Happy Independence Day, y'all! I hope that everyone is having a fantabulous holiday weekend. My dad is improving and I couldn't be happier.
On the agenda for M#1 was going to the pool with her boyfriend. Later on, they went back to his house for dinner.Before they left, we gave Lily her daily brushing and playing around with her. This puppy is spoiled, but I'd rather spoil her that mistreat her like so many poor dogs out there. M#2 was pretty low-key most of the day, but once she got her energy back, she was trying to find someone to go to the Apple store with. She loves that place because she can take a TON of crazy pictures for her Facebook page. And it's nice for me because the pictures post right away and I can see what she's doing. Unfortunately, there were no takers of her offer. But, one of her friends invited her to spend the night. So, as of this moment, I have peace.
I was able to search for jobs today and I found a few I sent my resume for. I am also going to look for a part-time job in order to supplement what I already get and I can make sure the bills are paid and we can get out and do things this summer.
The outfit I wore today is not very 4th of Julyish...at all. But, we had a family get-together on Sat and I did my star spangled best to represent.
Ahhhh, that feels soooo good.
Thank you M#1 for the brushing. You're the best. Let's hug it out.
Printed top, brown shorts and sandals-Target.
Black top-Kohls
Here's a better picture of my sandals. It's hard to tell, but the black squares on the sandals are all sequins.
Here are other things that make me smile today:
1. Four Seasons Bora Bora. Heavenly.
2. Ivanka Trump. I believe she carries herself with such grace and class, even while pregnant.
3. I like this outfit, sans black bra. I would go for a nude bra.
4. I love the table with the different chairs. I would sit on the white, fancy, schmansy chair every meal. Tee,hee! I adore the little pops of pink.
5.Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The Kardashians are so beautiful.
6. Weezer, "Hang On"
I leave you all with this:
“ ” Mother Theresa.
I hope by reading my blog I can make you leave better and happier :)
My Dad is doing excellent today. He is speaking and acting like his old self. I couldn't be happier. Hopefully, nothing but good news from here. My M's are at the Lisle festival AGAIN today. Big surprise! I'm glad they are enjoying their wknd, although it didn't go as planned. Lily enjoyed her day, as well. She went swimming w M#1 and her bf and is now just playing w one of her chew toys, taking a much needed break. You know, because dog's lives are so stressful. :)
I do have a disaster, which hopefully will be short lived. I cannot find my camera! Sometimes my daughter likes to take pictures for her Facebook page. She has a tendancy to "forget" to ask for permission to use the camera and to return it IF I say yes. So, if I can't find it in the last final spots I think it could be, I will have to take on the adventure of M#2 and me cleaning her monster of a room. So, no personal pictures today, but here are some other things making me smile today:
1. Strawberry Lemon Bars with Oatmeal Crust:
Strawberry Lemon Bars
makes about 12 lemon bars for crust
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
seeds from 1 vanilla bean
12 tablespoons of frozen unsalted butter, cut into 1/4″ cubes (1 1/2 sticks) for filling
3/4 cup halved then sliced strawberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs lightly beaten
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon meyer lemon zest
2/3 cup strained meyer lemon juice
powdered sugar for dusting
Line a 9″ x 13″ pan with enough parchment paper to go about 1″ up on all sides. In the work bowl of a food processor, add the flour, rolled oats, powdered sugar, salt and vanilla seeds. Pulse a few times to combine, then add the butter and pulse until the dough looks like pea sized gravel (about ten, one second bursts). Sprinkle the dough evenly over the parchment lined sheet and use your fingers to press the dough into a uniform sheet of dough that goes about 1/2″ up all the sides. Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, place the oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, combine the strawberries and 1/4 cup of sugar and toss to coat. This will release excess moisture and sweeten the strawberries. To prepare the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, flour and lemon zest. Add the lemon juice and whisk to combine.
Remove the crust from the freezer and put in oven and bake for around 25 minutes, or until it is golden brown and fragrant. When the crust is done, take it out of the oven, then immediately scatter the strawberries around the crust, pour any accumulated juices into the lemon mixture and whisk to combine. Pour the lemon mixture over the strawberries.
Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F, then put the pan in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the center of the lemon bars doesn’t jiggle anymore. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely. Slice, then dust with powdered sugar and serve.
2. My friend's baby. Her sassy outfit is so cute!
3. The dress and dog both make me smile.
4. Captiva Beach. I have a feeling of ultimate freedom whenever I am walking along a beach.
5. I am watching this Documentary on CNBC right now. I am not sitting here smiling away, but it is quite riveting to hear about the different laws that out there that effect the Porn industry. It is a multi-billion dollar industry, even with the loss taken from the internet and piracy.
5. Groove Theory, "Tell Me". Smooth old school :)
I leave my readers with my thought for today:
Perhaps the most important thing Mothers can communicate to their children and to friends and family is a sense of satisfaction with their choice of parenting as their life mission.
I hope that everyone is enjoying their 4th of July wknd. My family usually has an annual Jose Aguilar(my Grandfather) picnic. He was born on the 4th of July. Our picnic was schedule for today, but it had to be cancelled due to my Dad's surgery. In light of everything going on w my Dad, this is what makes me smile:
My Dad and Uncle
My Brothers
My M's
My mom and me
Family is the only thing that brings a smile to my face. NEVER take them for granted. I have been blessed to part of an amazing family and the traditions and people I was around when I was a child, I have gotten to share w my M's. I pray to Lord that my Dad doesn't have to have anymore surgeries. I saw his scalp and tubes coming from his head and it was not something I was prepared to see. It kills me to see my Dad in that condition. I've seen him through many surgeries and watched over him while in a coma, but this was the worst thing ever. He's made it through everything and went back to the normal man he always has been. I just want him to recover once and for all and enjoy the rest of his life.
God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward
Thank you for my Dad, God. Thank you for my Mom. Thank you for my M's and thank you for my family.
All is well w my Dad. He made it through surgery and recoverng quite nicely.
My photographer, aka M#2, is not home right now. Lisle is having their annual festival, Eyes to the Skys. Tomorrow morning and Sunday morning about 20 different and beautiful hot air balloons consume the sky. They gracefully make their way into the air, but in our town they are so close to us we get to see the balloons in a way that we normally wouldn't be able to see. At any rate my M's are hanging out there with all of their friends. I might try to take a picture of what I am wearing by myself, but if I don't I will lay out my outfit so you can at least see it.
OK ya'll here are my smileys for taday, other than the fact my Dad made it through surgery.
1. This is such a cute wknd/casual Friday look. I could do without the scarf, but the shoes and the earrings are such a cute touch.
2. I just want to crawl into this bed right now and watch my DVR'd shows. I also enjoy the bench and how the fabric matches the drapes. The bedroom was designed by Timothy Whealon.
3. And this would be my living room. I girl can wish. :) Just lovely.
4. Rebecca Taylor Jumpsuit.More black.
5. Yes, Cops again. I'm having a Cop-athon. This show really makes me laugh...it reall does.
5. Tom Tom Club, "Genuis of Love". This has the beat that Mariah (stole)I mean used for one of her bubble gum songs. Who am I kidding? I'm sure I will be smiling and sharing a Mariah song one day.
OK people. I will leave you with this:
"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28...lay your burdens down here at the foot of the cross."
OK, I LOVE my dog. Love, love, love her. She is like my 3rd daughter. I bought her a bathing suit some time back and we finally got to use it. M#1 and her boyfriend took Lily to a nearby park that has a pond and Lily went swimming for the first time. She also made some new little friends.
I love the little ruffle on the bottom of the suit. M#1 is holding her.
She will be going again. M#2 and I will be going next time.
Here is what else makes me smile today.
1. If you rub a waxed candle UNDER painted wood, then you will get a distressed look. I would love to try this idea, but not sure what piece of furniture I might use, yet.
2. Anne Hathaway pic that will be in the Aug 2011 issue of Harpers Bazaar
3. I don't like the combination of the black and white purse, the yellow dress and the champaign colored platforms, but I adore those platforms, so I have to share it.
4. Cute top. From Farinaz.com
5. I wish she didn't stop doing the show. She has great ideas, she is honest and yet she is so cute and bubbly. Her accent is pretty cool, too, :)
5. Bette Midler, "Wind Beneath my Wings"
I leave you all w this:
"For all you mothers out there, I wanna tell you I'm looking for a parrot that can say "Stop "Get out of bed." , "Be quiet.", "Get out of bed." and "Turn that down." This would save so much time! LOL."
The girls went to a mall in the area to see Selena Gomez. She was there to promote her new movie, "Monte Carlo". The 2 M's and M#1's boyfriend waited 6 hrs to see her. I felt kind of bad for the M's because it seemed not to be how they thought it would be, but once they got home and the day went on, they talked more and more about it and it seemed like they did have a fun time. I am actually proud at their patience and persistance that they never left until they got to see her.
Once they got home, we went to my parent's house. My Uncle from Arizona was visiting and we had dinner and spent some time w him. I was not myself because I am still feeling down about not getting that job. I did not expect for this lost job opportunity to bring my self-esteem down so much. I have tried to remember all those great motivational quotes that I believe in and love passing on to others. My visit was not as well as it should have been. I feel bad, but things really are making me smile again. I am going to move forward and see the good and not focus on the bad. This is my public promise. :)
This was Salena Gomez at the mall. It was not taken by my girls. I found this pic on people.com, but this is the event the girls went to.
Salena is on the right side of the stage. The screen in the background makes her look more like a siloutte. But, you see she is wearing that white sweater from the people.com pic.
On my way to my parent's house.
Hat-Wet Seal
Top-Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker
Shorts-Charlotte Russe
Sandels-Ann Taylor
Drumroll.......Here is the debut of M#1!!! She is always with her friends, so its hard to get pics of her.
My Mom and my Uncle. He is such an awesome person.
My corgi Foxy.
Foxy really is not mine. But, she's my parents, so she's mine.
OK, so now the things that made me smile today:
1. Inspiration for what I would like in my dining room. Coffee or tea, anyone?
2. Picture from my friend, Brian Luenneman. He takes THE MOST amazing pictures. I hope to show you more. I asked him if he ever thought abt showcasing his work. He is so talented, but he said he is not good at self-promotion. I wish I lived in Alaska, where he lives. I would do it for him. But, I feel blessed that I get to see the beauty he finds in nature.
3. I don't know where this is at, but I LOVE this door!
4. This pic is super cute. That's exactly the look Lily would have on her face if I ever put her in a car seat.
5. Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss- It is sooo motivating, especially w all the weight I gained this past yr.
5. Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle". Great song, added to a great movie. :)
So, I leave you all with this today:
If you are looking for a job, the value of networking through personal referrals is mentally important
