary and her son!

The moment of surprise, Xavi loved everything he received!

Sophia loved her body spritz and her purse (I am jealous!) she said she will carry it wherever she goes!

The kids said I should be in the pictures so here I am me and Xavi sharing a bite of the chocolate!

Warm comfy Christmas socks!  I wore them last night to bed!

Now I hate pictures of me but this one is for you Kary!  My sister straightened my hair so I have to show off!

We cannot thank you enough Kary and Miguelito we loved everything you sent on that special package and you made it feel like Christmas...beware because I have your address now!

On a last note I also got a couple of cards from a fellow etsian.  She is an architect living in Germany and I put one of her items in a Treasury she was nice enough to write me a lovely letter and sent me two of her cute cards!.  This is her shop 7WOOD.  Thank you very much 7WOOD.  Happy Holydays!

Isn't that nice for Postal Service.  Thank you all I send you much love!

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