One Proud Mama.... and toddler too!

I am up earlier than usual on a Monday. See, normally I don't get up until the alarm goes off, and Monday is a late start day at Jayden's school..... BUT! I had to get on here and blog about our first night making Ella STAY in her bed.

I blogged last night on how she had gone in there fell asleep on her own and how proud I was of her. Shortly after that blog we heard her crying. So, Gino went upstairs and got her. Technically I should went up and made her stay in there, but that's not what happened. Instead, she layed on the couch and feel back asleep.

THEN! We took her upstairs and instead of throwing her in our bed I put her in her's. She woke up and started crying and I reminded her that she was being a big girl and was going to get a sticker for being such a big girl! She nodded her head and said okay, hugged her bobby and went to sleep.

It lasted about 15 minutes.... then she started crying for Mommy. So, I went in, comforted her and reminded her that she's being a big girl! She said ok and pointed to Jayden's bed and said MAMA! Okay, I layed down in Jayden's bed so she felt comforted for about 20 minutes. In that 20 minutes she woke up once and I heard her say "OH!" Like a oh, okay, she's still here! And heard her turn over and I vacated the room.

And 7am is when she woke up!

She got out of bed yelling I DID IT!!!!!! She was so proud of herself...I just loved it and felt so good inside!

I'm Reparenting.... blogging the journey!

I'm reparenting. Ella has turned into a little tornado and I'm in the process of kicking it square in the butt before I end up with a sassy little teen! I blogged the other day about how out of control she's been lately, and I've decided to just buckle down and get this under control.

I'm not gonna lie... it's been DOWNRIGHT DIFFICULT! She's used to getting away with a lot because I would prefer to just give in than do the hard work of sticking it out and sticking to my word. That's where I have been failing as a parent. I owe it to her to teach her that she has rules, she has to respect her parents and that we are here to love her, and ensure that she is raised the right way!

We'd been through so much with Ella that I think we both just sortof let things slide. I'd think oh that's nice, she just poured her lemonade out all over her.... well, at least she's alive to be able to do that. It could be so much worse, because she could not be here. So instead of getting frustrated and getting on her we both instead let things slide. HUGE MISTAKE! I'm just happy that I'm changing things before it's too late.

Consistency. I'm being as consistent as a rock is hard! Not easy... takes and extreme amount of patience {blogged about that today} so not only is this changing her, but it's changing me. We are both being changed for the better. I'm finding that life is actually 110% easier when giving the toddler boundaries, and she's realizing that MOM MEANS BUSINESS!

I think the most shocking thing ever is that I'm seeing results so quickly. I'm giving her choices for the most part on things, and she's picking one or the other and realizing that this is the way it is. However, the little smartie realized that she can say that she wants an option that I'm not giving her.... EXAMPLE: Tonight I was working in my room/office and had the baby gate up so she couldn't come inside. She was having a MELTDOWN! I gave her the option of either going to hang out with her dad downstairs for her brother in their room. She thought long and hard about this and said, "Mama!" CRAP! That was not an option..... how is her little brain able to think outside of the box? Oh! I know, because she's abnormally smart!

Today for naptime she slept in her own bed. I didn't have to continually put her in her bed, she layed down (which is normally a fight) and asked for "Bobby" and I told her that she'd be a big girl and get a sticker if she'd lay down and take a nap in her bed. Almost 3 hours late she opened her door and came out with a huge smile on her face. She was PROUD OF HERSELF!!!!! And I was just as proud of her too!!

As I type this extremely long novel of our events here she's sleeping in her bed. Ever since I layed her down in her bed she's stayed there. If it lasts all night long she's getting cake for breakfast! Okay, I'm totally kidding, but she'll get to add a sticker to her chart that we're going to make her tomorrow.

I know that parenting is hard, but seeing the benefits of having patience and sticking with it makes it so worth it. I feel not only proud of her, but proud of myself as well for having the patience she deserves and showing her that she has boundries and she MUST respect her parents.

Just a Motivating Monday - Patience is a Virtue

If you're just joining in:
-Write a blog post about ANYTHING at all that inspires you, or something you feel will inspire others. 

-Please link back to Garibay Soup 

-Please snag my Just a Motivating button on your post.

-I hope that we can all go and visit each other's blogs and read what everyone has linked up ~ I hope that this carnival can bring more traffic for you :) So, spread the comment love! 

Last Just a Motivating Monday I talked about Forgiveness and talked of how for the next few weeks I will be basing my Just a Motivating Monday post on virtues.

Patience is a Virtue

Something that we've heard over and over and over again in our lives. As a child I never got it. I never quite understood why being patient is a virtue... actually, I think back then I never quite understood VIRTUE.

The best way for me to talk about patience as a virtue is through my eyes as a mother.  Recapping on virtue, we know that things of virtue are things of righteousness, moral excellence.  My goal in life is to be virtuous.  It's something that definitely takes a lot of focus and striving for.  I am willing to work at this, even if it takes my entire life.  To be known as someone of virtue is an honor.

Patience.  Hardest virtue I think there is out there.  Especially as a mother!  It's extremely important that we don't lose it on our children.  Trust me... there are MANY, MANY, MANY times a day I would like to just fly off the handle, because it's easier.  Instead I have to remind myself over and over and over again that this too shall pass.  If I hold on to that one virtue that is extremely hard to achieve and just be patient, it will pass.

Motivation...I need motivation to be patient.  I think the best motivation for me is my children's memories... I don't want their memories to be of their mom frustrated, impatient, not being there for them.  I want them to know that no matter what... I'm here.  I want to be the model mom.  I know I never will be, but I sure can strive to be.  Being a model mother requires a lot of virtue, and the hardest, yet most important one is patience.  Teach them how to be patient by being patient.  Teach them to be virtuous by being virtuous.

This week I'm going to work extremely hard on being patience.  Patience with my children, my husband, my work, me... I'm just downright going to be as patient as I possibly can.  Let me tell you, this is EXTREMELY hard on me.  I struggle with this virtue more than any of them.  So tomorrow I will wake up with a personal goal for the entire week.  The beauty of it is the more we practice being patient the easier it becomes.  Let's give our children memories of a patient mom, a mom that was easy to approach, a mom that took the time to listen to their needs, a mom that took the time ensure that they felt important.

If you have anything else to add on this virtue, please leave it as a comment.  I'd LOVE to read other's thoughts on this virtue... especially since it's the one virtue I struggle with.

God, please HELP!!!!!!

I realized on this trip that I AM SCREWED! There's no pretty word for what I forsee in my future... nope, no pretty word AT. ALL!

You see, I have this little 2 year old that has the attitude of a young little tween all packed with a load of hormones.  

I know this, 

I see this, 

but I really 

NEED TO GET ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

She hits, she thinks it's hilarious to NOT listen, she glares, rolls her eyes, yells.... oh shit! I'm describing myself!!!!  Damn it, {Kandi}!  You were right.... all I needed to do this whole time was look in the damn mirror to figure out where she gets all this from.  This little devilish precious walking mini me CANNOT turn out ANYTHING like me {well, me as an adolescent} .  So, I've gotta roll up the sleeves and get to work on her.  I'm realizing that just because she has a heart problem doesn't mean that she should get away with EVERYTHING..... so I'm about to embark on a world of hardness..... expect many blog posts about this.

Any advice for me? 

Giving Thanks of THANKSgiving

This day sometimes gets rushed with people, food and food..... did I mention FOOD? Don't get me wrong, getting together with family, eating deliciousness is definitely a wonderful aspect of this day.  Right now I sit at my inlaw's after finding a WiFi signal I am relaxing and reflecting on the meaning of THANKSgiving.  This Thanksgiving wasn't rushed with people.  It was so laid back, relaxing and just downright what I definitely needed.  I have been so rush here rush there, do this do that, that I really need TODAY to just sit and let the meaning of this day shine through....  Giving thanks....

I am Thankful

First and foremost for Jesus. I am definitely not in any way, shape or form a perfect person.... and sadly {real weeping tears here} I will never be. I am so thankful for the atonement and for the opportunity to be forgiven.

My husband.... he's my rock. I love this man so much. I'm thankful for him putting up with so much of my crap. No matter what this man loves me.... and I love that about him.

My children... I have learned so much about myself through them. They make me want to be a better person in this world. They have shown me what unconditional love is. They make me smile, giggle, and feel joy every, single day of my life!

The miracle of Ella. I am so thankful for the miracle of her surviving the most scariest time in our lives this past July. Having her overdose on her medication was overwhelmingly scary. We almost lost her sweet little soul. I truly feel Heavenly Father took her in his arms and helped pull her through this.... and answered a few hundred prayers :)

I am so thankful that I have been shown the most amazing company I've ever seen in my life.  That this company is literally the answer to all of our prayers and that I will continue to stay home with my kids and that my husband is right behind me!  

I'm thankful for Garibay Soup.  It honestly is one of the most special things ever to me.  It's my life.  It's my kids' life.  It's my mark in my own little universe.... and I couldn't imagine life without it.

I am thankful for every, single day that is given to me on this earth.  I truly love my life, no matter how hard it gets at times... it is the most precious gift.

I'm Outta Here!!! Going to CALIFORNIA!

This week we will be on the road

You know dang well that I go NO WHERE without my laptop,

So you just might be lucky enough to have me pop in,

But don't hold your breath :)  I'm going to CALIFORNIA!  To hang out with {THIS COOL CHICK}

I hope you have a fantastic, delicious Thanksgiving ~ don't forget to remember what this day is all about.

Just a Motivating Monday will resume next Monday :)

Ella is 2 and is acting like a stripper... I'm worried

I'm sure I've blogged about this before, but just in case I haven't I HAVE TO DO IT NOW! A while ago my ever so ghetto brother decided he would give Ella a dollar. When he gave it to her, he opened up her pull up and stuffed it on the side.... stripper style.


That has stuck with this little girl.... and I'm a little afraid about her future.


Any time she sees money, she grabs it and sticks it in her pull up... coupons... in her pull up. The other day I had $5.00 sitting on the table for Jayden's book fair, and it was gone! Gino and I were looking everywhere. Ella was standing by the ottoman in her pull up and I walked over, pulled open her pull up to find the $5.00 nestled in there.


Should I be worried?

Neighbor on Craigslist! LOL!!

Totally slacking here! Sorry.... there's been new neighbor episodes.


Frankly... not even normal.


"Jim" comes to my door and asks if I was offended when he offered to take pictures of me for my husband. Offended? No. Would do it in a million years? No.


Apparently, assistant girl went on Craiglist in our area under Artists and put his name as the subject. When you opened it I guess it told people of how he was offending his neighbor by trying to get her to pose nude for him, and that he spent $14,000.00 on hookers this summer. That confuses me, because how can he be a pimp if he's spending money on them? Obviously he doesn't know what he's doing.... or he's just down right a perv!


So, after he told me this {which he claims it's all lies} I asked if he reported it to Craigslist and he said he did. DAMN! I ran ever so quickly to my computer to take a screen shot of it for this blog post, but Craigslist is good... it was gone. BUMMER!

This Blogging Community ROCKS

There are millions of mom blogs. You can jump from blog to blog and glance over quickly to find out if that one feels like one that you'll like... if that blogger is a blogger that you think you can connect with you might follow them.  Then through commenting, tweeting, connecting you become friends.  Whether you click with the blogs you come across or not, they are still the heart of a soul.  They are where someone turns to vent, to brag, to plea, to share, to grow, to learn, to love.  There are a lot of people in my world and probably your's that can't quite grasp that.  They can't quite grasp how we can have such close friendships over the internet.  How we can truly know someone just by stopping by their blog.

This is how.  In real life we normally don't express every, single thing that we are feeling.  For the most part we can talk it out, but it doesn't really all come out.  My feelings are displayed here on my blog.  This blog was not started for that reason.  My blog was started solely to benefit family back in California.  Now, if none of them even knew about my blog I'd probably be a lot happier {I love you all, but sometimes I'd like to write about things on here that I feel I can't}  But I'm pretty good about letting my feelings out here.  The friends that I have met in this community understand me in ways that friends in my real life don't.  And I in turn "get" them, because I have gone and internalized their feelings through reading their blog.

The community of this blogging world is beyond amazing to me.  Twitter/blogging.... the people are wonderful.  They're quick to support you, help you, give you advice and just make you feel like somebody out there really does care about how you feel.  That somebody out there really is listening.

I have learned more about this community these past few days that makes me proud to be a part of it.  There has been a tragedy in our community with a very well known and loved blogger named Anissa.  She has suffered a massive stroke and is in DESPERATE need of prayers... prayers for a full recovery, and prayers for her family to hang on during these horribly trying times.  This community has flocked together with prayers and willingness to help in any way they can.  That to me is amazing!

I have not had the opportunity to get to know Anissa like most of the people in our community have.  I haven't got to meet her at conferences, I didn't follow her during her daughter's cancer journey, but Anissa has touched my heart.  The words that I have read from others about her make me smile and hope that I too one day will get the pleasure of hugging her and becoming real friends with a wonderful soul..... I'm counting on her being at Blogher10 so that I can FINALLY MEET HER!

I'm so grateful for the friends that have touched my soul through their writings.  I'm so grateful for the friends that have come and given me the words of support that I needed at many times.  I'm grateful to be a part of this community and couldn't imagine my life without it.  I thank all of my readers from the depths of my soul, whether you comment or not... just knowing that you're there, listening matters to me.

I'm thankful to be ME

A lot of my friends started life out a little differently than I did. They went to college, met, fell in love, got married, had kids, breastfed, completely started out in the mother/wife role.... this is how they were raised, this is how they did things. It's all they've ever known to want.


I'm different. It's noticeable that I am different. I get questions like when did you and Gino get married. May 15, 2004. Yes, you do the math... that was 5 years ago, and *GASP* our oldest is 8. We met, got pregnant, and just grew up and learned together.... yes, the THREE of us.  The fact that I was pregnant in no way made me want to get married.  I knew that I would be getting married because I was in love.  Lucky for me it happened to be the father of my child that I decided to spend the rest of my life with.  Ella came at a much more stable time in our life.


When talks of breastfeeding are going on, I just put a smile on my face and stay out of the subject because *GASP* I CHOSE not to breastfeed. Yup, I gave my kids that horrific poison that made it so that my kids NEVER got sick until they were way past the 1 year mark. No ear infections.... EVER. Healthy and smart.... can you believe it?!?! I've thought about IF there was ever to be a 3rd that I would possibly breastfeed, but I know that 2 times in a row now my kids have had tremendous success on formula. Did I mention that I too was formula fed, and I too am still alive?


I will never be them. I will never be the perfect housewife, the perfect mom, the perfect stranger, or the perfect friend. My differences from my friends is obvious. I have always felt that I am different. I've experienced things in life that they haven't. I've experienced things in life that have made me grow into who I am. I know who I am. I do not follow in the footsteps of ANYBODY.   I have created my footsteps through trial and error. My faith was not handed to me. I didn't have the privilege of being taken to church every Sunday and being told that THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE.  I know that you eventually get your own testimony, but you are given the opportunity to gain that.  Nope, I got to experience *prior edited out, because it was written out of frustration.....if you were lucky enough to get here before I decided against writing it, then you know more about me than others know* things that I can look back on and say.... 

Thank you, God.  Thank you for for giving me the opportunity to find my way back to the church that I once was a part of as a very small child.  Thank you for showing me that even though all of that stuff was FUN it didn't give me JOY.  Joy to me is something that I hold so dear to my heart, because before a couple of years ago I didn't have joy in my life.  I was happy, but I wasn't complete.

But I'm most thankful for the path I took to get here.  I'm thankful that I found my way and I will always be me.  Whether people like it or not, I am who I am.... and I love myself.  I know that I will never be perfect.  I'm going to do things that my friends would NEVER in a million years do.  Because I am me.  And just because I've grown to love something so much, I will always be ME.  I love the mistakes I've made, because without them, I wouldn't be ME.  Without those mistakes Gino and I wouldn't be a WE.  
 

If the 8 Ball says it's true.... it's true!

Jayden has a friend. He's never had a "best friend" at school yet.

I think it's rather cute. Jayden goes over to his house for playdates, and I just learned a little from my husband about what those boys are up to on those playdates through a conversation that Gino had with Jayden.

We're nosey parents. We want know EVERYTHING, because that's just how we are.  We know that eventually we'll get to know nothing, and we can already see how Jayden is becoming secretive {not in a bad way}.... just not wanting to share the juicy details happenings of his day with his parents

Gino: Jayden, do you like any girls like Alexis?

Jayden: No dad!  Alexis broke up with me.

Gino: What about Hailey?

Jayden: No, Dad! Isaiah's in love with Hailey. We know this, because we shook the ball and asked if Isaiah was in love with Hailey and looked and it said yes.

Gino and I spent a while last night just sitting and talking about our kids. How crazy Ella is, how predictable Jayden is. How we think they will be as teens, and just all around a wonderful conversation. But this little nugget nestled in this conversation had us rolling!!!! Do you remember the days that you'd shake that magic 8 ball and anxiously await it's answer..... because you know, it's totally right!

And she counts

There are moments in our children's life that we do not want to forget. Moments we wished we documented, moments we wished we had gotten on video tape.

Today, I'm noting a momentous event here, now. It has not yet been video recorded (but it will) but I know that blogging is one of the fabulous perks of being able to have one place where I know where all things are.

Ella counts. She counts like this:

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10

and it's the cutest thing in the world. And I love her so much.

Oh there more, people.... there's more!

Do you need to catch up on the neighbor drama going on before reading the following?  It's all about having a PIMP for a neighbor. {CLICK HERE}


Things have been quiet.


Life has begun to be normal.


Occasionally I hear a garage door open next door, but THAT. IS. IT. NOTHING


Until today....


Door bell rings, I answer there is "Jim" creepy neighbor pimp.


Me: "Um, hi, Jim!"


Jim: "Just wondering if you've been being bugged from "Assistant". Has she been calling you?"


Me: "Nope."


Jim: "Oh, good! Glad she's not bugging you. Have the cops been by to talk to you?"


Me: "Um, no. Should they be?"


Jim: "Oh, no. Just curious, okay talk to you later.


Me: Speechless


Can we say WEIRD?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Just a Motivating Monday - Forgiveness is a Virtue

If you're just joining in:
-Write a blog post about ANYTHING at all that inspires you, or something you feel will inspire others. 

-Please link back to Garibay Soup 

-Please snag my Just a Motivating button on your post.

-I hope that we can all go and visit each other's blogs and read what everyone has linked up ~ I hope that this carnival can bring more traffic for you :) So, spread the comment love! 

Carissa over at Good N' Crazy had a great topic on her blog for Church Talk. It's something that has totally stuck in my mind since reading it and I think I'm going to spin off of her post for Just a Motivating Monday.

Virtue is a beautiful word. It's a word that I'm trying to master into my life. I want to be virtuous. I want people to look at me and smile with the thought in their mind... she has so much virtue about her.

For the next few weeks I'm going to pick a virtuous trait and talk about it for Just a Motivating Monday.

This week: Forgiveness

Everybody has been hurt by someone they love.  Or maybe you hurt someone you love.  The point is... we have to be able to forgive in our heart.

President Hinckley of the LDS Church once said in an article:

"Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way."

I know it is so hard at times to forgive people, but are you perfect?  Have you gone through your whole life not doing a thing wrong to someone?  Have you been forgiven?  Forgiving somebody, especially yourself can be one of the hardest things in this world to do.  But if you are virtuous and want to be forgiven, you yourself  MUST do this.

Tips to Forgive

• Pray to Heavenly Father and ask Him for His help.  He can soften your heart and help you to forgive.

• Get rid of the bitterness.  If you're still plotting out ways to get even the forgiving process is no where near.

• Once you have forgiven, let it go.  Don't hold on to it, because that's holding a grudge... which does not mean you have forgiven.

• Don't focus so much on the negative things that have happened to you.  If you are focusing on the positive things in your life, and the positive things people have done for you, you will be able to forgive the negative things easier.  There's no point in holding on to negativity when there's so much positivity to welcome into your heart.

• You need to remember that when you are forgiving, it's for you.  It's not for the person that did you wrong, but it is for you and your exaltation.  It's a process you must go through, and you will be forgiving others for you.

A very good friend of mine... you can find her on twitter @jenhoehne contributed to this post by saying:

"I think that forgiveness is one of those words like "love" that people use loosley. To truly forgive someone means you have let go of any ill will and no longer harbor feelings of anger or angst toward another person.

Forgiving ourselves goes hand in hand with forgiving others. We are often times harder on ourselves than the person or people we have wronged. Forgiving others means letting go of hurt they have caused you and forgiving yourself is learning to love yourself after you have caused another person pain. Both are crutial in the eternal realm of this life and critical to our salvation and prosperity hereafter."

Final Thought:

I know it's hard... forgiveness is one of the hardest things that we do, but it's something that in time needs to be done.  I haven't completely forgiven everybody in my life that needs forgiveness, but it's definitely something I have been working on.  Some of the people I have forgiven I have chosen not to have in my life.  Reasons being that they just aren't a good influence on who I'm trying to be, but I have forgiven them in my heart and with God.  It's something we should all have... it's a virtue and if you want to be virtuous it's a step you should take.


I hope that this post inspires you to start the forgiving process if you haven't already.  I hope that it inspires you to always have a forgiveness attitude in your heart ~ it will only make you a better person.

Potty Training at its FINEST

I have got to say.... having a puppy and a toddler together is one big fricking circus in this house!

The dog is pretty much potty trained.

I can't even begin to describe the excitement in my soul about this!

The toddler is in potty training process....

It's going well....

She actually went by herself yesterday, and decided to not put on her pullup

Instead just the pajama pants...

and I had NO. I-DEA.......

until droplets of poop starts coming out of the bottom of her pants in the kitchen.

After rushing her to toilet and then back to clean up the poop,

I found it had already been cleaned up for me...

by the puppy....

Tonight My Heart is Heavy

Life is short. Boy is it ever so short. I talked on my blog a while back about my problems with my IUD and how I was going through hormone testing and the Nurse Practitioner that I was seeing was WONDERFUL. She was so nice, layed back, took the time to hear you out. I loved her! I just found out that in April she fell and slipped into a coma... and she never came out of it.  Just like that, a wonderful person gone from this world.  

Today is a little girl that will just melt your heart's 2nd birthday.  However, she's not here to celebrate it.  I've seen her pictures all over people's blog and waited until today to finally head over to her mom's blog and get to know sweet Maddie.  Oh my goodness..... I sat here tonight reading her mom's letter to her today and cried and cried and hugged my babies.  One day she was here, the next day she was gone.  Life is so short.  And Maddie's story really makes you stop, think and appreciate every moment that you are given with your babies.

To read all about Maddie... go {HERE} for her mama's blog or {HERE} for her Daddy's blog.  I waited a really, really long time to suck it up and cry with them... but I'm so happy I did.  I hope you too will go and become a friend of Maddie... she'll melt your heart.

I have been so close to losing Ella, that stories like these crush me.  I've been there.... I've actually sat there hearing them call codes on my little girl.  At one point I thought she was gone... I know what it's like to drop to your knees and pray that your baby won't die.... and I'm so fortunate to still have her here.  I can't imagine what not only Heather & Mike (Maddie's Mama & Daddy) but all of the parents in this world that have had to suffer the heart wrenching loss of a child have had to go through... and still go through every, single day.

My heavy heart can go on and on.  I feel like I'm mourning a sister.  I haven't unleashed the drama that's been going on, but I've decided to break my silence and talk about how I feel.  My sister has turned into somebody that I do not like.  Somebody who talks disgustingly and someone that I am ashamed to say is my sister.  My sister wouldn't act the way she's been acting.  But in the end I think I've learned something that I've always known.  You turn into who you hang around.  So, it's so vital that you choose to hang around people that inspire you, challenge you to grow, and have virtue, values & morals.  Because if you choose to hang out with anything less, unfortunately you will be less.  I am in mourning, because things that have been said can't be taken back.  I have been challenging myself to personal growth, and during personal growth you need to ensure that you are not surrounded by people who hold you back, live negatively and have no virtue, values or morals, because the last thing you want to do is turn into them.  

Life is short though, and I'm sad to say that I've had to accept the fact that my sister and my brother are both individuals that will always be stuck in their rut.  Living a life that is not something to be proud of, and until they accept this and learn and grow from this they'll never change.  They will continue to always be hustling their way through life.  A life without honesty, a life without morals.... it's so unfortunate.  But I have to remember that in order for me to continue with my personal growth I have to stay away from them.  I have to look at the negativity they hold, the hate they hold, the evil they hold in them and pray for them.  My brother is not someone that has ever had good in him.  I've been through it all with him, and honestly feel quite secure in not being in his life.  Anybody who can walk away from their own flesh & blood child and deny them is evil.  My sister, however, I've always loved her.  It's unfortunate what's happened, but I'm okay with it now.  Yes, Jessica, I do check your myspace status, because I want to see how my niece and nephew are doing.  The things you put on there lets the ghetto and trash in you shine on.  I wish we could mend this crap we're going through, but I've realized since it's started that you are not a person that I want in my world... and fortunately I get to choose who's in my world.  I choose class, virtue, morals, and people striving to better themselves, which are things you don't hold.  I hope one day you learn how to.

My heart is heavy, but at the end of the day I have a wonderful husband that makes me happier than I ever thought possible.  A son that never fails to put a smile on my face and warm my heart and a daughter that is and always will be  my rainbow after the storm.  My heart is heavy, but I love every thing I have in my life.  I feel fortunate to have the blessings that continue to pour down on my family.  I will continue to keep my prayers with those in this world that truly need it..... and I will continue to send my balloons to the people in heaven like Mya, my precious daughter who will always have a huge piece of my heart with her, Maddie, who has touched a world of people with her beautiful eyes and smile, and Karen... my nurse who woke up one day and didn't know it was going to be her last.

A little edition of my kids say

I figured it was time for another little blog post about the things that my kids say.... the things that shock me and make me laugh and wonder WHERE DID THEY GET THAT FROM?!?!


Ella: The other night we were sitting down eating dinner and this little girl who just turned 2 in August told her dad "I don't have to." After he told her to eat her dinner. She said it with a little attitude on her face and Gino and I just looked at each other with this look like... Oh boy, we're in for it!


Jayden: This one was hilarious! Where he got this is beyond me!! We were pulling into the Walmart parking lot when we saw a cop pulling someone over. Jayden says very softly, "Oh no... there's a cop. Just drive slow and act natural!" Haha!!!!!

Just a Motivating Monday - Success

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-Write a blog post about ANYTHING at all that inspires you, or something you feel will inspire others. 

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-I hope that we can all go and visit each other's blogs and read what everyone has linked up ~ I hope that this carnival can bring more traffic for you :) So, spread the comment love!


"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." ~Albert Schweitzer

Success... something that his been so strongly on my mind lately. But what is success? Success to me is something different than success to you, but in the end I think we all believe that we have reached our success once we are happy in our lives, happy with our situations.  Yet, I believe that we should continue on.

I am happy, and I feel that I have already met a great deal of success in my life to be at the point I am at today. But I know that there is so much more that I can achieve in life, and so much more happiness to be discovered. So, I continue on in my search for further success.

Life to me is such a journey and learning process. We should never cut ourselves short and settle in life for something that has just became comfortable.... we need to continue to challenge ourselves and be happy. Once you get stuck in a rut, well at least when I get stuck in a rut, I'm not happy. For us to continue to be successful in this life constantly challenge yourself for happiness, which will in turn lead to success.

Just when I thought it was over....

Oh boy... if my neighbor only knew that I was sitting here blogging about his life.. UGH! That's okay... he never needs to know! So here I go airing out more...

"Assistant" has my phone number.  When I first met her I really was clueless to what was going on next door and I had told her I do photography, she wanted me to do her daughter's pictures so I handed her a business card.  She called...

She wanted to inform me that she called the cops, because "Jim" has some of her stuff and she has some of his, she wants to exchange property.  Well, she's trying to get statements together from people to give to the cops showing him what "Jim" does.  Okay, what does this have to do with me??!?!?  I'm not a hooker... I've only talked to the man a few times.  Oh, right... one of those conversations was quite awkward.  

When I met "Assistant" she had just gotten her boob job.  That kinda spiked my curiosity of what in the world does he do?  I knew he was an artist, because I've seen him load his canvases in the car, but what kind of "Assistant" gets a boob job?  So I asked.  I asked him, "Jim", what is it that you do?  It was a day I was loading my kids in the car as he was putting art in his.  He told me that he takes exotic pictures of women.... oh, so that explains the unusual traffic of women... whatever *rollseyes* Then came the kicker.... "I'm going to say this in the most respectable way I can.  If you ever want to do pictures for your husband I would love to do them."  Yes, he really said that to me.  My thoughts... oh, yeah, I'm just going to have some random, old perv take my pictures!  Let me just take off my clothes for ya.... H TO THE N-O!

So, phone call today... she wants a statement about it and then told me that if I had allowed him to (um, never an option) that he would have made money off my pictures.  That's great!  Could you imagine????  Not that I would EVER, EVER, EVER allow ANYBODY to take pictures of me.... could you imagine if I was clueless, had no self respect and wanted to go ahead with it... then one day when I became rich and famous (because we all know one day it will happen) the pictures came to haunt me... lovely.

I wonder what else is going to unfold.  I don't like being the person they both talk to, however, I like to know what's going on.  I'm a girl, and drama is my nature.  I don't like being a part of drama, but I LOVE HEARING ABOUT IT!

Wow.... um, yeah.... Celeste, I know you're reading this, my friend.  And I'd like you to give your Mother In-Law two thumbs up for me on the winner she chose to rent your old house... and while you're at it... COME BACK!!!!  I FRICKING MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY!  Just think about the fun our girls can have together living next door to each other again.  And P.S. Saturday is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!  I HAVE NEEDED A GIRLS NIGHT OUT SINCE MY BIRTHDAY!  That's pathetic huh?  I owe you for your birthday so it's going to be FUN!

Neighbor Drama Continued

I got sick and couldn't continue on with the neighbor saga, but here I am to continue for all of those who were calling/emailing/DMing LOL  Names are being changed to protect identity.

There was a knock on my door and I answer to find his "assistant" standing there, sunglasses on and not very happy.  "Do you know how to get ahold of "Jim"?"  She asked.  "Um, no."  I'm sitting here thinking why would I know how to get ahold of him?  I'm just the neighbor that sits back and watches all the weirdness go on.

She tells me that he turned off her and her kids' cell phones, changed his number, threatened to kill himself.  He's in debt because he would spend between $300-$500 a day on escorts.  And that's where I laughed and said oh... I thought he was a pimp.  She looked at me and said, "Oh, he makes money off of these girls too."  WOW.  So he is a pimp!

"Assistant" continues to stop by wondering if he's come home yet.  He actually has come home, cleaned out his garage so he can park his car in there, poured out all of his alcohol and disposed of the bottles in recycling, and is kinda hiding out from her.  I have no idea what in the world is going on.  I saw him yesterday and asked how he's doing and he said that he's doing better.  I asked if he has kids and he said yes, and his wife of 25 years passed away.  Then he jokingly said... "I don't think that's the reason for my actions this summer."  I think he had a breakdown.  

So, "assistant's" story is that he's basically a pimp that sleeps with escorts.  His story is that him and "assistant" broke up.  Somebody is delusional, and my bet is on HIM.  Although he did buy "assistant" a boob job, and from my calculations, this happened towards the beginning of whatever relationship they were having.

My thoughts are, she was part of his "business" or whatever the heck it was, and he took their relationship a little more seriously.  I think he realized that he was drinking way too much, stopped drinking and realized what in the world he had been up to these last few months.  I think he decided to change everything and had to cut her out of the picture in order for this to work.  These are just my thoughts on it, who knows.  You can tell the man is lost in this world.  

Just a Motivating Monday - Blueprint Your Days

If you're just joining in:
-Write a blog post about ANYTHING at all that inspires you, or something you feel will inspire others. 

-Please link back to Garibay Soup 

-Please snag my Just a Motivating button on your post.

-I hope that we can all go and visit each other's blogs and read what everyone has linked up ~ I hope that this carnival can bring more traffic for you :) So, spread the comment love!

I'm one that wakes up and goes with the flow.  I don't know why, but I haven't been mapping out my days.  I know what things need to get done and kinda wing it.  Not a smart thing to do when I have a household to take care of, a job I do at home to stay on top of, and a company I am building so I can accomplish all of my dreams.

The logical thing to do is to make a blueprint of my day the night before.  I have weekly goals that I know need to be done, so I am looking at my week and decide which days I need to do what.  Tonight I sat down and did a blueprint for each day of this week so that I can wake up and know what needs to be done.

I know that this might be something that most people do, but I don't. Working at home can sometimes be challenging and I need to find a new way to reach the goals I NEED to reach.  

It feels good when you accomplish something.  I've been reading this amazing book called The Power of Focus and received this idea from them.  We need to map out everything in our lives and focus on the blueprints that we make. If we aren't making blue prints then how the heck to we intend to arrive on the ending result?

I'm starting this tomorrow, not only for my immediate goals, but my long term goals and dreams.  I hope that this will motivate you to do the same.   

Probably the worst Halloween EVER... we survived though

Our Halloween DEFINITELY did not go as planned. It was just a straight up catastrophe from the get go. I woke up feeling absolutely HORRIBLE. That's the first bad thing, then....


I got moody. Moody Amanda is no good. Especially on a holiday! Gino was scheduled to get off at 6, so my job was to get the kids ready. I couldn't even do that right. Orginally Ella was going to be a lady bug, since she already had the ladybug fairy dress. Well, the in-laws bought her a really cute Witch outfit, so I figured I go with that. She wore that to Jayden's school party, then for Halloween I couldn't find where I put the dress. UGH! I had just seen it and btw, it's still MIA. So, I thought... okay... she can go back to being the lady bug. NOPE! We could only find 1 ladybug boot... WHAT THE HECK?!?!??!?! I thought they were both in the car, but only one was there.... GREAT. So, I can't believe I did this, but I grabbed leggings, a tutu & her wings that she wore for her 1st birthday and put glitter on her face and told her she was a butterfly. Problem SOLVED.

Weather sucked and was all rainy, so we decided to head over to the mall for some safe, warm trick or treating.  Ella caught on to Mommy's nasty attitude of the day (honestly it was only because I FELT LIKE CRAP!) and decided to adopt it as her own attitude.  She was actually kicking people that were in front of us in line!  I couldn't believe it my precious, cute little butterfly was going around kicking people.  She did say thank you after she got her candy though... made me so proud.


And for the record... we didn't carve pumpkins, we didn't decorate, and all in all it was a crappy Halloween.... next year I am promising myself and my kids that it will be a GOOD Halloween to remember :)


Life isn't always about roses.