DVD Organizer

Since I live in student housing, I don't really have a choice in my furniture (it came furnished, sigh), so I've had to deal with a horrible TV stand (don't get me started on the couches), that just doesn't ever look right.  I was getting tired of the look, so it was about time I did something to spruce things up.  So, I decided to "hide" the DVD's, so as to make the space look less cluttered.

 It does the job, for now.

Being Grateful

I got a call at 9am from my mom this morning which woke me up in shock. She usually knows I sleep in (yes, I sleep in on work days sometimes, I have a flexible lab schedule...it helps that my boss is never around) and only calls when she really needs me and this morning was one of those days.  I picked up the phone and I could tell from her voice immediately that something was wrong.  Maman (what I call my mom), what happened? Are you ok?  She says, "I'm sorry I woke you up, I just needed to talk to you. I was in an accident."  I knew deep down she was ok, I could just tell, but from her voice, I could hear panic and shock.  We talked for a few minutes, I calmed her down, told her not to worry, it wasn't anything serious (thank God), it wasn't her fault and everyone's ok....and so forth.  She had to run to class so we didn't talk much, but after I hung up, I just sat in bed, shocked, worried and started thinking about EVERYTHING.  Why does this happen?  Why does everything seem to fall apart around you all at once. Without too much detail, school has been stressful, money has been tight, things have been hard in every way on so many itty bitty levels about so many itty bitty and sometimes big things.

We always talk about what we wish we had.  I know I do.  I semi-jokingly tell my husband I can't wait till we move out of our TINY one bedroom student apartment and move into a house.  I tell my mom all the time about things I wish I had, things I wish I could do, how I can't wait till I move...blah blah blah. A big house, with a white picket fence and a garden to plant vegetables in, sounds really nice.  All that space, so many organizing opportunities, sounds like heaven to me :D   A fancy car, lots of beautiful clothes and handbags (not really a shoe person anymore...I have foot surgery to thank for that).  I remember telling my husband when we first got engaged all the things that I wanted, until I realized how much money we didn't have.  I'll wait, I'll be patient, lets save money and spend it on the more important things.  It was hard at first, and still is (sigh, a house to call home), but, and I tell this to my husband all the time, if I never get that house or that Europe trip or any of the millions of other things that I want, I have him.  I said yes to him, not to his money or to the stuff I would be getting.  He makes me happy...he really really does and I'm content with that.  I have my family, they're healthy, breathing and safe.  I have life, I have food to eat, water to drink, a home that I can go to.  Anything can happen to take all of that away.  So many people have lost everything and I need to count my blessings.

My moms accident reminded me of all of this.  All of the many things I take for granted.  We get so wrapped up in life and all the materialism that comes with it that we forget to be in the moment.  So, why do these things happen?  To test us, to remind us, to wake us up and make us appreciate all that we do have and not focus on what we don't.  I am happy with what I have, who I have, where I am and occasionally, on a good experiment day, what I'm doing. Things could always be worse and, God forbid, we could lose a loved one. Thank you God, for EVERYTHING you have given me.  For keeping my family safe, for all the opportunities you've given us, for all the beautiful things in this world and for a wonderful husband that loves me unconditionally.  Thank you!

DIY Gift Wrap Savor

Here's a great idea I came across on pinterest (wish I could take credit).  Take a toilet paper roll, cut in half, and use it to keep gift wrapping paper rolls from un-rolling. You might want to use more than one toilet paper roll to get the whole length of the wrapping paper.  

 Another really great idea is to always keep a stash of cards at hand.  You never know when you may need one.  Here is a picture of my card box :)  I "collect" cute cards whenever I find them on sale, so I don't have to worry about rushing to the store to get a card (expensive and time consuming) before I go off to a birthday or shower.  This truly helps my procrastination ways.

Baby Shower

A friend of mine is pregnant :D YAY, and I went to her baby shower on Sunday. It was so beautifully decorated and organized, and the theme was purple, sigh.

Mine's the top one :)

Oh, I love presents and wrapping paper...  :D 

 Adorable centerpieces

Amazing food...

 Pretty napkins...

 Baby diaper butt cake :D 

 I was in charge of taking pictures and video, so this was a nice break, a piece of cake and cup of tea. 

My shoes :)

Much love for the new parents to be.  Wish them the best on their new journey and may theie little one grow up to be a beautiful, healthy and strong woman. 

Taco Night

I had my father-in-law and brother-in-law over for dinner on Saturday, and we had tacos and burritos buffet style.

Cheese, tomatos, lettuce, salsa, olives a la wooden bowls :)

Fresh guacamole, sour cream, ground beef, beans, beans, and more beans...

Take your pick of sauces.

I also made cold pasta salad...one of my favorites.

Is it just me...

or do most people's closets NOT look like this.  I must be the only person who has way too much stuff, because I've never managed to have a closet look like that.  I can't even leave 1mm of space between my hangers.  Everything is so jam packed, its exhausting to get dressed, let alone rehang things.  I have a walk-in closet, which is also my garage, storage space and linen closet...so, yes I'm lacking in space, but when will the day come when I can have a super organized closet.  I'm really tired of mine right now...something needs to be done...ASAP.

 Priscila Peters Decor

Cupcakes and Cashmere

What's with all the empty space...sheesh...sigh...

Quick Dinner

I love me a quick and fast dinner after a long tiring day. 

Salmon burgers (from Costco) with fresh garden tomatos, veggies and tater tots.  Yummy!!

Tator Tots :) My favs.

Avocados are so good with salmons burgers.

My husband wanted me to point out that my tomato cutting skills are not as great as his.  I do have to say though, I was using a dull knife :D 

For the Kiddos

I don't have kids yet, and we aren't planning on it for a while...but I've been keeping tabs of things I like and would get when I have kids and this item is one of them.  My list gets longer by the day, haha.  I've been taking note of the many things my friends with kids have suggested over the years and what things have worked for them, and I've made a mental note of quite a few things I would get that I know would make my life so much easier.  This, I think, is one of them!

This portable high chair is absolutely perfect for camping trips, car trips, vacationing, picnics, restaurants, and so much more.  It was so cool, I had to share it on here.  It's a baby version of a foldable chair.  I don't know if it as great, safe, and sturdy as it looks, especially with the wiggling these little guys do, but it definitely seems practical.  Not that they would really sit in their high chair anyways...but one can hope...

 Ciao Baby 

  

DIY Idea List

I love pinterest.  It is filled with great idea inspiring pictures, not that I have time to do any of them.  If school didn't get in the way, I would be so much more creative :D

Here are few ideas I am dying to try:

Button Magnets - use all those old buttons you don't know what to do with and make magnets out of them.

 Coin Magnets - what a great way to display where you've been and find a use for foreign money.

 DIY Printed Candles 

 Organization Frame

 I'm looking for this kind of material to make a kindle case out of, for the hubby.

Use a tourist map from a place you've visited with the most memorable pic from that trip.  I'm not sure why you would put a wedding picture, but hey, to each his own. 

 Map Picture Frames

Pebbles glued to a felt pad = awesome trivet.  Time to start collecting pebbles :D 

Oh time, where art thou...

Things that make no sense

 I spent a few hours at the mall shopping, more like trying to shop, looking for a gift for a friend.  Once again, I get so disappointed with the styles.  Here are a few pieces that just make me cringe.

 This was totally Hijabi-rific...until...

 you turn it around...there's a slit in the back...what the??

 Cute bag...until you look closer.  The bag is made of white plastic.  Why?

 Gotta love Socal, I bet she's probably in her 60s.  You have to feel sorry for these kinds of people.  

 Not only are they skinny, but they're stretchy and they're ugly.  Why ca.'t they have prettier patterns.  In case no one's noticed...it's very hard to find non-skinny jeans/pants now.  Who would have thought.  

 And the point of this?

 Lips?  Really? 

Kids too? What's going on? His shirt says "Where Bobby?".

On a better note, I found a gift and was super excited by how they wrapped it :)