A proposal maybe?....to be continued

Remember my blog from a couple of weeks ago 'A Proposal Maybe?' well it happened!!! I guessed right!! Actually, we all, meaning my entire family knew it would happen. My sister came back engaged with ring on hand. I love my sister to death and wish her the best. I'm happy for her if she's happy. That's it. I think she's a little crazy at times and she's a fly by the seat of your pants kind of person. But that's what makes her my lively, loud, doesn't think things through spontanious sister Eunice. Yes, her name is Eunice, get over it. We were all named after bible names and well, we can't help it that our names are so old fashioned. Any ways, my sister is getting married in 3 months and is moving to Mexico temporarily. Yep, you read right! 3 months and is moving to another country. According to her she's got it all under control. All I can do is try to talk sense into her, but she won't listen to me because she is madly in love. When someone is in love like she is, their heart thinks first rather then their brain. She's pretty confident about everything so I'm leaving it at that. If that's what she wants to do then go for it. I'm helping her in what I can and also trying to talk to her. 3 months people!!! 3 months. That's just crazy!  And you're probably thinking, why the heck in 3 months...well, long story turned short, the entire Ruiz clan is going to Mexico (it's been over 10 years since we've been) in September. Something we've had plans for-for a long time. Any ways, since it's so dang expensive to fly out there (I'm talking $2k for our family not to include expenses), we can't just get up and go to Mexico when we want...hence her getting married in 3 months. Jaime's entire family lives in Mexico too so that's why they are taking advantage. We're all there (people who matter the most) and his families there. My sister's BFF is also flying down with us so she doesn't miss her short planned wedding. Any ways, here are a few pictures of her crazy self.

 This picture tells it all! :) I love her though!

 Arianna is not happy to hear she's leaving the country and not seeing her aunt for a year.

 Her pretty ring. He did good on her ring. It's actually really cute.

  Let the 3 short months of planning begin.....

Please pray that in someway or another a miracle will happen. I'm a worried and a very protective sister.

Eye Awakener today

I've been thinking a lot today! My life has really taken a turn. A good turn may I add. As you know I am now a full time stay at home mom/maker. I prayed for this for FOUR years and God opened doors. Things always fall into place in God's timing. It would never have worked four years ago and God knew it all along. Any ways, I've got to say though, it's been hard adjusting. It really is. I'm not sure how to make it work right now, but I'm determined too. I'm trying to find a routine-schedule that'll work for me and the girls. People ask me if it's too many hours in one day and I say just the opposite. There are not enough hours in the day for me. I'm so consumed with cleaning, organizing my house, running errands, fitting in my part time hours, etc.... that I've sadly forgotten the main reason I really wanted to be home. I'm going to be honest now, take a moment and breath because I'm about to sound like an absolute horrible parent....I've forgotten about really focusing and taking the time (to spend quality time) with my girls!!!! {GASP} Yes, there, I said it! Because of me working so much prior to me being home, my house has never really been organized or decorated. Really, it's embarrassing. Now that I'm home I'd like to take this on and get this done. I have started by the way. :)
Now, just to clear things up a bit and going back to the girls...I've spent plenty of time with them. Don't get me wrong here, it's just not the time they so desire and the time I need to spend with them. Every.single.day Arianna and Avonlea want me to play with them. As I should. However, I then start thinking about what I could be doing around the house or what other things I should be doing that I am just sitting there with them rather than actually enjoying them. My priorities are wrong obviously. This very morning, Arianna looked at me as I was supposedly playing and said, "Mommy, play with me!" I then said, "yes, I am honey. I'm playing" She then looked at me and said, "No mommy, what are you looking at? Are you thinking? You're not playing with me."
Gosh that hit me hard. Really it did. Poor girls. At that moment when she said that I felt like an absolute horrible parent because this was the main reason for me staying home all along.
My girls are quickly growing before my eyes and I really do need to take the time to cherish them as they are now. Time flies and like everyone says, "before you know it, they'll be teenagers not wanting to spend anytime with you at all." This crossed my mind as soon as she said those words to me because I seriously thought, "I'm so consumed with everything around me but them and right now, both my girls want my full attention and before too long, they're not going to care or ask to spend time with me. They're going to want their friends, they will lock themselves in their rooms, as a parent I'll be wrong all the time while they're the right ones, they'll always prefer to be out and about, etc..."
So I realized right then and there that before they grow out of this stage where they do want me around, I will cherish them. I will love the fact they want me, that they really really want me, the fact they want me to read to them every night, the fact that I bathe them, dress them, sing songs with them in the car, the fact that they want to hold my hand, say prayers outloud with them, tuck them in every night and say over and over again how much we love them, awwwhh and the fact that I can still hold both of them in my arms somewhat and cuddle.
I know that when they're older we're not going to be doing most of these things. So now that I'm home, here with them, I have to take full advantage! I will appreciate them as that was the point from the beginning and thank God daily for them.
Thank you God for my beautiful girls that You've put in my life and that have brought complete joy to my life. I honestly could not imagine my life without them!

and to end this, I thought I'd throw in this beautiful song that pretty much sums up more of my thoughts. This song is sung by Steven Curtis Chapman and makes me cry EVERYTIME! It's more a daddy's girl song, but seriously, if you haven't heard it, please listen...BEAUTIFUL!

Flashback Friday!

There's a guy in Europe who's building an ark/this because of a nightmare he had. 

Well, it reminded me of this scarry nightmare we did have in our backyard!

People in other nearby cities did need a boat and we were super close to it! Wheeww, close call!

Publix shopping = Couponing

I never go to shop shop at Publix. Publix is my couponing store. That.is.it. Really! I run in and out of the store with the deals. Every week Publix puts out a different ad for BOGO free deals. So the day I go shopping is Wednesday. Why Wednesday you ask? Because every Wednesday is when the new 'buy one get one' deals come out and that's the day they have their penny item. What's a penny item? A penny item is one publix brand of food or item that is only a cent. Yes! One cent. You spend $10 to get a penny item and because this is the day I do my couponing, I take full advantage. Today's penny item is Apple Juice. Now, you must be thinking, "Who cares about applie juice?" Well peeps, it's only a penny and I DO! I have two little girls who drink like crazy and what couldn't be better than 100% Apple Juice???? I love it when the penny item is something we could really use. Sometimes it's things like vanilla wafers or sweet tea which none of us in this household care about, however, I give away what I don't care for because heck, it's only a penny. I can't stress on that enough.

Check out all I bought today

Pretty awesome. Here is where I wish I had some mad blogging skills with the arrows pointing to the different things describing with bolded words in the picture what all I bought, but sadly I have none of those stupid skills because I'm blogged challenged. So let me tell you what I bought. Everything listed is bogo-take that into mind.

• 4 bags of doritos (no coupon for this but at $1.99)
• 1 box of Nutrigrain bars (normally $3.49, but at $1.74 with a coupon of $.50 which Publix doubles anything under .50 cents)
• 4 boxes of betty crocker mashed potatoes (normally $1.73, but at $.86 each and then with a coupon of .50 for two making it .$36 cents)
• 5 powerade Ion stuff -Only for Robert! (normally $1.25 each, but at $.62 each before coupon. $1 off 5 powerades making it $.42 each)
• 4 cans of Del Monte Tomato Sauce ($.65 normally at $.32-no coupon for this one)
• 1 frozen snack box of Alexia Bites with 3 cheeses (first time so only bought one-normally $3.59 but today on sale for $1.79 after coupon of $1 off made it at $.79)
• 1 container of Sweet Baby Ray's Shredded pork (first time so only bought one-normally at $5.99 today on sale for $2.99 after $1 off coupon=$1.99)
• 2 Wet ones Moist wipes (at $2.59 normally, sale was $1.29 but with a coupon of $1 off of 2 wipes=$.79 each)
• 2 Lysol Disinfecting wipes (at $4.99 on sale today for $2.49 with $1 off coupon made it $1.49)
• and last but not least my penny item: Apple Juice.

All this my friends totaled $25.32. Pretty good huh?! Well you see, had I not used coupons and or bought the bogo's, the total would have been $64.85. My total savings at Publix today was $39.53. I love it when my savings comes out greater than my actual payment. So cool! All this with the help of Southern Savers. This website let's you know exactly what's on sale or the buy one get ones and then you create the list of stuff you are interested in and find the coupons (keep in mind you have to keep your weekly coupons!). It really has helped our grocery bill. I spend about $20-30 weekly on Publix and then do my regular grocery shopping of neccesities at Kroger...meaning meats, milk, eggs, etc... We've been doing this now for a few months and now that I'm home, it's a must. I've got to get better. Our monthly grocery bill totals a little over $220 a month now because I do this couponing thing. I think that's pretty good for a family of 4. Or is it not? I know there's ways to improve and I will get it down! I hear and know for a fact that CVS is a gold mine! Pretty soon I'll take that on.

test post again

What's your favorite cereal?

Seeing that I'm trying to keep up with blogging, I thought I'd bore you with my favorite breakfast cereals. What is your absolute favorite cereal and what is your most favorite 'kid/unhealthy' cereal? I'll start with the healthy ones first.
My #1 must have in pantry cereal always! :)

Love love love

Don't have this one often because it's so expensive! When I do though, it's a treat!

Always in our pantry for the girls not only as breakfast cereal but on the go snack and a decent good healthy one at it too.

And now for my favorite UNHEALTHY hit the spot kid cereals that I every once in a while will buy if I have a coupon and it goes on sale and I'm just craving.
I am a peanut butter fanatic...really...this is my friends is my weakness. I pass it in the stores and drool! I could eat this all feakin' day long if I allowed myself.

A great one as well that the entire family loves

Everyonce in a while I'll be in the mood for this, but it's not a must have as my #1.

I have this in the pantry now and will open when I feel crazy/hyper and want some popping.

So what's your favorite cereal...healthy or unhealthy!

Baby is here!!!

Little 5lb/6oz 18 inches long Elena Itzel Turcios entered the world on June 17th, 2011 at 11:01 am. I'm a very proud aunt. Little Elena has lots of black hair and of course is as cute as can be. Mommy is doing super! Isn't she so tiny? Check out the hand in comparison to her. TINY!

Doesn't she look great..this is just a few hours after. My nephews, Isaac and Nathanael, the big brothers holding their sister for the first time. Proud Abuela/GrandmotherProud me! Arianna was so excited to hold her and told me she wants another sister....Yeah, I don't think so! And lastly, my not so baby anymore Avonlea. :(

Noemi is doing great and was released this morning.

3rd times a Charm

My cute little sister (seriosuly doesn't weigh more than 101 lbs) is having her 3rd child today!! She's in the hospital now. Yay! I'm so excited to be an aunt for the 3rd time and to a little itty bitty chicita. She's got 2 boys and her wishes and prayers of having a girl is coming true today. We can't wait to hold and snuggle her before the day is before. I'm just sure she'll be just as tan and black haired as my two cute little nephews. We still don't know what name she'll pick but I'll let you know later...... By the way, 3rd baby, 2 weeks early! All three of her babies have been 2 weeks early. Seriously. As I said, 3rd times a charm. Maybe off by one day but seriously....she's never been past due, but early due. Lucky girl.

Monday...A good day!

One normally doesn't say Monday's are good days, but I've got to say....my Monday was quite alright.
1.) My blog has changed! Isn't this so much nicer? And, yeah, no more baby pictures because my kids are like so much older than what I had on here before. Yep, my bestie volunteered to come over to help me create a better looking blog. I think she did a great job. Oh and yeah, I did help a tad bit. :)
2.) I love this picture Arianna made for me. I think it's the cutest thing. It also makes me laugh hard. Can you tell who is who?
I'm top left, daddy is top right. Arianna is bottom left and Avonlea is bottom right. Aren't her people so stinkin' cute! I love how sticks are coming out of a bubble-circle-square, whatever you want to call it. This one is definitely a keeper.
3.) This picture below just cracks me up. I know, not so cute right, but come on it's funny. I told girls to say 'cheese' and well that's the face Arianna made. She looks like she just saw a ghost or something freaky. 4.) Dinner was absolutely fabulous. I made a tangy lemon pepper shrimp pasta. The picture doesn't make it look good, but it was soooo good. Robert said it's definitely a repeat. 5.) We went to the gym and worked out together.

6.) Came home, put girls down to bed and then Robert and I got to cuddle while watching 'Just Go With It'.

So, my Monday overall was good. A simple yet good day. My heart is happy now that my house is somewhat presentable when people come over, I'm so in love with the 3 people I live with who make me laugh so hard and my awesome friend came over to just help me fix my blog because I was having so many issues. Life is good. I honestly can't complain. Thank you God!

A proposal maybe?

So my sister is currently visiting her boyfriend Jaime in Mexico for a week. As in Mexico City. We, as in family, think she might come home with an engagment ring.

My sister and her boyfriend Jaime

Stay tuned...

Flashback Friday!

Remember this? Well....we're pretty much done. Not as in 90 days done but almost 50 days into it done. We're still working out but we can't manage to workout EVERYDAY.FOR.AN.HOUR! I'm going to the gym at least 3 days a week and Robert is doing pushups and weights about that much as well. We're still sticking to do the ab ripper though. He doesn't want to get smaller as in weight so he's taken out the cardio part. I really don't care to be all big and stuff so I've been focusing on cardio. We still both have a bit to go, but I guess at our own pace. 7 weeks of this was enough for us and we have seen results. This program really does work. Tootles!

What I'm watching

So You Think You Can Dance....If you love watching people dance any kind of dance, this.is.the.show.for.you! I look forward to watching this every week. It's also very family oriented. My girls love it. It's nothing like dancing with the stars, or anything like that. Think of American idol, but instead it's dancing. People come out to dance and get judged on their certain dance style. It's fabulous. Give it a chance and watch it on Fox Wednesday and Thursdays. You see all different dance styles people are talented in. It's awesome and seriously makes me want to take some kind of dance. People are so dang good. You'll see hip hop, stepping, rumba, chacha, etc... It's great!

issues-major freakin' issues

Okay peeps, I'm not a hardcore blogger. I have two little girls that take up my time. If both could watch tv for a few minutes I could do this more often, but one can sit and the other runs around like crazy. I have to keep a constant eye on her.
Any ways, I wish I could do all the little tricks you guys can do with your blogs such as writing on pictures, creating designs on pictures, etc... Yeah, one day maybe. I'm not that good. Right now my issue is this........................................SPACING!!!! WHAT THE CRAP??!! Any time I publish a post, it has all these unnecessary spaces. I don't do that! I really don't. All I do is hit enter so people can know when I'm changing subjects. Then when I publish, it makes it seem like I hit enter several times to have all this space between my paragraphes. I always try to go back and fix but it only makes the problem worse!!! Ay hay ay!!!! Whatever! This blog thing is so not user friendly. Help!!! Spacing...really..that's my only issue. Now stop laughing and go on to your little perfect 'i can do everything' blog.

Becoming Candice Olson-my inspiration

So I've thought a lot about my bonus room and how much I want to get it together. I know what I like, but I don't know how to make it come together. It's overwhelming actually since it's so big. I'm talking 20x31! Any whoodles, right now it serves as 3 spaces. Office, family, and toy room all in one. Our house consists of 3 bedrooms, so I have no choice but to make this bonus room all three combinations. Our bonus room is an absolute chaos. I've got it divided by our lovely sectional. One side is all toys and the other side is office/family room.

If I could choose and afford any interior designer to design my room it would be the awesome Canadian Candice Olson.She is incredible and can transform any room into what you want. Really!!! If you haven't ever watched her show you need to...it's called Divine Design. Check her out here. She's so good and really does an awesome job. I know she could get the job done in my bonus room. Without a doubt!!!!

Well, this summer, I'm going to try and become her brain. I'm going to research her site and get inspired. Some of the things I'm wanting are below...not of her site, but pottery barn. Here are some of the ideas I'd like to make happen to our room.
I would love an entertainment center like this with the left side being a desk instead of cabinets. Take out those buttom cabinets, make it a hole for a chair and remove the bottom shelf so I could put in our labtop. Call it a small desk.

On the opposite side of the room, I'd love to make it kiddish yet good enough to flow with the rest of the room. I would love to take fish wire and hang some of their art work (we haven't done yet but will) do something like above those book shelves to go on both side of our window that we have in the middle. I think I like the idea..what do you think? Next I'd love to do something like these bookshelves below.....

I love the little bench seat and the book cases on both sides. Imagine our window in the middle and the bookcases filled with baskets on both sides? Wouldn't that look so good??? And window treatments like this below for both windows we have in our room.
I have ideas floating around my head it's just coming together is the difficult part with such a huge room. I want it to have a warm, traditional and familyish feel. That's all.

Now my wish is that by some miracle Candice Olson or her employees will somehow read this post, have sympathy for me and grant me the wish of coming to TN to do me this one little favor. :) I love you so much Candice...really...come help me with this big awful room. You are my inspiration and what made me love interior designing so much. You are so amazing and I honestly drool when I see the transformations you've done to rooms. I will brag about you the rest of my life!!!!! Awwwhhh, now back to reality...only wishful thinking.

Fun Night

Robert and I decided to take a low key date night for our 8 year anniversary. My wonderful momma took the girls and we stayed in the Cool Springs area to enjoy the night together. That's all we needed. Time together. So that's what we did.

Here we are starting our night.....
We started the night at The Cajun Steamer. We wanted to try something new and not go for the typical chain restaurant. This place came highly recommended by my oldest friend in the world Kristy. Well, I'm glad we took her advice on this one. This was one of the best places I've ever tasted. Our mouths were burning though!! :) So if you aren't into spicky hot stuff don't even try coming here. Look how awesome our food looked!

I got the Tilapia and Shrimp Rockefeller-OMG a delicious mess! Robert got this....the All Saints Tilapia (with shrimp, rice and mashed potatoes). His was even better! Oh and those cajun mashed potatoes..to die for!
We really enjoyed our food and will definitely go back!

After our steamy hot meal, we took a walk around the block. We talked about EVERYTHING. It was nice to just talk. We had some time to kill before our movie started. We decided to ask each other questions like, 'what's the best date in the last 8 years, what have been your ups and downs of marriage, what's the best trip we've taken?' etc... It was nice.

We then went to watch this.... in 3D
The movie was good, but I had such a huge headache afterwards...maybe 3D was not such a good idea, but we wanted to 'go all out' you know. :) Regardless we enjoyed our night and had a great time!