Thanksgiving Meme

1. What are you most thankful for?
I am thankful for medical insurance.

2. Where are you spending Thanksgiving?
We will be spending Thanksgiving at my sister's here in San Diego.

3. What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?
My favorite Thanksgiving food was my Grandma's Sweet Potatoes.

4. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?
Pumpkin Pie

5. Is Thanksgiving religious for you?
Thanksgiving is not religious for me. It is more of a spiritual time when our family gets together and we appreciate our time together.

6. Do you eat more on Thanksgiving Day or the day after?
I eat more after.

7. What time do you eat Thanksgiving dinner?
We usually eat in the early evening.

8. What's your favorite Thanksgiving story?
My favoirte memories of Thanksgiving are the times my family would spend Thanksgiving with our extended family in Utah around a great big table.

9. Will you shop on Black Friday?
Nope.

10. What do you hope for next Thanksgiving?
I sure hope we aren't struggling as much financially. I hope my oldest son has gotten on a better track and is a part of our lives. I hope my younger son is attending school regularly and doesn't have any more injuries due to football. I hope my daughter's and my relationship keeps growing stronger. I hope my honey is happy and healthy, too.

*~*Autumn Etsy Special*~*

LizEdgar.Etsy.com

Fun and Casual Jewelry

*~*~*~*~*Autumn Special*~*~*~*~*

Purchase two or more items and shipping is FREE!!!

(Either contact me before making your purchase and I will remove the shipping fees, or I will refund the shipping fees after your purchase.)

Meme

Patti ~ http://oceankisses-gratitude.blogspot.com/ tagged me with this little meme.

Here are the rules:
1. Collect the book you have most handy.
2. Turn to page 161.
3. Find the 5th complete sentence.
4. Cite the sentence on your blog.
5. Pass it on to other blog friends.

Here’s Patti's: "Yeah." He toed the concrete. (From Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich)

Here's mine: "A lavender haze was settling over the hillside, and the air seemed unusually sharp, causing Alex to shiver in her wool suit, sheer stockings, and low-heeled pumps."
(from Manhunt by Janet Evanovich)

I have chosen:
Janet http://janscraftynest.blogspot.com/
Robin http://creations-anew.blogspot.com/
Ruth http://rhradcliffedesigns.blogspot.com/

SDEC Featured Artist Treasury

San Diego's East County July featured artist

is

ME!

I am SDEC's Featured Seller for July

Thank you littlepinkplum! I had fun with this. Come on over and make yourself at home.

http://sdec-etsy.blogspot.com/

Swell

My heart swells with love just thinking about this little guy.

SDEC Etsy Team Super Blog Giveaway

Welcome one and all!!!

The San Diego East County Etsy Team is having our first GIANT Blog Giveaway.

18 of our shops are offering prizes

Everyone is welcome !!!

For the list of rules and shops head on over to our blog!

Contest runs from May 5 to May 19th.

Winners will be announced May 23rd.

Good luck and have fun visiting!!!

Happy Dancing

Jan's Crafty Nest had a Blog Giveaway and I was won of the winners!!!
Janet personally delivered the prize today. We are members of two of the same Etsy teams. She is a real sweetheart. I also got to meet her son. Very curious fellow. :-) He reminded me of my oldest son. The prize items included a bunny ACEO, Wildflower Tags that are plantable, bunny confetti, wooden earrings, bunny Scrabble tile pendants with a chain and a woodburned butterfly pendant on a ribbon necklace. Janet made the bunny Scrabble tile pendants. The other items were either purchased by Janet or donated to her.

And a

Pink and White Flower Pocket Mirror by Little Pink Plum

These are the coolest!

I am already wearing the blue bunny scrabble pendant necklace. I showed it off to my friends at work. Many compliments and "Wows!" and "How did she do that? It looks so perfect." I love Scrabble, too. Double the fun!

Thank you, Jan's Crafty Nest!!!

Please be sure to check out her shop at http://littlepinkplum.etsy.com/

Lovin' the Blues

Lovin' the Blues
I was feeling really blue last week. Then I got to thinking how grateful I am to be able to have the blues. It's like appreciating the sunny days more because we have occasional cloudy, overcast days. Taking the good with the bad, the happy with the sad. Life is good.

Simple Pleasures in Life

Watching a precious baby napping

Happy Easter

My daughter and my grandson

My Grandson

Aden Nicholi De La Torre


Aden was born November 21, 2008. I went to the hospital with my son. My son's girlfriend took me to see Aden in the NICU. So sweet and precious. He looks so much like my son did when he was a baby. They are both cheeky fellows.

My son Anthony at 2-1/2 months and his son Aden at 2 months



My son got his first tatoo yesterday. It is of a cross with Aden's name encircling it. Above the cross is Aden's birthdate. Wow!









Silly just like me!

Dandelions

In April the Military Brats Etsy Street Team is having a Dandelion Challenge. The dandelion is the official symbol of the military brat. I am a military brat. My dad served in the Navy. We were transferred to San Diego when I was a toddler. I am one of the few brats who didn't have to move all the time because of a parent being stationed in different parts of the United States and world.

I made a bracelet for my challenge entry. I chose the yellow beads to symbolize the dandelion before it changes to the seedlings. I chose the millefiori beads to represent the the lands that dandelions can grow in. The crystals represent the dandelion when the seedlings are ready to fly away and plant their new roots. I just learned that the white puffy part of the dandelion is actually called a "wishie" or a spherical "clock". The English origin of dandelion comes from the French translation dente de lion which means "lion's tooth". (Wikipedia)

Lovely Pinks and Purples

Love my Brats

Spring Is Sprung

I am so happy Spring has arrived. For some of my friends their early Spring consists of rain, snow and ice. Brrr. Hope this helps you put a litte SPRING in your day.

Trees of Life

I was pondering.... So I thought I would

sit under a tree. What wonderful trees I found.

Blessed Sunday

I had quite an eventful day. I went to church with my sister and nephew this morning. It has been a long time since I have been to church. A friend of ours daughter was being baptized today. She cried the whole time until she was handed to someone in the congregation. She's a doll. Have you ever felt like what you are hearing is meant for you to hear. The sermon was just that today. The light of God. The pastor said if you have seen the sun, you have seen God. I love to sit in the sunlight and have it radiate throughout my house.

This evening I joined the Jewelry on Etsy Team's Spring Fling. There Fling went on for three days. I caught it this afternoon and came back this evening. I "met" some really wonderful people. Some of them are downright silly. It was good to laugh. And to see all the pretties in their shops. I didn't win any of their contests, but I did find many new favorites and ran across some who are already favorites.

What a pleasant way to spend the day...add a little rain and a nap. Wonderful!

Just Peachy

Natural and Sweet

San Diego East County March Birthdays

March BRAT Birthdays

Happy Birthday!!!

I would like to include everyone of our members in each month's birthday treasuries. If your profile doesn't list your birthdate, please let me know if you would like to be included and send me your birthdate.

Rose, Rose RED

I am really getting into the treasuries on Etsy. I was inspired by elephantdreams Butterfly Garden photograph taken in Phuket, Thailand. (My sister was out to sea when the tsunami hit Phuket. The tour she was on was extended to provide medical assistance.) I am fascinated with the black and white butterflies. The hibiscus is so inviting to the butterflies. Very beautiful. I love the contrast in colors. Passion is the word that comes to mind when I look at this collection.

Feeling a Mite Lucky

I had a great time putting this treasury together. It has a myriad of artists. Some are from the Miltary Brat Team. This is the first treasury I have done that the comment section was full. Very flattering.

Spring is in the Air

Thank you, LocoBead!!!

Treasure of Treasuries

I moved the treasuries to the blog section so they could be clicked on and enlarged for better viewing.

Gracefully Amazing

I saw this and thought what a wonderful painting. The colors are so rich and deep. The brightness of the sun just beaming. So beautiful. I thought of the colors Monet would use is his paintings. The purple and white reminded me most of his work. Then I read the description the artist had listed. This is a real picture of a real tree. It hadn't been doctored in any way. She took it while driving through New Mexico. To see a sight like this I would drive out of my way.

I wanted to share the natural beauty this artist was able to catch. I was certain it was an oil painting. It is just so beautiful.

Be sure to visit her shop. She is quite the abstract artist. teamzvonik

Things are looking UP!!!

Today is my 40th birthday. It has been a good day. In fact it has been a great weekend as well. My husband got a job on Saturday. Super Valentine's news. Sunday my sister, her boyfriend and son took my family and me out to dinner to Claim Jumper. The company was swell. Dinner was a bit tasteless, but dessert was yummy. Loved the candle. Today, I had my hair highlighted. A gift from my sister. The woman who does my hair thought I was in my 30's. She is a sweetheart. Life is good!

"Inside out"

The first time I saw this picture it grabbed me. A fellow military brat is the photographer of this amazing photo. She took it outside of Ipoh, Malaysia. She is quite the capturer of visual art. elephantdreams is her website.

Like the title states I am feeling inside out. More so I am feeling like I am on the inside looking out. My husband is still unemployed. I am working part time. We are not meeting our expenses. He was offered a job last week at $25,000 less than what he was making before. He could take the job, but we would be almost squeaking by. Of course, we would be making too much for any financial assistance like free and reduced meals for our two younger kids in school.

I asked him tonight if it was time to start letting others see how upset I am over this. I do have a smile to share even though I am scared inside. There are times I feel like just crying. I haven't yet. I am surprised I am able to eat or want to. Usually when I am stressed I don't eat. I had a hard time with anorexia when I was a teenager and it has popped up a few times since.

When the unemployment check comes in do we pay the car payments or the rent first? Without a car how can the kids get to school or us to and from work? Without a roof over our heads where do we sleep? We have alerted the apartmant manager to our situation. She says "okay." "Okay", we won't be evicted because we can't make rent? "Okay", everyone else is going through this too, so don't worry? It doesn't feel "okay". It is downright scary.

My girlfriend whose baby I was taking care of was laid off two weeks ago. She was shocked. Me too. She said at least her husband was still employed. That is what I used to think in my situation. Her husband was laid off last week. My husband has never had any difficutly finding work. I am amazed at how well he is keeping his head above water. I feel like telling my oldest who is considering getting out of the service to stay in because the jobs he thinks he will find will be filled by people like his mom and dad. It could come to my husband and I working fast food. I had a dream that I was back working at Jack In The Box some twenty years later. That was my first job. I will be 40 next week. Will that be my next job?

Brat Pack Feature Treasury

Brat Pack Feature Treasury

LizEdgar

timelessinpirations

CreationsAnew

rhradcliffedesigns

Oceankisses

GoodScents

butteredparsnips

terryann

designsbymariejulie

I Have Been Featured...

I am BRAT of the week on the Etsy Military Brat Team forum. Way cool!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6015569


To top that off, a sweetheart of a BRAT has featured me on her blog. Love ya, Terryann!

http://justsoterryann.blogspot.com/


I was also featured on our Military Brats of Etsy blog:

http://etsymilitarybratteam.blogspot.com/


Thank you. I am going through some rough times and this has been such a boost. Hugs 2 all!

Okay, God

Well, crap. My girlfriend was laid off today. I will no longer be taking care of her infant son. She was more upset for me since my husband is still umemployed. Heavy sigh.... Okay, so God closes one door and then opens another. Wonder what he has planned for us. I think I will keep an eye on the windows, too.

Angel Purity by lyonscreations

Truthfulness

Why is it so hard for my oldest to tell the truth? He lies to me repeatedly. He has gone UA a second time. This time he was away from base six days. His girlfriend told me he had returned to base. He tells me he has permission to leave. Doesn't. Didn't. Never did. I have received calls from a warrant officer and his school instructor informing me of his disappearance.

His girlfriend had a baby in November of '08. I asked her who the father was. She told me the name of another fellow. My son was present when I asked. Mind you I don't know this young lady very well. Last week I received a text from her phone, while he was with her, saying the other fellow was tested and he is not the father. I received an email from her a couple days later, after he had gone back to base, saying she wants to have the other fellow tested to rule him out. The other possible father is my son. My son tells me today on the phone that they were pretty sure in the beginning that he was the father. Why did he wait until today to tell me this? Why not months ago? I went with my son to the hospital the day after the baby was born. I went into the NICU with his girlfriend to see her son. I have even held the little guy.

He tells me he has been in contact with his biological father whom he met two years ago for the first time. Says that his father has offered to help out if they need any assistance. This man was never there for his own son. Would be nice to think that he will be there for his possible grandson. My son and his father are both full of malarky. They tell the greatest stories and believe them. It is very frustrating.

So here I sit not knowing if I am this child's grandmother. I would love to be a part of his life now if I am. My son has proposed to his girlfriend. That is great and all, except he can't seem to keep his butt on the base. When he left Camp Pendleton the first time his pay was stopped. How is this suppose to benifit a wife and child? Now he owes the Marine Corps money for being UA.

My tummy is in knots. My heart strings feel like they are loose and just dangling in the wind waiting for his next set of stories. My husband tells me I talk to my son like I would with a friend. I thought about this. He is right. I am afraid. Afraid I will lose contact with my son. Gee, what is worse, having him lie to me constantly or not hearing from him at all? Ugh!!!

oh HAPPY day

A treasury of cheery items from the Etsy teams I am a part of. I first joined the San Diego East County Team and then joined the Military Brat Team. I love Valentine's Day and wanted to share the love.


I chose the title from a card I purchased from a member of the San Diego East County Team. I totally love her work. So creative.

Thought for the Day

"Take a moment and draw a circle around the following personal characteristics that you possess: confidence, poise, imagination, initiative, tolerance, humility, love, cheerfulness, faith enthusiasm, courage, honesty, serenity. I hope you circled them all because all are within each of us. It is simply up to us to bring them out."
— J. Wooden

My friend emailed me this quote. I wanted to share it.

I have been having a rough time. Holidays are usually really, really hard for me. My mind was elsewhere this season with concern over my oldest son's choice to leave Marine base without permission. Last night he turned himself in. He may either face time in the brig, their jail, or be discharged. I am just relieved he owned up and turned himself in.

My husband has been jobless since the 29th of December. He has been looking and hopefully will have a position next week. He works in the automotive repair and tire industry. It came as a shock to us.

My husband's aunt says, "Chin up, boobies out." Makes me laugh.