this is how we do it

Hello guys!  I apologize if after reading my post title the song this is how we do it ♪ ♫ is stuck in your head for at least half of the day.

But honestly, this is how we do it (again ♫ ♪) 

 We eat dinner early in the afternoon as soon as everybody gets home from work and school.  

Emma would roam the floor while I cook dinner in the middle of the day. 

She just loves to hang with me.  I don't worry too much about her being on the floor because she needs to build up her immune system anyways.  As long as she does not get the bubonic plague :/

 

I must confess that I now dream about soccer and referees and goals and off sides since Xavi joined indoor soccer now he has 2 games on Saturdays and 1 on Sunday. sigh.  Oh and I also dream of rehearsals and new dance moves  since Sophie joined a competition team. I must tell you too that Emma and I started going to mommy and me classes.  I have been a busy bee lately!  

Now tell me how have you been my friends?

Hopefully good! 

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not for me

Not for me...

Boring, tedious, I did it because I wanted to try it.  My 45 by 45 list.  Reading poetry is what I am talking about. I gave it my all honestly.  I picked a short book so that I could concentrate  "The Selected Poems of Federico Garcia Lorca" a Spanish poet, playwright and theater director. I even was lucky enough to find one that had been translated, I had the English version and the Spanish version right on the same book.  I thought this would make it easier.  I took the book along with me to soccer practice and while we waited for Sophie.  I renewed it twice to have enough time.  I read and read, and when I lost my place in the book  I couldn't find my place back...that's how sad it was.  I went back to read over and over. I read the whole book and didn't understand a thing.  Maybe it was the poetry style? maybe was my mindset? Reading this book was so vague to me.   I did not enjoy reading poetry.  Why instead of saying things straight they give it that little twist?, that little twist that won't let me understand what they are trying to say. sigh.

I did manage to understand a little tiny poem

HALF MOON

The moon goes over the water,

How tranquil the sky is!

She goes scything slowly

the old shimmer from the river;

meanwhile a young frog 

takes her for a little mirror.

I know you have to experiment things to find out if you like them.  So, no.  Now I can say I read a poetry book and it's not for me.  One more thing crossed of my list.

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his and hers

I am sure you have seen his and hers towels, mugs, pillowcases, side of the bed sings, 

wedding bands etc, etc.
You name it right?  There is everything his and hers.

Last week when I glanced at Javier's calendar 

I could help but notice that it didn't look anything at all like mine!  

All throughout the month there were changes here additions there, reschedulings as well.

He does bring home the bacon, but I do have to cook it and then clean up after it!  

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Lake Hemet

Boy this was a short week!  Today it's our Friday!!  As Javier has Fridays off, we only had a three day workweek.  This is like how I like my weeks short and sweet.

Sophia had been asking to go to the beach.  Beaches near us are 1 1/2 hrs away either west or south Javier was not up to the driving jokingly he asked Sophia "let's stay home and watch beach movies" as he had a rough work week.  We settled for a lake.  A lake close to us that we have never visited before.

Lake Hemet, it has everything you need for a great experience, 

camping, fishing, boating and a water park for kids.

Our plan was not to stay overnight, but just to check the place out since it was our first time there 

like I mentioned before.

We just grabbed some chairs, a couple of coolers with sandwiches and drinks, a battery operated radio, some sunscreen and Javier's coloring book that amazingly he retrieves here and there to use it.  

Honestly we've all asked him to use his book!  Here are some pics I'd like to share.

It was a nice day we spent there!  The weather was wonderful in the 80's 

We did have to move once or twice to hide from the sun.  Sophie and Xavi had fun in the water park.  Emma had a great time helping switching the colors to whoever was coloring. 

Hopefully before the kids start school again we make it again this time to stay overnight! 

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on being social

I can spend a lot of time online don't you? I do think I spend a great deal of time online. I am guilty of that. I can get lost in waves and waves of information and never ending searches. I love love pinterest I tell you, I love all the inspiration and ideas there I don't think I can ever give that up, honestly there I can be all day.  But that's not a good thing I know I know. Let's not talk about social media ah!? lately I am trying to get away from my personal facebook page, that consumes too much of my time which is precious nowadays with Emma on the loose. I have to get better at budgeting my time online that's for sure.

On being social for advertising purposes for my etsy shops I have never been good.  I guess I have been lazy on that department. Recently I've discovered hashtags! I know I am late on the bandwagon of #s,
I've been living on a cave blah blah blah  but my oh my, it's nice to see that I am getting more views on my items now that I started using them.

One site that I particularly like is instagram.  I have a feeling that it is my time to shine in the world of vintage clothing.  I am certainly not an expert.  I pick items that I like and would wear myself that makes it more fun. I am also playing dress up with the items that fit me haha.  That is helping my self confidence I tell you I have to take a dozen pictures before I upload one.
I am also using a filter just to have a coherent vintage feeling and that helps a bit for me.

Today I have something to say to you all:

#ilovehashtags! 

 it's fascinating to me right now that's for sure.

mypolyestercloset 

what social media do you like to advertise your shops?

do you use hashtags? tell me tell me!
How do you budget your time online?

I am just being curious here :)

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boxing

I've never talked about this topic here.  Boxing. I don't think so.  I've never liked the sport.  While growing up and with only one TV at home black and white that is (blah...) boxing was the Saturday Night thing.  My parents would watch it and my brothers and I would too.  We would lay on the bed my spot was right at their feet trying to lift my head to watch the TV set on the dresser.  

It was hard on my neck, I hated that! maybe that's why I didn't like the sport o Saturday night.  

Oh and did I mention the black and white TV?  

well, all I remember is the commentator saying: 

"the man in the red boxers" duhh!  black and white remember?  

It was too fast for me to follow and I could never tell who hit who... 

Canelo Vs Khan

Well things do change.  When I married Javier almost seventeen years ago and him being a fan of boxing.  Well I started watching boxing again.  Some may think that is a barbaric and savage sport.  It is violent, no denying. But in reality is just a spectacle of two men or women willingly trowing punches, they're fit, they're prepared, following rules and with medical back up.  They generate tons of money.

source

This past weekend we watched Mexican boxer 

Saul Canelo Alvarez defeat by knockout British boxer Amir Khan. 

We cheered as Canelo punched Khan and sent him to the canvas, 

then  it just happened...silence as  Khan just laid there motionless. We just waited to see if he responded.

Gahh that's the sad part...you cannot help but feel bad for him. Luckily he got up and is fine. 

We made it a family thing.  The kids like watching Mexican boxers on the ring.  Sometimes we go to my mother in law's house in LA to see a boxing match as Javier's brother and his dad like boxing too.  There is always food, family and friends.  But to be honest I enjoy it better in my own house just us, no driving, no sleeping over, no cooking for guests, bra off... Emma was asleep so I had a couple of drinks.
I deserve them right?  

After the fight Canelo challenged this guy GGG who is supposed to be good! 

Cannot wait for the next match!

Canelo is  from Jalisco, Mexico where my parents are from
see that's where patriotism comes in.  Plus like in any other sport it helps if the guys are cute right?  ;)

Well, now that I've said it, what do you think of boxing?  do you like it?  dislike it?  neutral?
I'd like to hear your point of view.

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gallery wall

This is something that I have been wanting to share with you.  I think I finished my gallery wall a little after Thanksgiving.  I wanted to put up something on my living room wall, initially I had a square mirror and two picture frames on each side.  I really wanted something meaningful for the family.

So I framed the kids art.  On the left side it's Valeria's kindergarten hearts and apples.  I think it's so cute how she wrote her and her dad's name.   On the upper right the big colorful frame is Sophia's abstract art. You see on the lower hand corner a child and her mother...well that represents me and her!  Now, the two wooden frames on the top left I painted with chalkboard paint to give the kids a chance to redo our portraits now and then.  On the bottom left it's a piece of pallet that I painted with chalkboard paint as well and made our family name sign.  That helps me complete another item on my 45 by 45 list "make something with pallets".

In the center it's the mirror that I mentioned I had there initially.  I was just too lazy to take it off.  At the bottom is Sophie's (her nickname is Moncy) and Xavi's portrait.  For some reason Xavi wanted Sophie's frame next to him.  It's funny because he just found out he is going on a snow ski trip with his cousins and my brother and the first thing he asked is Is Sophie going?...aww he loves her sister.  On the right is this living art wall decor with air plants that so far have not died on me.  I also made them out of pallets a bit crooked  I know but I am very proud of myself.. 

And finally here is the last section of the gallery.  Here are Vale's and Emma's portraits.  The fish and the flower Xavi made them with color chalk on 2nd grade and I framed them simply because I love chalk :) And finally the jazz frame that really has no meaning but thought it fit well in the mix.  I have to fix Xavi's crooked flower picture ha ha!  So funny I didn't noticed until I downloaded the picture.

So here you have it my whole gallery wall.  I am happy with it!  I love seeing it everyday.  

Have you done any diy projects lately?

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hello there...

Hello there you guys!  I feel like I am so running behind on things lately...for starters my 45 by 45 list, my penpals (sorry guys...) my attempts at mediation among other things.  Everyday since I downloaded the app I get a gentle reminder that says "Have you had your calm today?"  No I haven't I think to myself.  Are you kidding me?? no I haven't...Although this morning I told Sophie to tap into the app and select a two minute session while I was driving the kids to school.  What I really was trying to do is to get them to not talk for 2 minutes and guess what it worked!!  Forget Emma, she was not syncing with us.  But those two minutes felt very peaceful :)

Emma's monthly post is late as well she turned 11 months last Tuesday.

She had a cold this week, part of the reason that I'm behind on things and also am lacking many hours of sleep.  She is better now thank goodness.  It is just funny how she is starting to show her little personality. She can definitely let you know when she is mad or upset because of something.  She still pulls the fake cough to get attention, she loves doing it when strangers are around. She loves making people laugh.  She also definitely announces to the world when she ran out of cheerios on her tray and with her newly acquired crawling skills she can be sneaky!!  Oh this girl! 

Today's is Sophie's Birthday so it's a special day in this household!  

I wish you a Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend ahead!

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this and that and dreams in yellow

Hi guys how are you?  I have been fine luckily I didn't drown last week with all that water that poured on us. It was just lots of streets flooded and road closures.   

The first two weeks of this year have been very busy for me.  Sophia started her hip hop classes and thinks is still  too cold to wear dresses therefore the lack of What She Wore posts. She is very excited to go to High School next year.  She will be 14 on the 22 of this month and I have been sewing a Scrump doll from the movie Lilo and Stitch.  She's all into rag dolls, plushies and  teddy bears nowadays.

Xavi is still busy with his soccer practice.  This is his first time playing with AYSO and they won second place before the Christmas break.  So, now they are getting ready to play against teams from different cities. We'll see how far they advance. In the picture above he is getting ready for his Christmas concert last month. Aww my baby Xavi!

I really cannot believe how fast approaching is Emma's first Birthday.  In five weeks she'll be 1 years old.  I had been dreaming of her first Birthday party since she was born.  My sister suggested a Bee party and I fell in love with the idea.  I love DIY parties and there are just lots of details that I want to be just right...not perfect but just right. I've been dreaming of the color yellow and bees lately too much.  Even though we all know that 1 year olds cry, or sleep during their first party I want Emma's party to be a day of celebration!

I've lost track of how many times Sophie and I have baked the beehive cake and tried to perfect it each and every time.  We still have to make adjustments to the frosting because I was not happy with this one.  I took this picture back on December 6th and still didn't have the edible marker to finish up the bees that's why the bees look weird bugs!!  

One last thing I want to share is this blog post form FAT MUM SLIM 

9 WAYS TO LOVE YOURSELF MORE + LIVE A MORE BEAUTIFUL LIFE IN 2016

It's really a very inspiring  post to read at the beginning of  a New Year.  One of the points mentioned there and that I've never done is meditate.  That really called my attention and said why not? why not try mediation and see how it works for me.  So this morning I downloaded the app and it was funny because I opened it and it started with real soft and soothing nature sounds which I thought oh cool!  but then I touched the meditate button and it went on talking about 5 minute session introduction to meditation and I instantly thought wait I don't have time for that!!!  But no you guys I already promised myself I will do it! really!! That's why I always come to this little blog of mine to tell you all these little things and to make myself liable for them.

Have you ever used meditation? 

Anyways, I hope your week is going good so far and enjoy your hump day! 

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happy new year

Hello guys!  Happy New Year!  I hope everyone one had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.  

Sadly this season comes to an end as Christmas break is over.  Javier just left for work I feel good knowing that he will be back home tonight.   The kids are still asleep as I type this but soon I will have to wake them up to get ready for school...uggh I remember that feeling :(

I have a couple of things to share with you.   Emma finally started crawling!  She's been crawling officially for 6 days now!  She's on the move :/  

I dropped my phone on New Year's Eve and broke the screen...oh well time to get a new phone.

Sophia's ipod screen also cracked but luckily it had insurance so it has been sent for repair.  She is dealing with withdrawal symptoms right now 10 WHOLE DAYS without it it's an eternity for her. Luckily she has her lap top to stay connected.  Last but not least my washer broke down yesterday.  Javier rapidly took it apart and thinks he knows what the problem is so he ordered the parts and will try to repair it. I am lucky my man is a handyman!  

Rain is in the forecast for the first four days of the week so this will get interested...since this valley get flooded with the smallest amount of rain, anyways I leave with this picture of Emma at Valeria's apartment wishing you a blessed 2016!

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brushes and color

I've never been a make up kind of girl.  Eye liner and mascara is enough for me.  I use eye shadow, powder and blush on special occasions. Maybe twice a year  :/ 

I know that make up can do wonders but I also know it's a lot of work and it takes time. I am 13 years older than my sister and I saw her outgrown me on the makeup issue.   I was fine with that.

She is the pretty one I am the crafty one! 

 I love seeing girls on TV with flawless faces perfectly colored.  

Last week I felt sort of, kind of, kind of...very very stupid! I found myself watching youtube videos on how to apply eye shadow.  I was feeling like "Claudia you should have done this 25 years ago"

I knew there was a bunch of special brushes but never knew their specific purpose. I've always used that little applicator that comes with the eye shadow kit. Online I found an eye brush glossary which I found had too much info for a first timer, but with it and the youtube tutorial I was able to find out the basic brushes, get some ideas and inspiration for the beginner that I am. 

I went out and spend 10 whole dollars on a few brushes and a new glittery eye shadow (please read the sarcasm between the lines on that last sentence).  Sophia and I tried them.  I was surprised that she has more make up than I do from past Christmases gifts.  She is not that much into make up either. She told me I can play with her eye shadows whenever I want to. I am excited!  thank you daughter!

On my 45 by 45 list I have this item to fulfill which is to try out liquid eyeliner, oh well ... I've always been a late bloomer. For now the tickle of doubt about eye shadow and eye brushes is gone now nothing left but practice practice!!  

I hope your week started off with the right foot today!

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not my day...

Last week specifically on Thursday I had a not so good kind of a day.  The planetary alignment wasn't on my side. Thing after thing just happened...at the end of the day after reviewing it I tried to look for positive things in between.  Here is a review of what happened:

Xavi woke up with pink eye.  After 13 years of mothering I know what pink eye looks like and for sure know that the school was going to send him back home.

I called the doctor's and was able to get an early appointment at 9:15 yay!

After dropping Sophie at School I needed gas so we stopped at the gas station and the gas tank door wouldn't open ugggh! old truck :( so there I was 5-7 mins trying to open it asking God to please don't let me break the key because then I really would be stranded!  I really could not drive on low gas. Those 5-7 minutes felt an eternity as I had to drive 35 minutes to get to the doctor's on time! So I called Javier only to complain really because what can the poor man do on the phone for me?  it finally opened!  but the gas was pumping soooo slow or so it seemed to me!

After the gas station ordeal, there I was driving carefully but fast.  We made it to the doctor's barely on time to check in and there was an unbelievable long line to check in.  Oh yeah the self check-in kiosk!! Nope broken! Get in line!  How can the receptionists be so chatty chatty with each and every patient?? 

We finally checked in and Emma started giggling and having a conversation with everyone around her. that was cute!  de-stresser for sure.  We saw the doctor,  Xavi got his eye drops and we were out! 

easy peasy there.

OK we got the rest of the day to relax before we pick up Sophie.  Before the pink eye situation I had planned to go thrifthing that day so now Xavi had to come along.  So there we were Emma was fussing by now Xavi and I were starting to get hungry so things were a bit rushed.  I was able to find a few pieces of clothing for my etsy shop.  Time to go home really!  We stopped for a cheeseburger, that later raised my blood glucose levels :(

When I find pieces of clothing for my shop I always do research on etsy to search for the brand, figure out what people are selling and how much are they selling them for.  Wow what are the chances that I find on etsy a vintage skirt 100% silk identical as the one I bought at the thrift shop earlier? only a smaller size...and they are selling it for $46  As I was full of excitement telling Xavi about my find, he started playing around with it and stepped on it and ripped it!  Well there goes my potential profit :( 

Later I checked and had made an etsy sale that was a good thing right??  it was!! as I was packing my sale I ran out of tape, not good! that meant that the following day I either had to go buy some tape or ask the people at the post office to let me use theirs (luckily I know they are nice) so I choose the second option just to save me a trip to the store the next morning.

When we got back home from picking up Sophie from School I was shaking.  I checked my blood sugar levels and were very low.  So I ate and later refused to check it again in fear that it was too high :/ Can something else top that?

Our day ended at the park at Xavi's soccer practice with nobody being hurt which would have been the ultimate and worst thing!  I had a little time there to lay in the grass and meditate on how the day went. 

(I didn't have my camera with me to take a picture of me meditating 

so that's why I share my bird of paradise with you)

Back to the park, that's when I had to look hard to find the positive little things.  

What did I do wrong? nothing really I guess those kind of days happen right?  

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two questions

Hey there!  How are you guys?? I trust you've been all right I know life is busy, there is no stopping time.  It seems like time goes by fast when you are having fun and it goes sooo slow when you are waiting for something.  I have been busy but actually haven't done a whole lot.  In this post I will attempt to answer two questions:

1.  Where the heck have I been?

2.  What the heck have I been up too?

Let me start by saying that we've been spending a lot of time in San Diego and we've gone to the beach a great deal.  You know I am not a beach person but I do enjoy sitting and reading.  I checked out a book about green beauty, very interesting but as I read along it's scary to find out all the things we put into our bodies via shampoo, creams, lotions, deodorants you name it  lots of chemicals and harmful substances.  To be honest I didn't read the whole book and mostly browsed through the DIY recipes for natural beauty after all natural is the best and we all know that.

We celebrated my hubby's 41 Birthday, he is a young cub.  That is my mom right in between Sophia and I and my father in law is to my left.  The cake was delicious if you must know a little too sweet but nothing that milk can't fix.

We attended Valeria's graduation.  Yay she did it.! I remember my own graduation a few years back :)  Congratulations class of 2014! Welcome to the real world!

I've been admiring my twinkly lights on my backyard.  Well, they don't really twinkle but I love them and I also love it when my husband calls them my 'New York lights' :)

I cannot forget my shop and lately I've been going crazy wrapping tons of pencils .

When we go to San Diego the whole family goes!

Some more beach.  This is the pier at Imperial Beach California.

We've become beach bums.

We've enjoyed the dog park after Javier is off work.  There is Lucky and my dog niece.  Her name is also Lola apparently a popular name for dogs.

Soccer fever is at it highest and we can't help but root for Mexico!

I've been able to squeeze my early bike rides on the weekends.  Gotta beat the heat!  I like breezy mornings!

More handwrapped pencils!

My sister and her kids spent a few days at my mom's just like we did.

We had a blast on the second match Mexico vs. Brazil.  Very intense moments!

We also celebrated my dad's Birthday he turned 67, went out to a buffet for lunch wow six kids that was a task in itself!

This weekend Sophia wanted to watch Grease, she's never watched it before.  We started watching it on Netflix.  I got up to go to the kitchen and when I came back the song Summer Nights was playing and started signing and humming it and both kids were like 'You know the song??' of course I know it...in Spanish though!  Xavi noted how different the cheerleaders dressed with the sweaters and the long skirts.  Sophia enjoyed the movie but thought it was cheesy.  I was happy we watched it because nowadays everybody watches their own thing on their own device.  That is one thing the kids hate my mom does not have internet so we have to make trips to the library so they can connect for a little while!

That's it for now!  Enjoy Summer that just started but as always my request is not too hot pleaseeee!!!!

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