Connie and Me at East Side

Saturday was a HOT day in central Texas.  I picked up at Aunt Connie at  her house at 9am and we headed west.   Our plans were to stop at a few small towns along the interstate.  We stopped at the first little town and it was dead.  We are "city" girls so instead we headed to Austin, Texas.  Aunt Connie had seen a television program about Texas restaurants, and they featured Eastside Cafe.  It is a garden restaurant with a home grown vegetables and herbs, they even have chickens for fresh eggs.  The restaurant is in an old house in the east side of Austin.  The food is natural and delicious.  We walked around the garden and then had brunch in the Garden Room. Aunt Connie and I have so much in common; we're both single, we both love antique stores and consignment shopping.  We both enjoy eating in small cafe shops and book stores. I had the best time with her. 

DAILY READING:  Romans 8:35, 37-39   

Brothers and sisters: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Visions of Fabric, Thread, and Smiles

I found this picture some time back and I wish I remember where I saw it so I could tell you.   It is a beautiful collage of sewing rooms that just make me smile.  Some women like jewelry, I happen to love sewing.  Each room is adorable and so well organized.  My dream house would definitely have a sewing room.  My sewing area at home is snuggled by dining/laundry/pantry area.  I'm in love with fabrics, thread, and colorful trims.  My ideal sewing room would have a large working table, several mannequins, a pretty sitting area, and a section for embellishing.  It would also have a technology section for my computer and a television for watching my designing shows.  My dream room would  have shelves of fabric bolts from the top fabric designers. The lighting would be have to be adjustable; bright for detailed projects and dim when I feel like cuddling up with a crafting magazine.  I can already hear the relaxation music in the background or the acoustic versions of Coffee Shop songs.  Oh my room would be so perfect.

  Click on the picture to see more details.  

Smokey Eyes

Smokey eyes gives a look that is bold, sophisticated, and classic.  The secret of this trend’s popularity is that smoky eyes can change your face dramatically, transforming the girl-next-door into a stylish diva. For centuries women have rocked this look like Cleopatra, Liz Taylor, Raquel Welch, Kim Kardashian, and especially the Jersey divas.  All you  need are a few basic tool:  2 Shadows: One light, one darker, Eyeliner, Makeup brushes, and Mascara.  If you want to be more daring, adding in some false eye lashes to make a huge statement.  Smokey eyes don’t have to be black. Other deep colours, such as dark green, purple or navy blue can be less harsh than black and just as striking.  Bronze is the summer version of winter's black-and-silver smoky eye. For a fresh and effortless daytime look use purples and greens.  For an enhanced evening go with charcoal colors and look add a splash of shimmer to the inner corner of the eyes.  For a finishing touch, wear a very soft color lipstick that will not overpower the bold eyes.  Keep the rest of your face neutral. Dust bronzer across cheekbones, forehead, and chin for a healthy glow. It might take practice to get the technique down but in no time you will find the perfect look for you.

We Never Stayed There

Growing up in deep south Texas meant that I got to spend summers at South Padre Island.  It is a very pretty resort area.  My father loved the beach.  "Back in the Day" we would load-up our stuff and all 7 of us would pile into the family station wagon for a day at the beach.  My dad would put-up a home-made tent cover to protect us from the sun and we would eat sandwiches my mother packed for us.  There were other times we would spend several nights camping out.  In those days things were different.  It was safer and people helped each other.  I remember playing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico without a care in the world.  During spring break and the summer, there were concerts and we got to go to all of them.  We were just kids, teenagers at best.  My oldest sister Gracie took care of us a lot of the time.  I remember walking along the shore and seeing beautiful beach houses.  I always wondered how they looked inside.  I used to image that I lived lived in those houses but it was just me having fun imagining.  We never stayed there.  But one thing for sure, what has stayed with me are the wonderful memories.  Those times are precious for me, totally priceless.

 

  MONDAY BLOG HOPS 

It's Monday Hop Along with Me - Single Parent Retreat

Follow Us Monday Morning - Frugality is Free

Meet and Greet Monday - Southern Reflextions

Mingle Monday - KdBuggie Boutique

Network Monday - Ashley Petite

Meet Me on Monday Blog Hop - Inspiring You to Save

I Love my Online Friends - The Things We Find Inside 

Meet Me on Monday at Never Growing Old

 



Special Time with My Aunts

I love spending time with my aunts.  They are so much fun to be with.  We had a wonderful time together going out to eat and shopping.  Being with them is like a day with best friends.  I bring my daughter Gina along because I want her to know that it is important to spend time with family.  We are a product of our heritage and the teachings from the generations are priceless.  My life is blessed with these two amazing women, my aunts!

 

Joining in today at Spiritual Sundays.

  

La Rosa

Pink Saturday

 

Pink in Spanish is "Rosa".  Pink is a color of my heritage and my youth.   "La Rosa" is the name of a card in the Mexican Bingo game called Loteria.  When I was a child we used to gather around the kitchen table to play bingo. The color pink also reminds me of a soft pastry we call "conchas" (shells).  On weekends my mother would go to the local bakery to buy freshly made delicious sweet bread.  Pink tissue paper flowers, oh how I remember making those in school.  They are so easy to make and we had so much fun.  Every year we would make paper pink carnations for to take home to our mom for Mother's Day.  A "Quinceanera" is a 15th birthday celebration for young ladies in the Mexican culture.  It is a huge celebration and it was a custom for the birthday girl to wear a pink dress.  The party was festive with lots of decorations like streams of cut-out paper.  We used to cut-out paper banners for school functions too.  If you go into a Hispanic neighborhood you will probably find a house with the exterior painted pink.  I don't know what it is about color but many houses are brightly painted.   Bougambilias are viney plants that are common in deep south Texas where I grew up.  They have beautiful thin flowers in different shades of pink and grow tall and wide. They look gorgeous when they're full grown. Thinking about all of these pink things brings a smile to my heart.  There are so many special memories and I'm glad I was able to share them with you.

 

 

 



Healthy Happier You

Eating a healthy breakfast each morning plays an essential role in helping keep you feeling full and promotes healthy metabolic functions, which are important for weight loss.  Starting the day with a bowl of oatmeal can fit within a healthy weight loss plan.  Incorporating an exercise program makes a huge difference.  All it takes is 20-30 minutes of day of walking to increase the benefits of healthier lifestyle.  We all know that carrying excess weight can have serious repercussions on our health. Eating a good breakfast like oatmeal and fruit has the potential benefits can be found not only in our physical health, but in our mental health. It can help  Reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.  Relieves stress on your back and joints. Increases your energy level. Enhances your own self-esteem.  Low carbohydrate diets are currently extremely popular due to their promise of rapid weight loss and the ability to eat high-fat foods such as meats, cheese and eggs. However, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that removing whole grains from your diet could be one of the worst things a woman can do if she is trying to lose weight.  Both the World Health Organization and the Department of Health and Human Services have also released reports showing that higher dietary fiber is helpful in the context of achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight.  According to the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a moderately active woman between the ages of 31 and 50 years of age should consume approximately 2,000 calories per day. Like always, see your doctor first before starting a drastic diet.  Get healthy and be happier! 

FRIDAY BLOG PARTIES

It's a Hodgepodge Friday  -  Friday Blog Hop at Home Grown 
Blog Hop Friday at Chubby Cheek  -  Friendly Friday at Thanks Mail Carrier
Following Friday at Lets Just Give it Away  -  Friday Blog Hop at Momma to 3 Blessings
Follow Friday 40 and Over at Never Growing Old 
Social Parade Follow at Smart and Trendy Moms   -  Boost My Blog Friday at Design it Chic

Word Filled Wednesday

 

So now you are not a slave; you are God's child,

and God will give you the blessing he promised,

because you are his child.

Galatians 4:7

My life changed when I fully accepted God as father, my guide, my hope.  It is the promise from God that has given me strength, comfort, and courage.  It is renewing of faith on a daily basis that keeps me calm.  I know I could not function without him.  When things get tough at work or its gets challenging raising my teen kids, I quiet myself and try to listen to Him.  I am a child of God and he does not want me to live in bondage.   The shackles of shame and insecurities are broken by a loving God who gives new life.  I am a single mom working hard to protect my kids (Vince 18yrs and Gina 16 years) and I need to remind myself that God is also working hard to protect me, his child of 46 years.  God is with you.

Join in at Word Filled Wednesday





Adele - My Style Inspiration

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is a singer-songwriter that I have started listening to recently.  She was born May 5, 1988 in England and started her artistic career in her teens.  Adele sings R&B, Soul, Country Soul, and Blues, and has won several awards internationally.  Her voice is amazing!  Adele became the first living artist since the Beatles to have two top-five singles and two top-five albums in the same week.  Adele is my style inspiration because she embraces her curvy figure with grace and elegance.  Most of us aren't a size 2 so why not accept ourselves as we are and celebrate with fashion style. It is the beginning of self-confidence. Taking inspiration from vintage style, Adele is an old soul with exquisite style.  She gives me the confidence to dress appropriately to my size and accentuate my natural assets and learn how to conceal areas I'm not confident with.  For me, I like the full dresses that she wears because they aren't form fitting.  I'm also in love with the vintage era of the 1920's through the eclectic 1960's.  I adore how she wears her make-up, especially her eyes.  I have never work false eyelashes but seeing Adele makes me want to go out and buy some.  I do use eyeliner and have been trying to apply it like Adele.  Her hair style is also so pretty.  I like how she wears it her hair pulled back in a light flowing ponytail .  My hair is just as long as her's so I guess I can try the same hair style.  Eventhough Adele is just 22 years old, her look is polished and mature.  

LIVE CONCERT DATES

AUGUST 2011

Tue 9 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre

Thu 11 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield *VENUE CHANGE

Fri 12 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre

Sun 14 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre

Mon 15 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre

Wed 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Palladium

Thu 18 – San Diego, CA – Open Air Theater *VENUE CHANGE

Sat 20 – Las Vegas, NV – The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: Chelsea Ballroom

Sun 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Gallivan Center *VENUE CHANGE

Wed 24 – Saint Paul, MN – Theatre at Xcel Energy Center *VENUE CHANGE

OCTOBER 2011

Fri 7 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Spa & Resort: Event Center

Sat 8 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center

Mon10 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

Tue 11 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Thu 13 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live

Fri 14 – Miami, FL – Waterfront Theater at American Airlines Arena

Sun 16 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre *VENUE CHANGE

Tue 18 – Spring, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Wed 19 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center *VENUE CHANGE

Fri 21 – Grand Prairie, TX – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie *VENUE CHANGE