About Me

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This southern girl became a mom in 2004 when I met my husband. He came equipt with two children from a previous marriage. I considered that my "introduction" to parenting. Little did I know that a year later I would become a mother to my first daughter and not long after that I had my second. My life is about overwhelming love that I can't explain, worry, craziness and moments that I hope I can keep pictured in my memory. I want to be able to share what my life is as a mother, daughter and a "real housewife". All aspects of what goes on in a daily life. After having my two children, I took up photography as a hobby that later turned into something bigger. I wanted to be able to capture all the important moments in our lives and I have been able to share that with so many others. Several weddings, senior pictures, engagements and birthdays later. I still enjoy walking around with my camera and looking at things through a different view.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Me...good PR?

I am moderately involved with the PTO at my daughter's elementary school. 

I recieved a phone call today from one of the new PTO mom's.  She owns her own Home Health company.  She is not familiar with our surrounding area and she wants me to help her find a facility to more establish her business.  She says that I have the best PR that she has seen.  Me...PR?

On top of that,  she wants to train with her and start working with her to be a part of a partnership with her.   I have taken care of disabled persons before.  I have taken care of elderly people before also.  I dont mind it at all.  I am now in a position to think about doing it.  I just have to figure out if this is what I want to do.  I would love be more Public Relations.  Lets see how next Wednesday goes.  That is when I talk to the PTO mom.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Had a great weekend....just Monday is not my friend.

So I had a GREAT weekend.  I had my gas turned back on Thursday.  My husband came home for the weekend and we got along so well.  Hot water, stove to cook on, cool front came in and I have comfort in the heating unit. 

Monday comes...husband wakes up sick with a fever.  Kids have to get up 30 mins early to come with me to drop him off at his semi-truck.  I am running a few mins behind.  Schedule is alittle off. Manage to get everyone out the door and to work and school.  I actually make it to the PTO meeting early.  I get home.  SOOOO tired from running crazy during the weekend.    Neighbors dog is running around the neighborhood.  Snatch up the dog and get that taken care of.   Then I find out, I have a big WATER LEAK!  WHAT?!?!?

I went outside to dig all the mud that is around my water meter.  It is goin non-stop.   I manage to find a tool and turn my water off.  The leak is outside in the approximate area of my back kitchen.  I walk back there and there is standing water everywhere!!!!  Of course there is a water leak.  If I didn't have a leak it woudn't be a Monday and it wouldn't be my life.  Now what?  I just need something to go a little more smoothly.  Just for sanity reasons.  Maybe I need to check my lottery ticket I bought last Saturday.  Maybe I can just be granted enough pity that I could win enough to have a maintained house.  Maybe because I bought the ticket on Saturday it will deflect from my Monday and I will win something.

SIGH~

I hope in a few months I can write....Dear Me,  Remember  when things were not goin your way?  I think you need to look in a different direction.  Look in a different way because it still isnt happening,

Friday, September 28, 2012

Blessings

Finally yesterday I had a good day.

I was sitting at my mom's house waiting on Center Point Energy. Keep in mind that I was doing the same exact thing on Tuesday for my original appt.  Tuesday I was suppose to have my gas turned on but, things don't go as smoothly as I would like for them to.

The gas company came out Tuesday and said he could not place the meter because the pipe was exposed. He said "call and reschedule for Wednesday" grrr!.  REALLY?  Do you know the torture and torment I have gone through in the last few months Mr. Gas man?  NO... and I am sure you dont care much.  When I go off the deep end though, you will see my name in The Baytown Sun.  I am sure there will be a title saying something like.  Real Housewife Gone Mad ! 

Anyway, the gas company came to my house yesterday.  After some long heavy discussion between him, my mom and a pipe wrench; I am proud to say...I HAVE GAS!  Since Feburary of this 2012 year I was without gas.  That is me and the girls walking everday next door to my mom's house to eat, wash clothes, and take showers.  You dont realize how much heat affects your life. 

I was so happy yesterday.  My husband came home for the weekend, my gas was turned on.  I cooked chicken and dumplins, gave my kids a shower.  I finally got to take a shower at home.  My husband was even excited that he was able to shower at home and not at the truck stop.

We almost feel normal again!  After living out of two homes for the last couple months, it was a big relief to be able be at home to do some of these things. 

I cant wait for things to move more forward. YEAH

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Quick bite pizza snack

So I tried something new today.  I am on Pinterest everyday and mostly look at the food recipes.  So today I decided to try something new.  I call it a quick bite pizza snack.

I decided to take some pics so I could show how I made it.  It came out pretty good and the kids ate 3 each.  It wasnt very expensive and it filled them up.  I think it was better for them because I am the one that controls how much cheese, sauce and other stuff that I put.

I bought some Italian bread, already made pizza sauce (I have made my own before), my choice in cheese and some pepperoni.  I cut the bread in circles and put them in the muffin pan.  I then added the sauce , cheees, perpperoni and baked it in the oven for approx. 12-15 mins on 325 degrees.




They really didnt cost all that much money.  I say try it and if you f

Monday, September 10, 2012

I met a homeless man today.

Today was a pretty good day.  There are some good people still out there. 

I used to think I was the only one that still cared about those people that have next to nothing.  I am almost one of those people.  I have been so blessed today.  So many good things have happend and today I felt wonderful.

I met a homeless man today.  He knocked on my window and asked if I had a few dollars to spare.  All I had was $2.00.  I gave it to him and he asked to see my eyes so he could remember the face of the person he will pray for tonight.  He told me that he has been fighting money issues for the last 3 years and this year has been the worst.  This was his first year to be actually homeless.  He said that he knows there are people that have it worst off then him.  He seemed so grateful.  It was nice that he shared his story with me.  I like listening to people.  I know I will probably never see him again.  I will always remember him.  He shook my hand and told me GOD bless and went inside the resturant.  I hope I helped him out today. 

My mom's church has a man that is a recovering alcoholic.  He is a professional pipe fitter and is looking for work.  He has been able to find a job yet.  He came to my house today and fixed my broken gas line.  He got here at 9:00 am and was done by 12:15 pm.  He told my mom that if I would let him have all the scrap metal that he finds...we can call it equal.  No money exchange. He found more then I thought we had.  He said I was doing him a favor but really he was doing me a favor twice over.  He fixed my line and bascially is cleaning my yard and hauling off junk. He said he should get about $80.  I told him to keep up with how much he got because I wanted to make sure he got a fair amout of money for the work he did today.  My mom gave him $20 but he told her he would rather her take him to the grocery store and let him get $20 groceries.  So she brought him and then bought him so lunch.

I got a call today.  From my youngest daughter's teacher.  She left a message saying that she really enjoys her in the class room. She said she is so intellegent and well mannered.  That makes me feel very good and I know that all the work I have done for my kids to have respect has paid off.

I have had so many good things happen to me today I am so grateful!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Picture day .... part 2

I havent had a picture day since the first.  I figured I would put some up and see how I have either stayed with the same style or if I have change.  For better or worst.








Tuesday, September 4, 2012

My DIY canvas picture

Today I did my first attempt to transfer a image to a canvas. 

I am on a Pinterest kick right now and I am on there getting as many ideas as I can think of.  Being on a budget makes it hard to do some of the things I want to do.  I pin the idea in hopes that one day I will either have the money, time or the want to do them.  TODAY I decided to just do it. 

It was my first attempt to put picture to canvas.  I have always loved the way it looks.  I look up how to do it all them time.  I dont know why.  It isnt like it is goin to get any easier or any cheaper.  To be honest it isnt that hard or that expensive.  Well not the way I do it at least. 

1. I went to Office Depot and printed my picture on a regular piece of paper.  It helps that I wanted it black and white. It only cost me $.11....YES, I said 11 cents. I could of did it with a regular picture, I didnt want to waste money or a perfectly good picture. 

2. Went to Hobby Lobby and they had 2 count pack of canvas for $5.99 for an 11x14. 

3. Went home and found some regular school glue and made my own modge podge.  All it is, is equal parts water to glue.

4. Applied liquid to the canvas and then carefully placed the picture on top.  Let it dry alittle and then applied the liquid to the picture on top.  Let it dry completely and it looks great.  There are a few things I want to do to it and make it look alittle different.  So far.  I LOVE IT!

It hardly cost me anything to make.  Cant wait to share the picture.  Cant wait to put it on my wall.

EXCITED!



Here is the result after 2 coats of modge podge on the top of the picture.  I still want to put something on the edges to spice it up.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Money, Money, Money

MONEY....

After 4 weeks and a approximately making $600 for the whole month....My husband recieved a whole paycheck worth getting excited about.  $921.  for the week.  The check could of been better but he held off a trip so that while he was home this week; we would have a decent check next week. 

Truck drivers dont get paid if they are not driving.  He is home Friday through Tuesday morning.  Partly because it is labor day weekend. He sent a text to his ex-wife.  She wanted to know why she didnt get child support.  He asked if we get the kids this weekend because it has been 3 weeks since he last saw them.  She said that they were leaving to go to Dallas for the weekend.  That is a little aggrevating since she sees them everyday and we see them 2 days out of the whole month.

It is funny how my

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Got Mice?

We have MICE!

We recently started seeing signs of mice.  AHHH!  I dont know you know this but mice are the hardest thing to get rid of.  You think if you dont have anything for them to eat they willl leave.  NOT.  They eat everything.  Paper, wood, carpet, wires, clothes and most of all .... dog food. 

We were told by someone to try FOX URINE.  Yes it sounds gross.  It is suppose to take up to 2 weeks to work.  We went to the local feed store and picked up a bottle of Shake Away Fox Urine.  We followed the directions.  It wasnt hard at all.  We made little pouches with a pair of panties hose.  Put them through out the house and attic.   Last night as I lay listening...for the first time in months all I heard was...silence.   I am not saying it worked already but I am saying this.  I have not heard any movement in the house like I used to.  I did see 2 mice this morning but they were stuck to the glue pad.  I have had those sticky pads for 4 months and never causght anything.

I am hoping to give a full report of no rodents in a few weeks.  So far so good.  We will see.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

An exciting phone call....

Yesterday I recieved a phone call from a former co-worker/employer.  I had a lot to debate in my brain. It has been seven years since I worked.

I have been really pounding out and sending my resume to like everyone.  I have been sending out my resume so much that I forget who I sent it to, who I have signed up with and I forget all the different web sites that I have visited.   My ex employer, which we will name Mr. W.,  told me that there is a lengthly job goin on at his place of work.  His boss asked him if he knew of anyone that he trust to come and work contract and would be able to pick up on this job pretty quickly.  Mr. W said that my name came to mind. 

VERY flattered to this compliment, I listened to what he had to say in his offer.  He told me that it is dealing with the records inventory side of the business.  I am not a big fan of doing records management but at this point I am thinking...HEY, it's a job!.  I am not promised this job by any means.  I had to update my resume for that particular side of the corporate field. He has to present my resume to his boss and we would go from there.  Now, I havent heard from him today but I know this family well.  I probably wont hear from him for a couple days or in the upward times of 2 weeks.   If it is going to happen, I just have to believe....it will happen.

There are a few things that made me really consider going back to working with Mr.W.

One: I have only had a handful of job interviews and for me to be sought out was a big boost of esteem.

Two: I have worked doing this job before and I am very comfortable about doing it.  Might not like it, but I am good at it.

Three: The icing on the cake here.  Minimal wage here in Texas is $7.25 an hour.  If I do contract work for this company.  My pay range is from $18.50 to $21.00 an hour.  I dont know about you, me...that sounds pretty conviencing.  Just saying.

I am goin to hope for the best, expect the worst and stick out until I cant stick it out anymore.  Wish me luck!!!!

 

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Rainy Day


The end of the summer is drawing near and the kids have become bored out of thier mind!!!! 

They are getting nervously excited about starting school.  With the lack of funds we have here at the house they asked if they could go outside and play.  They noticed rain clouds coming our way.  I dont like the way the thunder sounds.  They know if they see lightning that it is an IMMEDIATE "come in the house".   So while they sit outside on the swing set singing...Rain Rain Rain.  Come out and play. We want to get wet.  We are bored today.  I have no idea who came up with that song.  I know it gets stuck in my head though.  I start to hear a little drop here and there.  Then all of a sudden...here it comes.  RAIN!!!

It isn't a mass pour down.  It is just enough to get them wet for about 15 mins or so.  Enough to make the ground humid and a little breeze to cool them off.  Esp with it being 91 degrees today.  It dampended the trampoline and made it slippery.  You know....all the dangerous things that keep you worried. 

It didnt last long.  They are still outside.  Singing the song.  Jumpinig on the wet trampoline.  The sun is out. Not much of a breeze anymore.  That's ok.  It is a memory they are making together as sisters.  A 6 and a 7 year old.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Surprise gifts

How is it that something so little can mean so much.  My brother is in the army and he is stationed in Japan.  We talk to each other almost everyday.  There is a 18 year difference between he and I.  We dont really talk about our problems to much, we mainly talk about things that will get our mind off of our problems.  Makes it nice to forget about them sometimes. 

One particular morning we did share some stories of things that irriate us.  I told him that I never get invited to a party or baby shower as a guest anymore.  I am now always subtly asked for me to bring my camera.  In turn it ends up that I give a gift and I take the pictures of the party and hand them over the photos. I never get to be involved in any games and THANK GOD I an never in any of the pictures.  That is besides the point.  I also never get to just go visit at someones house because they send me a text asking if I can bring my scissors so I can cut thier hair.  (ex salon worker here)  I dont mind doing this for the most part, money would be a nice donation sometimes. 

My brother, since the age of 12, has been working on computers and is very knowledged in this field.  Mostly self taught.  Guess how his conversations go.  Most of the time it is "how are you doing, can you fix my computer?"  It is somewhat annoying. 

Well I let my brother in on my situation at home.  Telling how it seems like a never ending fight to keep up with life.  I was just venting.  I called the garbage company to have them start service for me for the following day.   When I gave her my address, she then told me that I had service already starting for the next day.  I asked her who it was that came in.  She just gave me a name.   Well this morning while talking to my brother we had the conversation about this ordeal.  I was telling him how I hate that people try and fix my problem and I wish I knew who did it.  Telling him I thought it was probably my mom and I was goin to tell her to stop spending money she didnt have;  he told me not to confront her.   He didnt want me to be mad at her for helping because it wasnt her that did it, it was him. 

I love my brother.  I told him this morning that I dont tell him my problems because he tries and fixes it.  I told him thank you and I said that we are not his family to fix.  I love surprise gifts, just wish I didnt have to have them.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

The Real Housewives of Life

When I had cable, Dish or Direct tv I loved watching all the reality shows.  I really don't know why.  I don't think it is much "real"ity to it.  I still watched it though, I was fully entertained I must say.  I mean really...someone needs to name these shows according to what they really are. 

VH1 - It isn't Basketball Wives, it should be Basketball Ex-wives.  Most of the women are divorced from the players.  Or it can be called Wanna-Be Sports Wives. For all the women that are just girlfriends for their entire lives. Yes there are some of the couples that are married and have really worked at the relationship.  I think keeping the shows name takes away from these people's hard work.  I think that the show Mob Wives is more realistic.  You know why some of those women are were they are and why.  I wouldn't think they would be so open to discuss that they were in this lifestyle though.

The Real Housewives of what?  These women are not real housewives.  I live in reality.  It is called bills, job, and worries.  I don't have a nanny taking care of my children when they need to be fed.  I get up and cook it myself.  My house isn't even a forth of the size of their bathroom. We go shopping at Wal-mart and hope we can get our clothes and groceries all at the same place while getting our oil changed.  Want to go out for a girls night out?  Find a babysitter that you trust and you dont have to break the bank. We don't have tutors that we pay for.  We have to hope that our 2nd graders don't pass up our own educational status just so we can help them do the homework given.  I have worked with my two girls since before they started school to help them with their education and self esteem.  My positive influence for them is to have a self confidence in theirselves to be self motivated and no that there isnt anyone that should ever make them feel like they are nothing other then the best "they" can be.  I don't want them thinking that they can only find happiness in material things.  My girls feel accomplished with the grades they have and relationships they have started with family and friends.  We struggle with everyday lives that money can't fix.  The Real Housewives live in a very fantasy world and it makes me wonder if they could even survive a moment in "real" world. They get to stay at home with their kids...it get to also but believe me, I sure don't get to go shopping and drinking wine all the time. I am not saying they don't have problems.   I just don't think it is a "real" housewives-kinda-life.  Let's rename them The "Not-So-Real Housewives"  or The Rich Wives.  I think that suits things better.

If I won the lottery...would I turn out like these women?  If anyone wants to do a lifelong experiment on my family to find out,  I would gladly give them a weekly report.

  

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Too far down.

I feel like I have fell to far down in my life.

My story will not start at the beginning because there is too much to try and remember.  I will just start it from where I feel like it has come too far down. 

How far is too far?  How far is it that I can take this elastic rubber band that I call my life?  Just when I think I have fallen off of my ladder and I have already reached the end of my rope; there it is.   There is someone with a lighter burning my other side of my bridge.  

In my current living situation there is my husband, 2 daughters and my self.  My husband has gone back on the road as a truck driver so that we might be able to have finances better for our family.  The last four months have seemed like years.  Stress is not a word that some people see when they look at me.  I think 95% of the people that know me personally do not know my current living situation. 

At this time I am on cut off for my electricity. I have 7 days.  For the last four months I have not had gas coming into my home. This is in part of having a gas leak that I can not afford to get repaired.  This is a major problem because gas is what an essential part of my life.  It is for my hot water, cooking, washing and drying clothes.  Even if I had gas, my hot water heater is not working now.  My stove is no longer in service and 5 months ago my washing machine also broke.  This is overwhelming enough on its own.

Along with everything else that is goin on.  I no long have trash pick up.  It isn't much but I dont have the funds to pay for the 3 months that they make you pay for at the beginning.  My vacuum broke about 7 months ago and it doesnt seem like that is a big deal.  It is not a big deal when you have some of your other things you need but it seems to feel like a closing wall on me.

A month ago, at the end of the street they decided to clear out most of the field.   this caused most of the rodent and snake population to move into our homes.  I can not get that under control. 

It has become so difficult for me to remain positive through so many of these things and I am in such a inside battle.  I don't want to keep up a smile anymore.  I want to just lay down and cry.  I feel like my times get harder.  My light at the end of the tunnel was a lightbulb someone forgot to change. 

I feel too far down.