Just Another Random summer Sunday Afternoon

Yesterday we headed out to the yard and ended up putting together a 4'x8' box that will serve as a raised bed for our garden. It was a hot and humid summer day, so after we were done with that we decided to just relax and let the kids run the backyard. And then it was grilling time! Threw some steaks on the BBQ, made some mash and salad, and figured lets just eat outside. Take that back! the flies had a better idea. The minute we sat down to eat, these flies started coming out of nowhere. And hubby was enjoying killing flies more than eating his steak. So in we ran with dishes, drinks, and kids! Finally we could enjoy dinner.

After dinner we went back outside for a little game I call "if you land there I will plop you". Well you see, hubby was having a little too much fun killing flies that I just had to join in. Yuck, it is just disgusting, gross, but the more we killed these stupid flies the more that came. It was the flies massacre. EXTRA! EXTRA! This just into the newsroom of flytown_Be alert and stay away from Lina's house, the number of bodies is in the hundreds and rising! LOL! Seriously what a party pooper.

Anyhow, we were able to put the swatters down and let the kids have their fun_Smore time! We made them smores by the fire until their faces could not take anymore chocolate, and into the bath they went. After bath, it was finally hubby and me time. We watched the movie Brothers with Tobey McGuire and Jake Gyllenhaal. I was bawling! I seriously wanted hubby to skip the knock on the door part. Maybe I am too sentimental or emotional or whatever, but this sadness came over me. I mean come on now, its just a movie right?? It got me thinking our men and women (our children, spouses, friends, etc) are out there fighting this war, but how many of us really care? I mean REALLY CARE? We take our freedom for granted, as if it was this God given right. And these men and women come back from war, having put everything on the line, having lost themselves out there, and I ask you for what? Only they know what they have seen and done to give us the luxury we can today call freedom.

To all our troops and war veterans, I salute you, I thank you because without you we would have no freedom and for all we know we would be living hostages to terrorism and fear. God Bless You, and may you get home safe.

'Til next time,

Lina
xoxo

Career at a Crossroad

I haven't blogged in a few days, between work and Real Housewives blogging and my lately lack of sleep my brain has been kind of fried! I am sort of stuck at a crossroad right now, and I don't know whether to be excited or scared. I applied to get a position as a Spanish interpreter with Language Line and the interview process has gone smoothly. I am literally ready to be hired, but I wonder if I can really handle it all? It is a great opportunity, as I would be working from home. I have also picked a part time schedule that will not conflict with my job at the post office, but I still wonder if I am over loading myself. '

One thing I have learned from working at the post office is that I am at their beckoning. The pressures of having to commit to "when needed" has now proven to be difficult, especially when I have 3 kids, no family nearby, and no baby sitter. So the sound of working from home sounds sweet right now, but I hold on to the future I could have at the post office. No matter, I am considering continuing my position there and taking on the new job as well. This could potentially mean more time for blogging *with a sly smile* during the periods that I have no calls and less sleep for me. 

What to do?????? 

I have made some exciting changes to my blog. With the addition of a Store page where you can find some of my work. All of my work is made individually for the person ordering it, so if you have any specific colors you want or whatever the case may be just ask me. The check out is safe and secure through Google Checkout, but if you do not have an account I can accept PayPal. 

Garden update: Tomatoes are delishhhh but with the last rain we got the wind blew my plants to the ground!! No biggie I have left them alone and let nature take its course. The cucumbers are simply delicious and juicy and I couldn't ask for more! 

'Til next time,

Lina

xoxo

It's the Simple Things in Life that Count

What a beautiful day today was. After work, my husband, the kids and I went out for a ride and then I got a few things for dinner. Instead of doing the dishes after dinner, we decided to head outside and enjoy the beautiful evening. The weather was really nice, we let Simon (the cat) and Spot (the bunny) out to explore the world no more than 10 feet away from me Simon! and find things to chew on. The kids had so much fun running around, and since my husband did the lawn earlier we decided to collect some of the grass clippings. I thought it would be good for the bunny, but after reading some stuff online I am definitely not feeding it to her. Instead I am going to use it for bedding and compost. Apparently the grass clippings are not good because the heat from the lawn mower makes it ferment. Hey we still had fun raking it up!!

All of this got me to thinking how the simplest things in life make us so happy. Money is not wealth at all, my wealth is within days like today. We are healthy, have beautiful kids, love our pets, and love each other. What more can you need in life? Of course you do need to have a shelter and food and what basic needs, but if you know how to curb your spending then it is possible to live on a less than wealthy income. So there you have it! Frugality can lead to finding the real valuable things in life. Spending more time with the family, doing things together, and realizing that money does not buy you happiness.

Garden update: I have been picking cucumbers nearly every day and some tomatoes too!!!! Yummmy

Til' next time,

Lina
xoxo

Cooking made simple!

The Real Housewife of NYC, Sonja T. Morgan, has been working on new YouTube cooking lessons. Sonja is known for her simplicity and cooking in the toaster oven just proves that! Her challenge: for under $20 and in under $20 a simple style, elegant, healthy, and calorie conscious meal. No fuzzy clean ups, or dirty stoves and pans. Ladies get your toaster ovens out and lets get cooking.



I suppose I like working hard, because I do cook in the stove. The clean-ups are a pain in the butt, and the heat that comes off that stove in this weather is unfavorable. But this is something that I will absolutely have to try. Especially when you have kids, cooking becomes more of a chore rather than enjoyment. I like to cook but at times you almost have to drag me to the kitchen to do it. Between Gianna trying to help (help as in mommy can I watch you, or can I wash the dishes, or anything to distract me!) and James constantly running to the pantry closet I loose all desire to cook.

On another note, yesterday was my last day at the Mellenville Post Office and I am a bit saddened :(. I really loved it there, but the travel distance was really getting to me. I am now being transferred to a Post Office only 10 minutes away from home. I am excited and nervous! Did you know that the Post Office has been rated the #1 most trusted government agency for six years in a row?? It is a great company to work for and to grow your career. As a full time mom, a part time position at the Post Office really was all I was looking for. Being home for almost 7 years was starting to get to me. And don't get me wrong, I love my kids dearly, but one person can only take so much googoo's and daadaa's and I wants and whys before they start to go bananas! And what better place for me to start-jump a career? I truly love it!

Today I am working on a slouchy knit hat made in cotton, in a lace pattern by Natalie Harson. For those of you who watch the Real Housewives of NJ, it is like the hat that Ashley Holmes has been sporting around, only a more Spring into Summer version. I will post pictures as soon as I am done with it. Speaking of which, what did you think of last night's episode? Danielle Staub's ex-husband is (how shall I say this?) uum unattractive. I am amazed that he even agreed to be on cameras after she has continuously bashed him over the period of the show. Her girls are gorgeous, but I can't help but wonder what kind of example she is setting for her daughters?  Wearing her engagement ring was a little desperate and she should really try and keep those girls a little more afloat the surface and not engage them in adult situations.

Well that's enough blabbing for today. I have to sign off for now (gotta work on that hat) and do some chores. Til' next time,

Lina
xoxo

Ironing..... arrrghhhhh

Ironing - The least favorite chore on my to-do list.
I dislike it so much, that here I am writing about it instead of doing it. I have absolutely nothing to write about, but I'd much rather crunch my brain than iron clothes. The mountain of clothes stares me in the face, as if I am neglecting my duly wife duties. When I think about that hot iron in this hot weather I think of me being in an oven getting cooked. But here I am, I have to do it regardless of how I feel about it. Great!

I guess I'll be back later after I finish my chores, the things I am working on. I am looking forward to finish that set that I have been working on!

Working, working, working!!

I've been away from my computer for a few days now, been working since last week and needed a day to recuperate ;). But I have to say my vegetable garden is doing well. I picked some baby leaf lettuce yesterday, and the taste was wonderful. I finally see little baby tomatoes on the vine, from what I can tell they might be the San Marzano Roma tomatoes. I picked up a few last year at the Woodstock Farmers Market and saved the seeds (except I never label my seeds). I put them out early and to my surprise they held up really well even in the cold weather. We have yet to work on our raised beds, and since it's a bit late now I might just build it and get it ready for next year. Or I might use it for lettuce and radishes, since lettuce is cold hardy it should work. 

Simon is sitting on my lap as I type, he is just the biggest cat I've ever seen lol! I promised to post pictures of our pets, and here is a picture of him. I will have a picture of Spot, our bunny up soon. Here is a picture of my tomatoes plants, I believe this is the San Marzano. I suppose I will let you know soon enough. 

My Points Overstock gift cards are on their way! I have yet to figure out what to get from them :/ I almost feel like I should have chosen The Gap or Old Navy! I am not great at purchasing clothing online, in fact, I've never bought clothes online. So with that in mind, maybe I will stick to my usual electronics purchase, perhaps a new espresso machine :). I have to have my morning coffee when I'm going to work, otherwise I am like a walking zombie. Cappuccino anyone? I just love FREE stuff!! I few emails here, survey there, and voila! A gift card in the mail! 

I will sign off for now, besides, I am in pain right now! I broke a nail down to the nail bed at work the other day and it seems like every time I bump into something it lands right on my nail!!!!

Until next time, 

Lina

Wow my first blog!!

So here I am giving this an attempt!! Wow I suppose that's one of my favorite vocabulary words right now. I am not all that great at keeping up with writing or blogging and what not, but hey, it's worth the try :)

So here is what you will find in my blog: a lot of complaining about the kids :/ *who doesn't complain?*, my gardening attempts!, my usual crochet this and that, maybe a few how to's videos on crochet and knit, an occasional poem, and my path to trying to live a self sustainable, happy, green life. This is a learning process for me, and it is my dream that I will be able to run my household on very little outside resources. YES you heard me right, I am attempting to grow my own vegetables (I've grown tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in the past), maybe in the future collect rain water :O!!, and lots of chickens, bunnies, cats and who knows a pig or two LOL.

I just think that there is more to life than having to depend on others to provide for us. So I really hope you'll stick around on this journey o'mine and keep on reading my blogs.

On another note, just bear with me as I design this page. I am not very familiar with all the gadgets and need to get to learning this!! If you have any suggestions drop them by please.