Me Time

I took some Me Time last week... in the form of a trip to Hobby Lobby.
By myself.
For 2 FULL hours.
Shocking, I know!


Every single time I got to Hobby Lobby, I see this tree. I love it. But I can't bring myself to pay $15 for it. It's not that large. Even at 50% off, I passed on it. I guess I don't love it that much.

I did pick up some numbers; they are about 5" long and HEAVY. But I love them.

I like this clock.

But I already have a rather large clock.

I like clocks.

And mirrors.

I loved this cabinet, too! Isn't she a beauty?

They wanted $80 for it.

I said nope.

Can you believe they already have all of their Christmas stuff out?!

I like these trees.

I may go back for them! ;)

I ended up picking up a few things for some craft projects. Tomorrow being Sunday, I hope to have some time to work on them.

Marcos and I left the house early this morning to run some errands and to check out this place we found - it has EVERYTHING (think PICKERS on the History Channel). A 50s jukebox. Radio Cabinets (I felt weak!) Canning jars. Old tools. Wood. Doors. Windows... I could go on. It was dirty & exciting at the same time.

I bought a PIE CABINET! For $15!! It's in lovely shape... but I've got plans to change the color!! I can't wait to share that project.

After lunch, we headed to Goodwill. Which was fine as we dropped off more than we purchased! That's good, right?!

I purchased only old books, this time around. They are for the craft projects on have on my To Do list.

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I hope everyone on the East Coast is safe - and, if necessary, taking precautions to stay that way. I've been watching Fox News almost all day, trying to keep in the know. My prayers are focused on the people affected by Hurricane Irene.

Isabel - Volley Girl

WARNING: TOO MANY PICTURES of pretty much the SAME THING.

Oh well. I am proud of her!

Today was her second game - it was home and I was parked right on the front bleacher.

ACTION SHOT!!
Look at her go!

(man, I wish I had a better camera!)

During the Varsity game, Isabel was picked to be line guard. Doesn't she look super official in that green..."thing"? :)



The Patriot's are 2 and 0.

Next game is next Tuesday!!

De Nada

This song is a few years old... Bringing it back! I think she's my husband's celebrity crush.
Alejandro Sanz (the eye candy in this vid) would be in my Top 5 for sure! ;)

Do you like that?! He gets 1 and I get 5 (that I mention publicly...)

Julia Child watch out - there's a new way to cut onions!

Where's Waldo?!

Last night - after our wonderful Sunday dinner - Marcos set out to work on the sprinklers. One little patch of our grass wasn't getting enough water.

While he was down there - nose to the sod - he found a friend.
For all intensive purposes, his name is Waldo.

Can you find him!?

How about now?!

I know... I know, not very clear is it?!

It's because he kept hopping all over the place.

Waldo is a toad.

A very small toad.

He could sit on a quarter... and fit perfectly (with room to grow).

We called Nic over from the park so that he, too, could see the toad.

This was his response...

Probably because, when he first asked if he could touch it - and started to reach - we all yelled out NO! It's poisonous! 

Now toads and mushrooms are on the do-not touch list.

In other news...
Look at this lovely sunset...

We certainly are spoiled!

Grandpa & Sunday Dinner

Before I talk about my Sunday - let's focus on my Saturday for a bit.
Yesterday we celebrated my grandfather's 81st birthday (even though his actual birthday was back in July).

The gals in my family got together not once, not twice, but more than twice to discuss and plan and plan and discuss. The result?! 1933 Chicago World's Fair.

My grandpa was 3 when he first got to go to the World's Fair with his dad. He told me a story that a talking Ford Model T was on display - and it kept making fun of his father's (my great-grandfather) lack of hair!

We went all out - FOOD, GAMES, PHOTO BOOTH...
and guess who forget her camera?! NOT ME! I had my camera! It just didn't have a memory card in it.

FAIL!

My cousin did get lots of pics, so I hope to snag them when they are available.
Here is the backdrop for the photo booth that my cousins Jason & Bri made... the Chicago skyline.
(Have I ever mentioned that I was born in Chicago?! I just haven't been there since I was 2. Tsk Tsk)

Each family had a booth/stand... there were corn dogs, corn on the cob, popcorn, pretzels, candy, lemonade... My contribution was tacos! I opened Pachuco's Taco Shoppe  just for one night! My dad ate SIX tacos. I think they were a hit.

Marcos had to work - he now has to work every 3rd Saturday. So, he didn't get to join in on the fun! We missed him, but I was secretly glad that the kids and I would have him all to ourselves today.

Speaking of today...we got some chores done around the house... and I made an early dinner! There's something about a Sunday dinner that just feels right!

Tonight I made Chipotle Chops (fried pork chops in chipotle seasoning), mashed potatoes, and greens beans with mushrooms and bacon. It was sooo good - and we are sooo stuffed.

Just a few things to still get done tonight, including getting the kids ready for school tomorrow. Once that's done, I am relaxing with my main man; we are going to enjoy a quiet evening before the craziness of the week starts all over again!

Something New...

Isabel called me right after she got to school...
The new Volleyball team rosters were up.

SHE MADE THE TEAM!!

They have an "A" team and a "B" team (basically Varsity and JV)... Isa made the B team. Which I think is FANTASTIC for someone who hasn't played before! She has a natural ability, that one!

Isabel was kind of sad that a few of her friends didn't make the team... I agree.
But I am just soooo glad Isa did!!

She just DOUBLED our chances at a college scholarship - TWO SPORTS now! lol... ;)

Another one bites the dust...

I was demanded by my children to leave the office yesterday evening.
Is 5pm considered evening?

I didn't want to. If I left my office, then they'd eventually expect dinner. They are mean like that.

It wasn't dinner they were asking for - at least not right then.
It was this:

I sure am going to miss all these haboobies, now that Fall is [almost] here. There were downed power lines, hail and micro-bursts. And that wasn't from me not wanting to make dinner. It was the storm! Mother Nature wanted to get one last fit in.

Edited to add the wonder that came after the storm:

The orange was to the west...

While the rainbows were to the east...

at the same time. 



I am still looking for my pot of gold this morning...

;)

This brings a smile to my face

I know it's early.

And I know it may not last.

But at least I have this one picture...

of all these A's.

I hope it lasts.

I know he's capable. And smart.

I know he has a game plan.

I know he wants it.

We will keep working at it - because he's a good boy.

Oh, Isabelllll....

My daughter has become one of "those" girls. You know, the FB profile pic of herself in the mirror, using her cell phone, making a face and perhaps a peace sign with her fingers.

I'd be bummed out that she gave in so easily (or that she's growing up too quickly) but - hot dayum, what little you can see if it - my living and dining room look GREAT in the background of the reflection.

P.S. I stole these pictures from her FB page.

I hope she doesn't sue me.

:)

P.S.S. Volleyball tryouts begin today. Exciting stuff!

I'm Ready [a sneak peek]

I know that Fall doesn't officially start for another month.
I get that.

But I am so ready and so excited.

Here's a sneak peek of what I worked on this weekend...

The wreath I made on Sunday - took no time at all (compared to my spring wreath).

I already had the actual hay wreath ($3.99 from the Hobster). I bought the shiny ribbon at Michael's ($3.00 x3) and the leaves and balls (both $0.99) there too. The leaf ribbon I bought from the dollar store for - you guessed it - $1.00! Used my weapon of choice - my glue gun. And that's about all she wrote.

I love it.

Below... just a few pumpkins I pulled out. Sitting on a tray I got on clearance from Michael's.



You know, I used to love Michael's so...

But Hobby Lobby has SPOILED me with their darn good prices. I betcha they would have had sales going on for fall/autumn stuff. It's too bad they are closed on Sunday's though. My guy works on Sunday's and it's much easier sneaking things into the house when he's at work.

Linking to: Polly want a Crafter?
Linking to: Craft O Maniac

Nic's First Day of Pre-K

Try explaining "PM class" to an anxious 4 year old.
I dare ya.

He was roaring and ready to go to school at 6am.
He even offered to walk himself, promising to use the cross-walks.
His school is 2 miles away. But I do trust him. It was a hard decision, but for the sake of showering you with the obligatory pictures, I decided to go ahead and drive him. At least for his first day. Tomorrow? I may not feel like leaving my office. We will see.

Here is my Nickelbutt...

HE LOVES [L.O.V.E.S!!] when Daddy comes home in the van (which is not often, Dish Network corporate people, if you are wondering). He decided to use his lunch break to see Nic off. Nic also loves that his "name" is on the van (give or take a letter). He always says his "second" name is Nick Jr. No, really. He does! It drives me INSANE! I gave him a perfectly lovely middle name - Joaquin - and he prefers Junior. Too bad, kid. Your daddy's name is Junior. Well, it's Marcos - but he's a Junior. As in a second Marcos, not as in me = cougar. OK....Moving on..

As you may [or may not] know, this tree was planted this year.

I decided to claim it as Nic's tree - and we will use it as his Back 2 School backdrop each year going forward. Can't wait to see how he they grow!

He LURVES his Bumble Bee [Transformers] back-pack!

That FACE!!

This last one?

I spy something..........

Tune in tomorrow!! 

Creep

First of all - Happy Sunday!

Even though the weekend is almost over - there is a little something to be excited about!

Nic is FINALLY starting school tomorrow.

I really need to get him a haircut.

And a back-pack.

OK- enough about that... Feelin' a little stressed about my to-do list today.

Let's chat about something more creepy.

As in my purple lantana.

It's creeping onto the sidewalk.

And I have one creeping into my neighbors yard.

As much as I love summer - and was looking forward to it all Spring-long,

I think I am just about ready for cooler weather now.

There is so much I want to do in the front yard (i.e. replace said creepers) -

but it's way too hot to do it now.

The husband and I want to add more plants/flowers

to help make the yard look fuller and more colorful.

This is our "newer" red push tree.

It needs to be pruned.

Is that the right word?!

All those little "branches" at the bottom of the tree need to be taken out.

I am conflicted.

One person told me to gently cut them off.

One person told me to tear them off, so that they won't grow back.

What do I do?!

Mushroom soup, anyone?!

This is our second mushroom of the season, people.

They freak me out.

I love mushrooms - but the kind you buy at the supermarket.

Not the kind that sneak-up and freak me out.

Such an odd shape, too.

moving on....

My Ash tree is growin' and growin'.

Bet you don't even recognize her.

In January, she was a twig (using the term loosely) with zero leaves.

Now, she's filling out and growing up.

Soon she will want to wear mascara and face powder.

Oh wait, that's Isabel.

moving on...

The husband and I had to drop some trash off at one of the large containers the construction workers use (a blessing when living in a new community and have trash to get rid of). After we dumped our stuff in, we saw two pallets laying next to the container. I've been looking for pallets for awhile. And I didn't want to steal them from behind a store or anything (I don't look good in stripes). But since these were laying next to the garbage, I figured they were fair game.

I made Marcos get them and put them in the back of the truck.

I have plans for these babies.

Plan 1: A sign for my kitchen.

Plan 2: A sign for my porch (for Halloween)

Of course, I think Mr. HOA guy was driving around this morning and lingered his creepy stare a little too long. I am sure we will get a note about these being visible to the WORLD.

I had Alex move them into the garage.

Well, off to get started on my to-do list - which includes coupon cutting, grocery shopping, hair-cutting, and back-pack shopping. Fun.

P.S. The pictures are lonnnnng and skinnnnny. I can't find the charger for my camera and the battery is kaput. So I am using my new KODAK Touch video camera - which also takes pictures. Just not as nicely as my Panasonic.

I guess I should add "find camera charger" to my to-do list.

/sigh

A woman's work is never done, is it?

Whew...

That was close!

:)

Happy Saturday!!

Oh No!

I have 2 days left with the domain QueenoftheCreek.com... (can't believe it's been a year). AND GOOGLE CHECKOUT will not accept my DEBIT CARD!  I've seen what happens when you try to get into a blog when the url dies.

Nothing, that's what!

I hope I can get this to go through today or tomorrow... I know I won't lose my posts, but I sure would have to lose YOU!

Just in case I need to update my domain name, and you lose me... jot down my email address: jaimeayala at q dot com. Yep, Q.Com. That way, if anything DOES happen, I can at least email you the new address.

Oh, I hope we don't lose each other.

Off to find a support number for Google!!

Crazy.

Hey, ya'll!!

... it's ALMOST fall!!

I know I've mentioned this before, but Halloween is my SECOND favorite holiday...

I've already started chatting up how we should go OVERBOARD on the house this year. Nic wants a haunted house. I like the way he's thinking!!

I like the idea of bringing oranges, browns and bronzes into the house. And leaves and stuff. And pumpkins.
And then skeletons and witches and black cats.

I've already started scouting the dollar store for finds. It's got to be on the cheap this year, you know - due to the stock market & economy. I figure if I pick up a few dollars worth each week (or when I have the time to venture out), by the time Halloween comes around - we will have a small stockpile.

I can't wait to make the kids (and their momma) happy campers goblins!

And here we go again...

It's back-to-school Monday.
Can you believe it?!
Not me.

I was up until 1:30 working on something for... well, work. So, it's been a rough morning so far.
I had to rush to get pictures... They are so not impressed with me... and it shows. lol... Oh well, it captures their personality.

Nic doesn't start school until NEXT Monday... [long story]...
But, the two of us are off to Isabel's school.
I forgot to send a check for lunch money.

Epic Fail.
Mother of the Year.
Yep, that's me!

Happy Monday, peeps!