Seasons Change Second Edition...Summer Week 2

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness 

included in all four seasons,

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe display the holidays in turn

who knows?

The sky is the limit.

Wild fires, the dangers of Summer!  We could see the flames from our house.  These situations make me very nervous.  Luckily this was under control within a few hours.  

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Click, clak ding!

Pretty self explanatory right!!  

I finally got my vintage typewriter!  

 There is something pleasingly awesome about  banging those keys on a piece of paper.  Remember I was on my search for a vintage typewriter?

My sister loves garage and Estates sales so I asked her to keep an eye out for one.  I also mentioned it my husband. 

 A couple of weeks ago I found an electronic typewriter at a thrift store for $10 I tried it and it worked fine, we brought it home typed a few lines, then it got stuck and I got frustrated trying to figure it out :(

 The next morning I approached it again and after a few attempts it worked but after a while the keys got stuck once more.  One word...frustration!  I talked to my husband and told him about my purchase and that I found a shop in San Diego where they would take a look a it and tell me what is wrong and maybe I will have it fix.  

This is what he said:

 "Oh, didn't I tell you my dad has a vintage typewriter that he has had in storage for years?  He told me to give it to you?"  

HELLO!!  No I never got that memo!  

I never would have purchased that other one in the first place!! but anyways I am still waiting for the call from the shop and I am sure I will have it fixed because guess what? we are having too much fun with this one so far :)

If I have your address I am sure I will write a note to say hi!

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This is how I feel today

I spent most of last week at my mom's helping her clean out her kitchen and refrigerator inside and outside top and bottom.  Got rid of a few spider webs.  I swept and mopped in places that have not seen the light before in a long long time.  I came back home Saturday only to get sick.  I spent Sunday in bed with fever sweating the virus off.  Lucky me I am still alive only a nasty cough is left, lots of sneezing and a congested and runny nose.  Thank God the worst is over.

Pajama days are hard for me unless I am sick but here is a confession I want to get out of my comfort zone and be a bit more relaxed (by the way pajama days are perfectly fine for the kids)  So this morning I declared it "Officially Pajama Day"  Everyone seems to be  happy.  So let's be '"FREE" today!

I am sure I can find something to google for example BSOD (blue screen of death) one of our laptops diagnostics hey I surely cannot kill it anymore right??

This is the way I feel today!

The kids love this song and every time we hear it we get a laugh out of this lazy song and in a way it has inspired me.

This is how we will look today!

 Now tell me how often do you have pajama days?  Or how long do you wear your pajamas??

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Seasons Change Second Edition...Summer Week 1

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness 

included in all four seasons,

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe display the holidays in turn

who knows?

The sky is the limit.

This is the first week of Summer and to be honest it's been feeling like Summer for some weeks now.

I once showed you my morning drive.  Well this is it now.  I am glad since the kids are out of school it's only an option to go out of the house and there are really no schedules.  So here's to  a fun and mild Summer!  maybe?? 

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Free Shipping announcement

via

During this Summer vacation there will be various opportunities to receive free shipping on both of my etsy shops 

moncy3 and moncyscottage 

Here's the chance!  Today till Sunday June 24 use code FREESHIPPING at checkout.  Items will be shipped on Monday June 25,  you must use code!

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Fitness Update

Let me update you on my quest for fitness and loosing the love handles!  Remember this picture at the beginning of the year.  And remember when I finally decided to do something about it two months ago?

Well I've been riding my bike more often and for longer periods of time.  On the food issue I still struggle a bit I do have to say.  Food is an addiction and it's hard to break bad habits but I am getting there.  On the drinking water issue I have to remind myself to drink water instead of sugary drinks.  Concerning the exercise I have been faithfully following a series of 5 taebo videos at home a minimum of three times a week!  A good sweat feels great!!

I do have a support system let me tell you a bit about that:

My mom and sister: 
They are my best cheerleaders, every time I see one of them they compliment me and tell me that they see a difference in my muffin top.

My kids:
I thought it would be a good idea if we did the routine exercise as a family.  Of course they would do it on their own rhythm.  The first day Sophia said "no thanks I will just get some ice cream and watch TV" (thanks for the support there!), Xavi on the other hand was a much better sports but with numerous trips to the bathroom and rest breaks.  So basically now they join me if they feel like it which is hardly the case.

My husband:
He gives me a hard time everytime I sit and that muffin top shows he jokes and says: "Hechate otro tamal"  which means "Have another tamale"  which of course is a joke and I laugh with him.

To be honest I have not lost any weight maybe a pound or two as the scale varies from day to day.

But here is the before and after and definite proof that my body is changing.  I have been bearing the pain and I am proud of all my hard work.  You see the curves on my love handles less pronounced??  I am on my way to a fitter  and tighter me.

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Hubby's Birthday

A couple of weeks ago to be exact on June 4th it was my husband's Birthday.  The young fellow turned 39 years old.  It was the first Monday off school for the kids and my husband took the day off work.  Indeed a special day.  My nephew stayed over for the weekend and early that Monday morning I got up and rode my bike when I came back everybody was still sleeping in.  I drove to the store and bought a Birthday cake.  Everybody still asleep.  I had enough time to cook some banana walnut and cinnamon pancakes just in case somebody didn't want cake for breakfast! 

 Silly me most of the pancakes and half the cake was gone!

Nice way of starting Summer vacation.

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Season's Change Second Edition...Spring Week 10

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness 

included in all four seasons,

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe display the holidays in turn

who knows?

The sky is the limit.

 I've seen this little oasis before but never really stopped until the day I took this picture.

I called it oasis because you would never guess where it is located.  It is in the corner of a huge parking lot where the only establishment is a supermarket.  But this little corner is far far away from the store, I guess they have plans to build more buildings and bring more businesses to this place but meanwhile this little corner is isolated.  Not even a bus stop is nearby.  I am sure the few people that stop here if any can have a nice time of solitude and relaxation for themselves.

  

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Jury duty... a new experience

I was summoned for Jury Duty a couple of months ago and I postponed it till the kids were out of school so that my sister could watch them while I went.  So I went yesterday, my first experience as a prospective juror.  I left  my house at 6:00 am had to drive 20 minutes to my sister's house on the east side of Hemet and drive back 20 minutes back to the west side where I live.  Then start the journey to the Courthouse in Corona CA 50 minutes away from Hemet. I hate driving to a place where I've never been before...even more on a Monday morning during rush hour it just stresses me out so much... awful traffic!

My husband googled directions and he even showed me Goggle Earth aerial views so that I had an idea as to where I was going.  But I am so bad with maps and directions.  I will admit  I made a right where I was supposed to make a left, I was worried about timing but I made it to the Court on time.  I was to report at 8:00 am and got there at 7:50 am.

So I was going through the security checkpoint, a beep and a red light no biggie just my belt.  Then the officer noticed that I had a small pocket knife on my key chain and told me to go leave it on my car...hello all the way to the parking lot??  thanks a lot!  For a minute I thought of trowing it away, but no it is a very useful item to me.  Besides a small knife it has a small pair of scissors that I use to cut open a bag of chips or whatever it needs to be cut for the kids maybe clip a coupon.  It also has an emery board for chipped nails  I just could not part with it.

Anyways after about 2 1/2 hours, a video and orientation and bathroom breaks and lots of sitting we were called to the jury room.  I say 100 prospective jurors were there.  About half of them were excused and  the rest of us were called to come back at 11:00 am They called the first 18 people I was # 4 and sat us on the jury box.  We had to introduce ourselves, our name, profession, marital status, children or no children, whether we've served as jurors before and whether or not we felt we could be fair on the case.  Unfortunately this was a child abuse case and I had to speak my mind I told the judge that having young kids myself I didn't think I could be fair on this case. I felt very uncomfortable. My mind automatically is set to think that if the guy has been accused of sexually molesting a child I would not want my kids around him.  Then after a lunch break the prosecutor and the defense came and asked a bunch of questions, used lots of words that were hard to understand.  Played with our minds with hypothetically situations just like on a TV show.  I didn't make the cut and was excused hours later. Sure enough they didn't want a biased person on the jury panel. Honestly I was relieved.

Meanwhile my kids were behaving extraordinary well at my sister's.  She said they were well behaved, they ate all of their food. Sophia was being a mom and a protector to Xavi  what?  where those really my kids you know the ones that fight, scream, jump on beds, trow toys all over the house and refuse to eat their food!  yes they were, I guess I've taught them well...at least they act on it when I am away from them.  I should be proud of them I know that.

They told me they missed me. Sophia said she shed a tear and missed my hugs and my warm feeling when I dropped them off in the morning.  I missed them too.  Back at home and things back to routine I wondered where were those well behaved kids that were at my sister's all day??

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Happy Mail

Here is some of the latest mail that I've sent and received I don't know which one is more fun :)

Outgoing mail 

Congratulations  card on First Communion to Miguelito in New York

Happy Mother's Day to my penpal in Nebraska

Happy Mother's Day card to my best friend in San Diego

Happy Mother's Day card to my penpal in Kansas

Happy Mother's Day card to Dear Kary in New York 

my sister from another mother!!

Graduation card sent to my aunt in Texas.
 Once being a High School dropout (she said so herself) 
she turned her life around.  She went back to school, while having a job, a husband a teenage daughter and having a second daughter in the process.  She finally obtained her BA in business and landed the job she desired.  It's never too late to go back to School. 

Incoming Mail

Postcard received from Kansas (her mother in law went to London)

Beautiful card received from Kansas

Postcard received from Nebraska, she said this reminds her of my Seasons Change posts!!

That put a smile on my face.

Just this past week I received some very Happy Mail

from Katyha in Australia.  A box full of handmade goodies that 

made me feel like I was celebrating my own Birthday!

And to top it off some lot of Australian chocolate goodies!

that I selfishly ate before the kids got out of school!!

Is that too bad?

Hope your mailbox has been happy lately!

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Seasons Change second Edition...Spring Week 9

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness

included in all four seasons, 

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe display the Holidays in turn

who knows? 

The sky is the limit.

Now that kids are home I want to continue with Seasons Change.  Free and lazy days are easy to enjoy specially for kids. I really want to take it easy this Summer and enjoy the things that I myself usually don't.  So welcome long afternoons and Summer!

We went grocery shopping and stopped at a couple of thrift stores.  As soon as the kids saw a park they asked to stopped to play.  You see on a regular day I would have not stopped :/ They needed a break so we stopped.


 I sat and glanced around to see where I could find my shot for this week.  Well, these two started being silly!  For some reason that is hard to do for them nowadays 
as they spend most of the days

arguing and fighting and disagreeing you know what brothers and sisters do! 

I do apologize for the picture overload this week but I just could not pick one. 

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Glad to be back

First of all I'd like to thank you for all your nice words of support  and encouragement.  I really enjoyed the short break but also missed this blog world and missed you guys.  There is so much to share and things to document in this little blog of mine that I am back.  

On my etsy shop I had 7 sales on May and thoren1 was the monthly winner.  This was his free pick.  He told me he would use them to stay in touch with his long distance girlfriend.  Talking about love letters! Great idea don't you think!!

I featured one artist on May

oneandtwocompany

It seems like it was yesterday when Xavi started kindergarten, well the school year just finished.  He made amazing academic growth.  He met the challenges of his kindergarten year with enthusiasm effort and a positive attitude!

A couple of weeks before school ended his class visited  Calicinto Ranch for an educational experience.  He was so excited as it was his first time riding a school bus.  At the Ranch he got to ride horses and held chickens and goats.  He said he had lots of fun.  He came home with this worksheet and that pair of sheep got some ahhh's and ohhh's from me and my husband!  

He also was very proud of his horse and I know I should not question a kid's creativity but I just had to ask why a blue horse honey??  He said oh no that's the back you should see the front!

And here is the front.  No more questions!

Here is my little cowboy.  Yeehaw!!

Each Kid in his class drew him or herself and all of the pictures were put together to create this shirt.  One morning I gave Xavi the money to turn it in to pay for the shirt and he lost it.   Not a good thing :( he was upset and so was I.  Luckily another teacher found the labeled envelope with the money and turned it in. 

It is amazing how many kids a single teacher has to work with!  When Sophia was in kindergarden she had 15 classmates Xavi has 29!!

  

I loved this shirt idea it is a great way to remember his classmates, do you see that boy named Ruben?  It's Xavi's best friend!

Anyways I am glad to be back and ready to enjoy this Summer!  Hope you are  too.  But not too hot of a Summer please!

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