Giving Back

Julia (12) joined the YMCA a year ago after her Pediatrician voiced his concerned about her weight. She now enjoys playing on the co-ed  Basketball Team , utilizes the Teen Center  and gym facility. Not only did she go from a size 11 to a size 5, She met new friends, learned about  sportsmanship & team building skills. I can honestly say the "Y" in our community has changed our lives and enriched Julia's self esteem. This is why we ,as a family, have donated not only money yet volunteered our time to help raise money and awareness voicing how important the Y is for families.

  Charging on for The YMCA!!!!!!!

Each day families in our community are threatened by drugs, gangs and obesity. The  YMCA  is there to help. At the East County Family YMCA strengthening our community is our cause. The volunteer  and staff understand the importance of providing a positive and safe environment for kids and families to learn, grow and thrive.

Working side by side with our neighbors,  The East County-San Diego YMCA   has added a third facility; expanding our outreach and filling a void for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The EAST COUNTY YMCA is more equipped to serve the community of 800,000+ residents now with three convenient locations.

They are committed to provide affordable child care and day camps, develop leadership programs for teens, strengthen families with health and fitness classes and so many other programs that promote a healthy spirit, mind and body. And yet, they can do more!

Thanks to the generosity of community-minded supporters, and events such as the Annual Giving Program   The  Y enriches the lives of approximately 1 out of 10 households living in East County,San Diego. We can do better! We'd like to expand our outreach and enhance the lives of 2 out of 10 households by 2012. We are confident that with your help we can accomplish this goal. Lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together. Join us - we could use someone like you!

Please follow the link  to give what you can. Add our names: Rachel Lloyd, Julia Gonzalez & Tito Thompson as the referral .

 Thank you so much!  

Favorite Recipes

Gambas al Ajillo

I came across this blog and it was awesome!

 Visit Alma's Blog  My Kitchen and Photography

Alma writes all about the food she's baked,cooked,eaten and the places she's been. All photographs were taken by her ,using  a Canon EOS 50D and Sony Cybershot T300. It's such an awesome combination: Food, recipes and great photography!

Getting Back to Basics

"Pondering the Basics "

On my medical leave sabbatical from giving readings I have learned many lessons. Thought I would jot just a few down: Can anyone relate?

• Practicing what I preach is not as easy as I thought.
• Between bills, food, work & family life - how do you really find "me" time?
• I don't like uttering the words" No, I do not predict exact lotto numbers".
• No, I will not fit into skinny jeans.
• All families have drama; we could all have our own reality shows. Hmmm...Wonder what the title would be?
• How do we age gracefully without forking over hundreds of dollars?
• With modern technology today WHY CAN'T SOMEONE CREATE HAIR DYE THAT LAST LONGER THAN 4 WEEKS?
• Can the Glenn Becks & Al Sharptons of the world hug with grace and humility?



I could go on and on,as I am sure you could. I think we just need to sit, reflect - get all the blues out of our system and recharge.


For today let's reflect on gratitude,family,budgeting,food,shelter , giving & prayer .


Let's get back down to the basics .

B- ALANCE - Even flow of activity with self & family
A- PPRECIATION - Gratitude for the good and the lessons
S- IMPLICITY - Peace of mind with self and spirit
I-  NTEREST - Passionately  create a bucket list and do
C- ARE - Giving back to family and community
S- AVE - Living beneath your means-yeah YARD SALES!  

Chakra Work Area with all items purchased from Yard Sales

Just working on my Chakra Home Office Area. I have limited space now. Went from a 15 x 10 room to 1/2 the size. I'm making it work though. I have all the essentials, massage table, The Seven Chakra stones,candles and oils.  I am working on opening my Solar Plexus Chakra, it's right below the rib cage. This area is associated with self worth,our own personality,ego and the way we perceives others and ourselves. It connects with our selfish behaviours and the need to dominate. It is the center of personal power and intellect,our perceptions regarding control,freedom and power. Even if you don't believe in this "stuff" it doesn't hurt to think about right?

Megan

OK so this picture may seem a little odd yet, I found this "mannequin head" @ a yard sale and I had to have her.  I actually named her Megan. She totally creeps my family out. At times I play a joke and place Megan in an unsuspecting spot around the house. I will know when she is spotted by the shouting of "MOMMMMA GET HER OUT OF HERE"....I think it's funnyhow after all these years of garage sales,I found  something that really creeps the kids out. Hey, maybe I will take her places and take pictures to post. They will freak that I am even blogging about her. Don't we all have a little something that makes us "different"?     

The Crafty Superstars Club

Had our first meeting today for the Crafty Superstar Club.

Here is a sample of what was covered:

Introduction

House Keeping Rules

Personal Bio

Motivation?

Your motivation for selling your stuff?

What Drives Your Craft?

Expectations?

Would I have fun crafting for others instead of myself?

Would I have fun making similar things over and over?

Do I have the cash to beef up my output?

What makes my product stand out from a crowd?

Is there an audience for my work?

What do I expect to happen when I put my crafts out in the World? 

 Here are some of the hand made items brought for "show and tell- so to speak. Do they even have show and tell in school anymore?

Here is an over the shoulder bag. I loved it ! I ordered a black one with red trim. There was definitely a  labor of love put into this purse. 

An adorable doggie!

A clutch style purse accented with a leaf brooch is elegant.

Loved this little lion! Too cute!

  

I admire artist with the passion and patience to create such work of art!
    

Bills and Blog Center

Bringing in the New Year I made a resolution to be more organized in 2011.
I began by sending positive energy to the universe thus creating what I call my B&B Center. Not a Bed & Breakfast, well maybe some day,however for now,my B&B Center is for Bills & Blogging. 

Here are a few steps I took to start 2011 with an "intention" for newness, freshness, money management, organization, lightness , crafts and simplicity. 

Here are the items in my home office to help motivate and energize me ....

Computer
Check Book
Piggy bank
Organizational Book
Arts & Craft Book
To Do List 
Candle 
Lamp  

I figured getting check books representing our plight for better money management and future spending/saving endeavors would best symbolize our venture. I chose the SUPERMAN & Pebbles check books and cover. My nick name growing up was "Pebbles". With these checks I am reminded of my childhood where my money blue print was formed and took years to formulate correctly.The Superman is  for Tito who loves Superman and has really done a "super" job  learning the value of money. When we first met he actually didn't know the difference between a debit and credit card. He was brought up with a different set of money values hence the old adage "opposites" attract. Isn't that with most couples? It took many years to get where we are today. If we can do it, believe me any other couple out there can do it!  

The Piggy bank next to the calculator represents a combination of savings and a family vacation. It's a cute Piggy with dream vacation spots handwritten in chalk ranging from Florida,England,Paris, Hollywood & New York.

The Red Candle on the top left,represents the fire in my belly to really make these resolutions come true. 

I placed my inspirational books on Organizing and Arts& Crafts near the computer to move the energy flow.    

The lamp represents the light I am asking God to shine in me,around me and out to the Universe.

    Here is my NEW YEARS Resolution almost brought to life,not just on paper (take note of my "TO DO LIST " on the bottom left.

A BLANK SHEET TO FILL WITH MOMENTS THAT TAKE MY BREATHE AWAY. 

What moments do you want to capture in 2011?

Happy 2011!

So much has happened while on my 2 month sabbatical from blogging.

New room mates, the holidays are a blurr, surgery went well and I am actually feeling "rested". Saturday morning it's back to the Yard sales! I made plenty of trips to my local  AMVETS store to donate all of last years treasures. Now someone else can enjoy them. I scare myself at times with my non attachment to material items.It's as if I am the opposite of a hoarder. I don't keep things very long. Could it be that I am easily bored and distracted? Always wanting "newness" in my life? My surroundings? Guess a Psychologist would have a field day figuring that one out. For now, I will enjoy my yard sale finds  nourishing  my decorating urges. My blogging goal this year is to display more pictures of my yard sale finds and how I incorporated them into my decorating style. Which Julia , my 12 year old calls "different". I didn't ask her to elaborate.

Oh Yes! I read two great books that I simply loved



 ORGANIZE NOW! By Jennifer Ford Berry  http://www.organizethislife.com/

I enjoyed it so much I am organizing a  ORGANIZE  NOW CLUB! Who doesn't need a little more organization in their lives?



The Second fabulous book was Crafty Superstar  By Grace Dobush
This is another club I started. Who doesn't other like minded crafters to get together and bounce ideas and positive enrergy from one another?

 http://www.craftysuperstar.com/

    It covers making crafts on the side, earn Extra CASH and Basically HAVE IT ALL!

Collage Collections

Have you ever started collecting something and didn't realize it until they were scattered about both at work and home?  I noticed recently I started finding/collecting collage boards. This one is posted on my wall in my office. There are so many pictures you can no longer see the design. Yet, it doesn't matter, the people who are displayed matter. Friends and family adorn my wall. This Thanksgiving I will be grateful for more collages, like the one pictured below, to display more pictures of family and friends.
Collages are similar to  life, we began our lives with a blank slate and it's up to us to adorn ourselves  with colorful pictures. Placing them strategically throughout all phases of our lives.

 What pictures would you place? What phase of your life are you in? The collector? The blank slate needing a re-birthing? The over whelmed one with too many pictures? No matter what phase your in, reflect, re-evaluate and restart! There's always a new collage around the corner.

The Blue Boy & Pink Girl

I found these figurines several months apart at two different yard sales. They reminded me of my Grandmothers house back in Phoenix when I was a little girl. Grandma's living room was decorated with similar figurines and pictures. My mother would tell me stories of how Grandma cleaned "rich" peoples houses and occasionally when they redecorated they'd allow her to take some items home. Every summer without fail I would run into the living room to see Grandma's newest items.  I could always tell them a part ,the items never seemed to match the rest of the house.  The living room adorned ceramic tiles,thick carpets and colorful walls  painted in rich bold colors of her Mexican heritage. The Pink Girl & Blue Boy  figurine sat on the only t.v. in the house next to the rabbit eared  antenna. Grandmothers  "novela" was always on. I seem to only remember a handsome, tearful man  sitting along side  a hospital bed next to a gorgeous  girl with long beautiful hair  wearing fresh makeup. For years I thought all woman looked that good in the hospital. Warm serapes adorned couches while  a Virgin De Guadalupe statue stood in the corner protecting us from evil and temptation.  Needless to say Grandma's eye for detail & decorating  seemed to make it all work. She made it her own with style, humbled grace and richness of family.

 I often wondered if my love for yard sales stems from my summer trips to Grandma's house. Weekly I am amazed what people practically give awhile. It's as if  I carry the tradition of acquiring nice stuff from rich peoples houses. Is that deep or what? I am my grandmothers keeper. The keeper of wonderful memories of the Blue Boy & Pink Girl figurines with their gracefulness and elegance. 

In this age of technology, I am hoping to enrich my children with some traditions. With the Holidays coming up maybe I can create some new traditions while maintaining  old ones that adorn my past. What family traditions are you needing to honor? Needing to start? I have always said , it's best to honor where you came from, know where you are now and where you want to go. It's the same for traditions- like the Spanish rolling of the "r"....Rachel's "R'S .. remember, rejoice, reclaim and redo. We need to always strive to be better than the last generation.      

Little Holiday Dress

The Holidays are drawing near .

 This little  Holiday dress was up for sale @ last weeks yard sale adventure-  It was only $1.00 -  It's a size 4T.  Something came over me while reminiscing of my daughter Julia(11)  as toddler . I stood there longing for the days  I could dress her up like a little doll. At times, I wish I could still influence her dressing attire. Well, I am sure she  could say the same about me when I sport an outfit she deems unmotherly.

I remember there was a time we could share the same shoes, now my size 4 can't compete to her 8 1/2.

I don't know anyone who wears a size 4T. I  guess I wanted to play dress up again .

 A feeling I'll never out grow.

 I have a mannequin in my living room , I dress up in clothes I can no longer squeeze into. As a matter of fact some outfits I could never wear . Yet,my mannequin , named Becca ,looks awesome in anything!  

Most people hide the "too small clothes" in their closets, I display them in hopes it inspires me to lose weight. It doesn't.

I must remind myself to stay in the moment and remember to capture Julia , here and now . Before you know it ,there will be  prom dresses, graduation gowns , wedding dresses , power suits, then hopefully maternity clothes.  

For now this little Holiday dress hangs on a hook in my living room. It will be part of my Holiday decorations. I can no longer dress up Julia yet I can decorate the house and still dress Becca........all is good in the fashion world of little dresses.

 

21 Drops. Aromatherapy like you've never known it.

http://www.21drops.com/

Notes from Fedor training seminar

Notes from Fedor training seminar



I met Coach Jimmy @ the Fedor Training event.
When I couldn't figure out how to use Tito's camera, Coach Jimmy and I exchanged business cards and he later sent me photos he took!
Nice guy!


www.JimSchueller.com

Signs from a Yard sale

When I set my intention for something I'd like to "see" at an upcoming yard sale, It's my intention, my desire for a materialistic item at a cheaper rate.

I find more often than not, there are things " I am led too."

 For instance, when exercising isn't in my vocabulary let alone a goal or mindset,it's as if the yard sales Gods come calling. They come a knocking with a visual aide in form of a yard sale item.

 For example, pictured is a:

 Gaiam AM Stress Relief Kit  

I found for $3.00….Is this telling me something or what!

Signs play out in all aspects of my life.

You know when we "keep" hearing someone's name "popping" up. It's as if they are "calling" us for a certain reason.  

The food cravings we desire can be a sign our bodies "missing" certain nutrients therefore a "sign" to eat a particular ingredient. 

 When your Husband purchases a thigh master for your Birthday, that may be a sign he very well may be a "future" ex husband someday. Well,5.5 years to be exact. 

 When your daughter at the age of 3 wants red streaks in her hair and loves the color black, it may be a sign she's been here before.

 Signs are everywhere, look around today -what signs are you missing?           

Best Retail Buy of The Week

Best Retail Buy of The Week

 

Here's a picture of Little Lola sporting a pair of leggings ($1.00) from TARGET. She is such a fashion statement! Definitely a hit@ the pumpkin patch!

Fedor Boot Camp

There's Tito to the right of the  M-1 Global sign standing under the  "AL" .

I have yard sales and he has M-1 Global  

                                                   There's Fedor!

Sharing something from Nate Berkus

Check it out here

I thought this was a great "Ten Tips for a Terrific Tag Sale by Meg Fairfax Fielding the writer of "Pigtown Design" a Baltimore-based design blog.Visit her blog at http://www.pigtown-design.blogspot.com/

From labeling and pricing to staging and selling, "Junk Whisperer" Meg Fairfax Fielding shares her tips for holding a successful tag sale!

Tag sales are a great way to make some extra money and clear out things from your house. But in order to have a successful sale, here are a few tips to make your tag sale the talk of the town.

1. Decide whether you want to make a lot of money or get rid of things. If your goal is to clear the clutter, price things to move! Have a dollar table, or baskets of toys where everything is 10¢. If your goal is to make money, be a little more selective with your prices – but don’t make them too high or you won’t sell anything! Everyone loves a bargain.
2. Pick a date, and then advertise. You can do it the old-school way and put signs up on major roads near your house (don’t forget to take them down when your sale’s finished!). Write in BIG letters on bright paper to catch the attention of passers-by.
3. You can also advertise your sale the new media way on Facebook, Craigslist, your community’s listserv or via e-mail to all of your friends. See if your neighbors will have a sale the same day, and get more bang for the buck. If you’re advertising electronically, add lots of descriptions and pictures. This will draw the crowds.
4. As you are pulling things out to sell, PRICE THEM! You will not have time to do this the morning of the sale. You can buy colored stickers with pre-printed prices from an office supply store. These will help take a lot of the decision-making out of pricing items.

5. Make a staging area for the sale. As you go through what you’re selling, price the piece and move it to staging area. That way, on sale day, all you have to do is move items outside.
6. The morning of the sale, put out tables and blankets and organize your items like a store. Have like with like – all kids’ clothing on one table, toys in baskets on the ground at child-height, kitchen- and house-wares on another table, and furniture set to the side!
7. If you have some very nice pieces, like un-used wedding presents or grandma’s china, make up a Boutique section. Pickers and dealers don’t care about kids’ clothes and toys, they want to see the good stuff. Likewise, someone looking for kids’ toys probably won’t want antique china.
8. Have lots of change – everyone goes to the bank machine and gets $20 bills. Have lots of $1’s and $5’s and small change. You don’t want to lose sales because you don’t have change. If you have an apron with pockets, that’s better than leaving money in a box on the table. If someone’s holding an item, you can make an instant sale.

9. If your children want to get in on the action, they can sell lemonade, water and home-made cookies. People love to buy from the little ones.
10. Be cheerful and pleasant to everyone! They don’t know that you’ve already answered the same question 11 times today. The buyers are giving you money to take your things away. This should make you very happy! Make sure they know it. The more you do before the sale to get organized, the less frantic you will be on the day of the sale. Tag sales can be lots of fun for both the buyer and the seller with a little bit of planning.  

Meg Fairfax Fielding is the writer of "Pigtown Design," a Baltimore-based design blog that explores architecture, design, books, and gardens. To learn more about Meg, visit her blog at www.pigtown-design.blogspot.com.