November 25, 2011

The holidays.......

         Well Christmas has came and gone now! I have mixed emotions about that. You spend so much time preparing for it and it is gone in a flash. We make special time to spend with our loved ones and just enjoy being together even if we don't exchange gifts. The heartbreaking truth is most of us won't get together again for another year. Maybe we will see each other at the store or (gag) Walmart. But we will not make time to spend together. Is life really that busy for us that we can't take one evening or weekend afternoon to just get together and visit? My answer is NO. We just don't want to make the time! We are selfish individuals. I am guilty of that on several occasions. But as I look at my kids growing fast I think to myself I want them to have memories of our families being together all the time!
        We were spoiled this year with many gifts. More than I ever dreamed of. We ate tons of great food and sat by the fireplace and talked. The girls giggled while playing with their new toys (OK not the whole time...they fought over who was gonna play with what first but hey let me have my Norman Rockwell moment!!) All and all it was a FanTaSTic Christmas!!!
        Now we  get ready for the new year! In our younger years we would have got all dressed up and went to a dance or went to the bars but now it is all about spending time with family at home! Normally we have Wii tournaments, EAT alot of snacky foods and most definately karaoke! It is truly the best way to end the old year and begin the new year. This year has been good and bad but I am ready for a fresh start for all my family!!! Here's 2012!! Let's make it a wonderful year full of health, wealth and love!!! Oh and good food....that is important too. ;o)
         I wish that we would have taken more pictures this Christmas but we will have the memories forever!! I hope that your holidays were as blessed as mine were. And I wish you the Happiest New Year! Cheers...........until we meet again ~Jen Diaz~

Rain rain go AWAY!

Luck.......I have had NONE lately! You know the saying when it rains it pours? Well it is pouring right now! It has been a series of unfortunate events at my house the past week or so.......the kind of luck that is COMEDY worthy. Well here we go I will entertain you with my life!!!! 
Deep breathe here we go..........So it all started with my van. It is overheating and there is a clunky noise from underneath and a squealy belt like noise going on. Which only translates to me like this $$$$$$$!  I  have only been driving when absolutely necessary! Then we noticed some water around the toilets in both bathrooms. Well Tomas put on his plumber hat and showed a lil' butt crack and figured out that the tank is cracked on our main toilet! So it is leaking into the other bathroom! So there again $$$$$! And if that is not enough to just make your head spin......along comes Friday and there is NO DEPOSIT! None zilch nada a big fat zero! Come to find out NOBODY got paid. What the ???? How the???? I mean seriously! I have a sqealy clunkity van and a leaky toilet and NO $$$$$$! Ok are you cracking up yet? It gets better! So all this stress but hey let's throw in a slumber party and a wienie roast! I mean why not??? So no relaxing all weekend, everyone is GROUCHY in my house and really need to get laundry started for Monday and guess what??? Yup you guessed it NO SOAP! None not a drop! Good thing everyone did have something to wear! Monday is here finally here.....awwww! Sigh of relief right? NO no NO! Still no deposit and no answers! Get the girls ready for school and of course no bread for lunches and  1 juice box left! Hello Monday! Izzi forgets her jacket so I have to make a trip back to the school......then I notice that Claudia forgot he water bottle for her lunch.....trip #2 to the school! I must say I am a good momma! So after school I go to get gas and while I am pumping the gas my 10 year old gets out (she is the only one with me) and accidentally locks  the van. Yes the clunkity squealy van! And wait did I mention I had both sets of keys with me? Well I did! So thank God my mom was there in  her van and had her phone cuz mine was locked in the van! We called the lock smith and 30 minutes and $40 later we were in! So there you have it! That is my series of unfortunate events and I am praying that the lil' black rain cloud is moving on to the next poor soul! Yes it is FUNNY to read NOW but I can't say that I was laughing then.....and I can't repeat the things that  were said either......I am not always an ANGEL!!  ;o) Well a lil' bird said blog about it sista' so that I have done and now I can laugh about it..........um NOPE not yet but at least ya'll can get a kick out of a day in the life of ME!
Well that is  all I can take for today HELL for a year! I am eating me some popcorn and ending this day with my family! P.j.s on and I am doing nothing more for today! GOOD BYE bad luck you are not welcome anymore!
Until we meet again ~Jen~

ChRiStMaS...........I am SOOOOO decoratin' for it already!

I have been trying to "clean" from top to bottom each room in mi' casa and while I am doing this I am gonna go ahead and start gettin' my Christmas stuff out! YES I said it I am going to start decorating for my favorite time of the year! Call me CRaZY........go ahead I will wait....O.K. I look at it like this I love my Christmas decorations and I want them out as long as possible so if  Walmart can do it why can't I????? Hmmm! Now you are thinking about it too huh? Maybe my tree (then me clarify that, my main tree) won't go up right away but the 5,000 santa's and 1,000,000 snowmen will be coming out of hibernation really soon! There are 3 snowmen in my living room right now as we speak! I love decorating and I love buying gifts for people and I love the whole feeling that the holidays radiates! It is really the most WoNdErFuL time of the year! Little by little my house will be transformed into a winter wonderland....each and every room! O.k. maybe not the bathrooms but all the rest! Now the only crappy thing is getting some the MANY boxes and totes from my mom's attic! Grrrrr! Honey can you do me a favor? That is a big (clears throat....H*LL NO) no dear not YET! But really does the big guy have a say....um no not really! Sorry honey I love you but I am just not giving you that control!!! ;o) 
SO my stinkin' van is on the fritz. Not really sure what is going on with it because one day it runs perfecto and the next not SO perfecto! I get it everyone has their days but really I kinda need my van. We kindalive in it somedays......well most days it seems! I had to drive the hubby's truck to get the girls and yeah that is NOT really cool at all! Just not digging the whole stick thing! Oh well it will all work out one way or another! =) 
Until next time.........believe it or not I have nothing more to say! ;o)
                                        ~Jen Diaz~ 

To coupon or not to coupon.......that is the ??????

I am really intrigued by this whole couponing craze! Not that I am interested in a stock pile type deal but the groceries for nothing concept is a darn good one! It is really hard to balance the bills and budget food money! You have to creative and sometimes that is not an easy thing to do. I have hit a rut when it comes to cooking. I am tired of spaghetti, hot dogs, chili (I know chili season just started but we have overkilled it a smudge)!!! I want to think outside the box a little. Nothing crazy just a little more variety but when you are on a "budget" (stupid word) you have to buy what is CHEAP! We have kinda beat the cheap to death. I search online for recipes that would "please" my whole family....which is tricky considering I have a "CHEESE-HATER" .....but I just sit there like duh! Feeding my family is tricky! So then I watch these people on the tube and they are getting all these groceries for FREE! Well it does look like a lot of work though.  I am not gonna walk around town and take other peoples trash or dumpster dive for coupons that is for sure! But I want coupons! Do I really wanna put forth all my "free time" (hahahahaha) to couponing and trying to find the best deal??? Do I wanna go to that extreme??? Probably not. It would awesome if someone would just do it for me.........yeah I know not gonna happen. I just love watching these shows though where the mom's (or dad's) have their cupboards all organized and nothing is out of place in their kitchen. WHATEVER! That is not real life. I don't care what they say. Unless you never sleep and I mean NEVER or you have someone helping you and I mean a housekeeper MAYBE? But a big maybe at that. It is not easy running a household and planning a MENU for the troops. The whole point of my excessive rambling is "How does this coupon thing work?" Is is really worth it in the end? Well honestly I will be tossing the idea around for awhile but in the end I most likely will not take the time to "coupon"! But if anyone has any tips that would make it a little easier than it appears that would be much appreciated! Or some easy recipes for a family of 5! Well enough of my nonsense for today but no worries I shall return........(o;
Until we meet again.....~Jen~

Dinner in a pinch

I just thought I would share this quick and easy dinner..........Tuesdays and Thursdays are crazy at my house and this is a quick dinner idea. 
Breakfast Burritos........I use stir fry steak meat but any thin steak meat would do. Fry up the meat and in a separate pan make some scrambled eggs. When both are finished combined the 2! Put egg and steak mixture in a flour tortilla with some salsa and there you have it! I serve them with re-fried beans and a fruit of choice. Does not get any easier that this right here! YUMMO! SO TAKE IT IR LEAVE IT!!!!!! =o) Until next time....~Jen~ 
 

A Wonderful Life..........oh yes indeed!!

For those of you wondering there is a little sarcasm in the title! ;o) Like most SAHM (probably more that you think) we try so hard to keep clean houses, happy hubbies, happy kids, our families feed and all the other duties us momma's do on a DAILY basis and through it all we try to keep a HAPPY face! Well sometimes it just does not work that way! Mom's sometimes (DON'T JUDGE) loose their minds! I kinda sorta have had that happen a little more that normal lately! Again people DON'T JUDGE....lol! I know if it was me reading this I would totally judge!! Hey we are only human!  For example I cleaned the fridge out today..GAG ME.....mopped the kitchen floor. The kitchen looked pretty darn nice I must say. The kids were home for maybe and hour tops and it looked like I had not done much! I freaked a little! Just a little! Which really do 10 year olds really care that you spent all day cleaning the house? NOPE! A big fat NOPE! She looked at me and said "Mom really? GEEZ" and then then rolled her brown eyes at me! I have regained my cool and straightened up once again so that I can relax and enjoy what is left of my evening!
So my hubby finally got hired on permanently at his work! YEE-HAW! I am so happy and proud. He has been hanging on for almost a year. Looks like our prayers were finally answered. I guess it is true maybe God answers prayers when he knows we are ready! SO yes I do have a wonderful life! I am blessed with beautiful (mouthy) daughters and a hard working loving husband! My life is good not without bumps or stress but darn good! 
Until we meet again...........~Jennifer Diaz~

I temporarily fell off the "blog-wagon"........no worries I am back on now!

I am back! And I have only had a funeral, a wedding and a terrible cold since I have been gone! That's all no biggie! And I might add all within the last week.....it has been a rough road. But I believe that when it is all said and done we come out stronger in the end! My husband lost his Uncle on our daughters 10th birthday! It was a huge shock. It was very unexpected. He passed while he was on vacation with his work. God bless him! He was a good guy with a kind heart and will be missed by many. Then 2 days later we all had to get together again on a much happier note....a wedding! It was a very beautiful wedding. And while all this is going's on I have the worst cold ever! But as all us MOM'S know we don't get to be sick.....EVER! I am so thankful that things are back to normal (whatever that is. I should rephrase back to normal for US) Home cooked meals and at home together in the evening. Nothing better than a home cooked meal especially when it's shared with the ones you love!!!  Well that is all for now.....I gotta ease back in to this people!! ;o) Until next time...........~Jen~

Forgot

Oh I forgot to add LEAVE ME A COMMENT....preferably a NICE positive one......but something! ;o)
Thanks ~Jen~

A New Adventure

I am super stoked about my new adventure!  A new chapter in my life has begun today!! I have decided to join the Scentsy team! I absolutely love their products! I am actually addicted to them I think.......My bestest friend in the whole wide world started selling this year and she is having a blast! I wanna have a blast too! And I always need bars! I LOVE my house to smell good! We have dogs and a cat and I don't EVER want my house to smell! And believe me IT DOES NOT! I am constantly having my company tell me how wonderful my house smells. I am not FIBBING either! I can't wait to get started. my stater kit is in the mail. So now I am a Scentsy consultant....sorry I just had to say it again! I have been saying it over and over tonight.
I am a little nervous about it though. I really hope that I can make a little extra money and have a good  time doing it. I recently opened a booth at our local craft mall and I sold the first month but things have been tough since then. It started out fun but now it is more like a job. I don't enjoy making things so that they sit and collect dust. I think that this will have more of an instant gratification instead of a waiting game. I also recently started a lil buisness with my really good friend! We both have a passion for PRIMITIVES! So we decided let's try and make some bucks doing what we love! We are still under construction so to speak but I think that it will be AWESOME soon! I mean really it already radiates AWESOMENESS now! SO on top of being a stay at home mom I am a Scentsy consultant, self employed sign maker, and a co-owner of Blessed Thyme Primitives! WOW I really sound important! I knew this was gonna be a great year and thus far that is true! So remember if you need any signs painted for your home, a gift or just because or need anything Scentsy I AM YOUR GAL! ;o)

Until we meet again............~Jen Diaz~ LOVIN'  LIFE

Bullying

We recently had a "falling out" with our neighbor over something very trivial. Actually more like IGNORANT! Since all this happened we have seen the "real side" of her. She bullied my girls on FB. She allows her children to taunt and call my kids names while my kids are playing in their own yard. Mind you my kids are not perfect and I am the first one to admit that! Normally we ignore them or look the other way or SAD but true just stay inside BUT last night I had enough! My daughter was sobbing when she came inside and told me the kids were calling her FAT! The biggest shocker is the mom of these kids was right there working in the yard! I went into full force "momma bear" mode and marched out there and asked her nicely to tell her kids to stop right now! Her response, which still just blows my mind how ignorant it was, "it's a free country"! Are you kidding me!? You are condoning bullying! My response was "I will remember that". Which honestly doesn't make a whole lot of sense but I was so dang mad! You hear about bullying all the time but I never thought in my lifetime that it would be so close to home! This is my home, my safe zone! My kids are suppose to feel safe here not afraid to go outside in their own yard. I hate this situation 100%! And to make things worse it has spilled over into school now. My youngest is in the same class with the little girl from next door. My daughter cried and did not wanna go to school today! Which for those of you who know my baby she has had a very hard time in the past with separation anxiety and this is the first year that she has not cried when I take her to school and now this! I am very thankful for a teacher at their school though....she my hero! She was such a help last year when Claudia was upset in the mornings and now once again she had swooped in and made it better! I wish that their was more of her in the world than people like my neighbor! It breaks my heart that these poor kids are being raised to HATE! Isn't it 2011 and not 1950????? It is really weighing heavy on my heart that my kids have to experience this first hand but I hope that this will be an eye opener for them. I hope that I handled it the correct way!!!! Anyone that knows my girls will tell you that they are not angels all the time but they really GOOD girls with BIG hearts and would never NEVER intentionally hurt anyone's feelings! This I KNOW FOR SURE!!! 
This has been a very stressful week and tomorrow is going to be a tough day also! We go to court for visitation with my step daughter. This has been on since March and it really needs solved. Things have been rocky between my hubby and his daughter since she turned 13! It is another situation where momma is influencing the child! GRRRRRRRRRRR! But all I can do is have faith that it will work out how it is suppose to! It is out of our hands now! All I know is we are doing the right thing! 
“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” ~Marilyn Monroe~
Until we meet again......Jen <3 

1st day of school

It's the day that us mom's look forward to after 3/4 the summer is gone.........the 1st day of school! It is a new beginning.....back to organized (shut up Tomas), schedules, and ME not having to make lunch everyday!!!! (= All I did all summer was dishes and cook and dishes and cook! It was a nice relaxing summer but I am so glad to get that back into the swing of things. Our oldest started jr. high this morning....sighs....I was so excited for her but very nervous too! I can't even wrap my head around the fact that my "baby" is in 6th grade!!! I cried on the way, I just could not help myself  I was overwhelmed with emotions! My other 2 girls thought I was nuts (they really should know me by now)!! I was fine after that and she loved it! She was beaming when she came out of school. She even can't wait until tomorrow! Izzi and Claudia are still at the same school just new teachers which is equally exciting but I remained composed while taking them!! Go MOMMY! They had wonderful days too. I am so proud of Claudia she went without a tear!!! I have a feeling this is gonna be a great year, wait I KNOW this is gonna be a great year that's better! =)
I am a little bit irritated though! They are having the open house tonight for Izzi and Claudia! Talk about giving some notice to the parents. What about the parents that have to work? I mean really the girls went for 2 hours today so what are they really gonna be able to show me yet? I like to see papers they have worked on and art they have drawn And their desks a mess! =) Oh well out of my hands BUT hey I can BLOG about it until I am blue in the face cuz that's just how it is!!!!!!!!!!!! =p *wink wink*
Until we meet again ~Jen~

I can hear Fall knockin' at my door.......

I am so excited for Fall! It is my favorite season.....I love wienie roasts, apple cider, leaves falling from the trees, pumpkins, The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, mums, scarecrows, hayrack rides, scenic drive, ghosts, goblins, witches and so much more! It is the start of comfort foods! There is nothing like a pot roast in the oven making the whole house smell wonderful! I  have to say that the only thing I hate about Fall is spiders........I am scared to death actually!!!
 I am very frustrated right now though! I can't have my windows open because the screens are messed up on (your never gonna believe me but...) all of my large windows! I am feeling really trapped right now especially since it is so gorgeous outside! I am making a goal to get screen and fix them this weekend! You heard it this weekend! Now that I have declared that it will get like 99 degrees again! =) That is just my luck!
School is next week and I honestly have no clue if we are ready or not. I know I have mountains of laundry that technically has been washed before but my daughters love to throw their clothes on the floor! So I should get that washed and fresh for school. I said SHOULD did ya notice that! I think I am trying to convince myself to do it! Well I think that I have rambled enough there are dishes calling my name.........Until we meet again......~Jen-anxiously awaiting Fall-Diaz~

Gabbi's birthday........HOLY COW 11 really already!

I still remember being prego with Gabbi like it was yesterday. The phone rang of the wall with family and friends wondering if she was here yet...(she was the first grandchild on my side of the family....Danie is my step-daughter but still the oldest in our eyes)!!! I was in misery HELLO it was August and hot! She was 4 days late and I was very impatient....she was my first and I could not wait to hold her and kiss her! I remember Tomas brought me Taco Bell the night before  which really sucked the next day when labor started and the word enema was thrown at me.....yikes!! TMI I know but it is my blog so =p!! I went to the hospital that night and they sent me home! I was so bummed! I went home and labor continues threw out the night! Tomas, me and my mom all in the same room trying to sleep...no sleep for nobody! Got up early and went straight to the hospital!! This time they kept me and started to induce me!!!! All my family and Tomas' family was there!! Oh I'd say 20+ people! Crazy at Cottage! To speed things along Gabriella Marie was born at 1:07 a.m. the next morning (by c-section I might add) She put her momma threw the ringer and still is to this day!
 We celebrated her 11th birthday yesterday with friends and family. Again there was 20+ people here to celebrate with us! It was a great time, a lil crowded inside but hey we all love each other (some more than others) We ate and chatted and just a good ole time! I still just can't believe that she is already 11! I have this huge obsession with birthdays....I mean we go all out for my girls (not my sweet 16 by any means but big for us)! That is like there gift from us to them! This time she wanted to do owls for her theme and we ran with it! I wanted to share a pic of  her cake that I made her! I will upload more pics later just a tease for now!

Now to obsess about Izzi's birthday in September! She wants to have a Glee or Beatles party! Yes my 9 year old loves  the Beatles! I think that would be amazing! I can't wait to get started on the planning the next shindig! ~Until we meet again........~Jen Diaz~

Procrastination........I think that is my middle name =p

I have been so LAZY lately! I know and admit it and my family knows and will tell you! I just can't seem to get motivated to do a whole lot of anything! Don't get me wrong I am feeding my family and picking up things but as for laundry and really cleaning........um nope not really! I think it is because summer is getting the best of me! It is time to return to school routine and get our butts out of bed before 8 or don't tell anyone before 10 some days!! I know I know but poo happens!! I am tired of cleaning one room and moving on to the next and the first room is a mess already! I mean COME ON PEOPLE!! I don't really ENJOY cleaning that much....however I do enjoy cranking up the tunes and dancing while I clean (your welcome for the visual (= ) but I cant even do that right now without one of my 3 girls changing the music......bieber or lady gaga! Which dont get me wrong I love bieber and I love lady gaga but I wanna jam to the 80's or even the 90's!! Or maybe it  is all a control thing I just wanna listen to what I wanna listen to and  that is that so step back chickas!!! =p Anyway I am really searching for the energy or the will to get my boootay in gear before they return to school! My selfish thinking is I will have a  "vacation" that first week!! If it is all CLEANED cleaned then I will not have a whole lot to worry about?! Then just maybe then I can be creative and do somethings that Momma wants to do and not what Gabbi or Claudia or Izzi or Big Papa wants me to do!!!!! We will see if I hold true to this because I am a "family pleaser"! I want everyone to be happy all the time! You know the kind of  happily ever after happy........that is yet to be fully achieved! But I think my point is come on SCHOOL!!!! =) Until next time.......~Jen~ procrastination~ Diaz~

I just had to say all I thought about while  I was sleeping was my blog! How I am gonna add pages with all my birthday party ideas and recipes! This is addicting......OMG! But it is a gooooood thang!! Between this and LMN I fear that my house will never be clean.....shhhh that is our lil secret! Until next time..........I know you will be anxiously awaiting..........~Jen~

Hello blog.......=)

I have always always wanted to blog but never ever knew how until I met a fellow stay-at-home-mom at school! We became fast friends and she had this amazing blog! So Stephanie I am giving it a whirl! So the rambling begins.............
My hubby just started 3rd shift. I still am having mixed emotions about this. For 1.I have to sleep alone (not totally bad..no snoring) For 2. Have you ever tried to keep kids quiet all day? Yeah NOT EASY! For  3. We will get to eat dinner as a family every night (plus+) For 4. He is a DARN GRUMP ( DISLIKE button pleez) I know that once school starts it will all fall into place but for right now.....YIKES is all I am gonna say!
I need to get some much needed sleep...whatever that is....until we meet again.....~ Jen ~