Boo!

Boo to U!

I have been so incredibly busy the past few months since school has started that my blog is taking a back burner to my life. Sadly, so has a lot of other things that I enjoy too.

We are having our annual Halloween party on Saturday and I still have not put out one decoration. I know that Friday I will be scrambling to get it all done. Wish me luck. LOL. We just purchased a new camera, so I will be able to take some great pics of the party, in which I hope to share with the blogging world.

Until then, Have a Happy Halloween!

Jessica

Now that we are out of triple digits...

Christmas is now a reality to me because there are only 99 days left until the big day!

(No, this is not my home. LOL.)

I know, I'm insane. Summer is not even officially over yet. I am already planning on what I have to buy and what cookies to bake for this years cookie party.

Well, just wanted to share this little tidbit of info with you. Have a great day and whatever is left of summer.

Your friend,

Jessica

ahhhh!! I did the craziest thing.

I deleted my blog. Yup, I deleted it but now I'm back. After putting up my last post I was thinking that it is going to be really hard for me to blog now that school has started again. I thought it best to just delete my blog. It is hard for me to come up with things when I am so busy studying and taking care of the kids.

I continued to read blogs on Google Reader but I really love my blog. Silly as it may seem but it holds some of my memories.

I may not have a ton of followers. I don't even know if anyone would miss me but for me, I need it my blog, I want my blog. I want to share when I have time.

So I'm back!!

Jessica

Back to Reality.

Well, that time has come for my children to go back to school. I was never one of those parents that were in a rush for them to go back but this year I was happy to see the first day back to school to finally arrive.

Loving their enthusiasm

My lovely children started school on Wednesday. They were thrilled. NOT!! lol. They now have to wear uniforms; not cool in their minds. I think they look good. My children were not wardrobe rule breakers so I do feel for them. It will make it easier on them in the morning to select what they would like to wear and cheaper for me in the long run but I would rather they wore their own style. My daughter started to accessorize with jewelry to make herself a little more unique. Smart girl.

Go JTHS Football!!

Well, I will be starting my own classes on Monday at a new college. I am so happy. I am half way there!! That's what I keep telling myself. LOL.

So back to school, back to waking up early, doing homework with my son. Time for fall to show up and High School Football games to begin (My son is part of the marching band and my daughter's boyfriend is a football player), pumpkin picking and Halloween costumes. Time to think about, dare I say it... Christmas.

Honestly, I'm not ready to give up summer just yet. I'm glad for the warm weather this weekend. While I love the colors if autumn, I love the warm weather of spring and summer.

Til then,

Jessica

My daily inspirations!

Every morning, I get up,pour my coffee, and sit down at my desk, turn on the computer and read, read, and read blogs. I may not blog as often as I like but I do love to read and love when I get inspired to do something.

Case in point : Cottage and Vine

Rene recently painted her boys bedroom hardwork floors white. I totallly love it. My front room, which is a walkway and where my computer is has ugly hardwood floors that I have been begging my husband to do something about. Well, after seeing how her sons rooms came out I am truly inspired to paint my ugly hardwood floors white. I must tell you this has kept me up for the past few nights just thinking about how it will look. How will I paint it without getting dog hair in the paint? etc.. etc.. etc.. I have decided that I will take on this project once the kids go back to school. Thank to Rene who has given such great directions and advice on how to paint wood floors it will make it so much easier on me.

On to the next lovely lady that brightens my day.

Presenting Mary Lou from House of Whimsy

Okay, 1. She is a sweetheart. 2. I love her mother/daughter relationship with her daughters. It is so sweet. 3. She is so creative and I don't even think she tries hard. She just has that natural born talent. 4. I'm loving that she is sharing all the details of her daughters upcoming nuptials with the blogworld. I love the style and theme of this wedding. Right up my alley. Check out how great everything is coming out. MaryLou and her daughter are doing a lot of the work themseleves and I'm truly impressed. Wish I were a guest.

Every few days the next lady puts up a post that I truly have to put down my cup of coffee and swallow whatever is in my mouth because if I don't it will be all over the screen. She truly cracks me up with her funny, sarcastic take on her life.

Introducing: Sasha, the Lemonade Makin Mama

While my children are not homeschooled, I enjoy hearing her talk about homeschooling and blaming her crazyiness on homeschooling. She really is a great mom and wife. She is also really crafty and every once in a while shares some great project ideas.

I have many other wonderful blogs that I would love to share with you but I can't put them all on this one post. It would take you all day to read this one post, let alone visit all the wonderful blogs. I share some more again soon.

Enjoy your day!

Jessica

Just a little mommy and me time..

My son and I went down to the Jersey Shore (not Seaside Heights), for a little R&R. My parents live down the Jersey Shore and welcomed my youngest son and I down for 5 days. It was a very much needed break from reality.

I took my son to the beach. It was the first time for my son at the beach. He loved playing in the sand and jumping in and out of the water. We even tried to dig to China.

My parents were so good to him, sometimes a little too good. Everyday he went for ice cream and swam in the pool. They took him to a small amusement park and came home with more than an arms full of prizes.

It was a nice break away from the video games in my eyes. He and his father are obsessed with video games. It was a great time for my son and I to be together and have fun with each other. It is hard to have fun when you are so busy trying to keep house and raise kids.

I also got to sneak away and go to Staten Island, NY to see my friends. It was so great! Had a blast with my girlfriends for a few hours.

On our way home my son and I had a fabulous lunch in South Philly. He was homesick so we had to leave right away. I wish we could have stayed longer and walked around the town.

Well back to reality now, school starts for both the kids and I in a few short weeks.

By the way, I'm down 8 pounds. Yippee!

Til then,

Jessica

Oh, P.S.: I'd like to congratulate my dearest friend Lisa and her family at http://lisabeesponderings.blogspot.com/ on the birth of her son Justin. Wishing you many Blessing!

She's so sweet!

Just give her some sidewalk chalk and a clean driveway to draw on and you off she'll go off drawing. Today is was a heart with wings saying that she loves me. I love her too!

My daughter is a little artist. She loves to draw, paint and really anything that makes her creativity come through. She never liked to color in coloring books. She preferred copy paper and pencils. I don't know what the future has for her but art is definitely a love of hers. Who knows?, she might one day be the next Monet, Michealangelo or Walt Disney. Hmm?

And here I thought I would just surrender....

But NO! I have to see myself in a picture and totally hate the way I look. I know I am sounding crazy right now but the truth is I was all set to give up on the thought of ever losing weight and learning to accept me for me until I went to Hershey park with my family and in laws.

I took a picture with a Hershey Kiss and my sister- in-law. I couldn't believe what I was looking at when I saw it. My stomach was hanging out of my shirt (major muffin top), my butt looked huge and I have 3 chins.

Where did Jessica go and why was I accepting this? I have completely let myself go because I was afraid of what I would have to do to lose the weight and feel like a woman again. It is easier to hide in sweat pants and t-shirts.

I took a stand and put my self on a diet. I am eating healthy and working out. I will not let this weight that has taken my body prisoner for the past 5 years have control over me anymore.

I am happy to say that after a week and a half I have so far lost six pounds. I am not starving myself and I'm not killing myself working out either. I would like to continue to lose the weight and not burn myself out quickly.

What I am so proud of is not just my decision, but my family's decision to support me. My daughter workouts with me and really is like a coach and will not allow me to whine. My children are not liking all the healthy food but they are not complaining as much as I would think either.

I am hoping to report more of my weight loss next week and to incorporate a little of it in my blog too. If any of you have any advice or great recipes please feel free to share them with me. I really would appreciate it.

Till next time,

Jessica

Oh crafty peoples, a really nice blogging mom, Samster's Mommy is having a Tutu drive for a good cause. Dontated Tutu's will be sent to hospitals for little girls and boys that are very ill to have for playtime. Just click on the button above to read about the Tutu drive and how you can help. Time is running out and it would be great if she can send out as many Tutu's as she can.

Thanks!

Jessica

Dishing it Party with Serenity Now!

I'm joining in Dishing it Party at Serenity Now. This month's party questions are on summer reading! I love to read and due a very busy school schedule I haven't been able to read. I, luckily was able to get some reading in this summer and hope to continue since my school schedule is now back to part time.

Right now I am in the middle of reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson. This was a book club selection for the month of July by the book club I am in with friends in my town. So far I am bored with this book but I have hopes that it will get better.

I have recently taken an interest in the Twilight Saga. "About Time", my daughter said. So anyway, we saw Eclipse on the fourth of July since we celebrated the day before. I am a few chapters in but will get more into the book once I finish my book club book. I think I'll finish this book before the next movie comes out hopefully.

As for the rest of my summer readings, it will consist of reading two history text books for the next 5 weeks while I'm taking a History class online. I must tell you, it is boring and I'd rather be reading my books but at least I am reading something other then school books the entire summer.

Amanda's questions!

~What genre of literature makes you want to pick up a book and read (biographies, chick lit, Christian fiction, historical fiction, etc.)?

Memoirs are my favorite. I just finished Angela's Ashes, which took me no joke 2 years to finish. I started reading it before I started school but then didn't get to pick it up until this past May.

~What are your favorite magazines?

I like House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Martha of course!

~If you had to be stuck on a desert island with any fictional character, who would you choose?

I'm not sure. How about Channing Tatum from Dear John? He's not bad on the eyes at all and he's strong enough to get the coconuts down off the trees. lol.

~How do you make time to escape into a good book?

I try to read at night when everyone is settled down watching TV or I try to even to read while the kids are in the pool.

~What's your favorite place to get your books?

My mom. lol. She usually passes her books down to me. I have a box full. I recently got my book club book online at Barnes and Noble, used, cheap and in great condition.

~What's next on your "to-read" list?

Tis from Frank McCourt, the second book after Angela's Ashes. Water for Elephants, again in my pile of books waiting for me.

A Re-cap of my weekend past

My nephew taking his first steps!

My son swinging his baby cousin at the park.

My son trying to win the watermelon contest.

The fireworks from the back of my house.

These were just a small amount of wonderful things that took place last weekend. I was so happy to have my family and friends celebrate the holiday with me and my family. Just wanted to share! Hope you all had a wonderful July 4th weekend.

Independence Day Wreath

I took an hour out of my busy but boring little life and made this cute little wreath for the Fourth of July. I purchased the wreath for 10 cents at a thrift store. I had the rest of the material hanging around in my craft area. I recycled a pair of old jean into strips that I tied around the wreath. I wish I would have had more stars but I'm running low on everything.

If I don't post from now to the fourth, I hope everyone has a fun and safe Fourth of July!

I'm linking up to:

Click and check out all the other crafters linking up some great Fourth of July ideas!

Nothing like a little spray paint to make it perfect..

I have a confession, I can't spray paint to save my life. I'm a disaster. So all these projects were spray painted by my husband while I watched. I tried to do it myself but it was not pretty. Maybe if there is a class on spray painting I would figure it out but for now all spray painting projects are going to my husband. lol.

~Before~

Wooden Key

I found this key at a thrift store.

I think it is so cool. Only $4.00. I had to

have it. I saw potential for this key.

~After~

I had sprayed the key Ivory. Yes, I sprayed it.

I did a horrible job and it was not the color I really

had wanted. When I put the key up to the wall it did

not look good against the wall color. Black was my second

choice. My husband gladly sprayed it for me.

My husband put some small hooks along the

bottom of the key so that we could hang

our keys. I hung it by the front door. It really

has helped us believe it or not. We always know

where are keys are now. Perfect!

~Before~

Little Birdies

I found these little birdies for a dollar each

at Dollar General. I didn't like the color and

they looked really cheap. Some white

spray paint and now they are perfect!

~After~

My little birdies now sit on top of the stove,
watching me cook wonderful meals for my

family. I sprayed them with satin paint, which

makes it easier for me to clean them.

~Before~

Lady Joy

Lady Joy has been a beautiful statue that has

been watching over my garden for a few years now

but the sun and rough weather has taken its toll

on her, so I gave her a little make over.

~After~

Lady Joy is now beautiful and watching

over my front yard. The red lilies that

surround her will be up in August.

I can't wait!

Until I post again, many blessings!

Jessica

Yummy, Yummy Banana Cream Pie!

Yesterday I went to the Farmers Market and a man was shouting,"Bag of Bananas-$1." Hello, I jumped right on that and bought 2 bags. Well to my surprise the bananas were pretty much ripened and about to go bad.

I knew that I had to make something with all these bananas and fast. Banana cream pie can first in my mind. Easy to make, no baking whatsoever and I made it in less then 15 minutes. So I thought I would post how I made it. I can't wait to have some tonight with my family.



Ingredients-

Graham Cracker Pie Crust- I bought a premade pie crust.
Small Pudding Mix- I used banana cream but you can use vanilla or chocolate too.
2 cups of milk for the pudding mix
3 ripened medium sized bananas
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
Nilla wafers- to decorate

Add 2 cups of milk to the pudding mix and whisk for a few minutes. Put in the fridge for 5 minutes to thicken.

Slice up bananas

Add heavy cream and confectionery sugar together and turn on the beater until thick.

Nice Creamy consistency! Perfect and yummy too.

Time to layer pie!

Add a layer of pudding.

Add a layer of bananas. These bananas are so sweet.

Put a layer of whipped cream. I surrounded the edges with Nilla wafers and two in the middle for decoration. You can crumble them too and sprinkle on top.

Put in the fridge and let chill, then serve.

Enjoy!

Today I'm a happy mama.

Today my son Frankie and my daughter Samantha had their Holy Confirmation. It was a beautiful ceremony with my children, husband, extended family and the congregation of our church. I pray that my children continue on with their faith in Jesus for the rest of their lives. I hope as parents we have led them to the right path and taught them enough about Jesus for them to not forget what he did for us and to continue to allow God's love and word into their hearts and mind. I am so truly blessed with my beautiful family. Days like today remind me why I work so hard.

God Bless and Many Blessing to All!

Give it up for Friday!! Whoo-hoo!

I'm all smiles here in Pa. Today's forecast is 86 and sunny!! I don't know about you but I'm a big Grey's Anatomy fan. Last night's season finale was a two hour show and it was fantastic. It kept me in shock the whole way through. I'm a nut. I screamed at one point, "Don't you shoot my Marc!". My husband was sitting next to me and shook his head. He thinks I'm a looney but I have the hots for Eric Dane who plays Dr. McSteamy aka Dr. Marc Sloan. LOL. Well, I'm working on some projects that I hope to share on the blog next week. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy your day where ever you are!

Many Blessings,
Jessica

Ahh! A sigh of relief.

Well I did it, I made it through the entire semester. Passed all my classes and made it through alive. Welcome Summer! I have so much to do. I have been reading blogs all weekend and have some great ideas but first I have to get my house back in working order before I start any projects. I have 2 online classes for the summer so I have plenty of time to work on things I want to do. Yippee for me! You have no idea how excited I am to work on my home and to do some crafting. Well, let me get off the soapbox and get working on some things. Chow!

Happy Spring!

I'll be blogging often after finals in May. Until then many Blessings!

Hey I may not be able to post much due to school right now but I still want to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Just remember everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

I have the blues..

Yup, I have the winter time blues. I'm not a big fan of winter and really hate when it comes around every year. I wish I lived in a warmer climate. The snow doesn't seem to be melting fast enough for me. Between snow and all the studying I have been doing I am truly bummed. My house is a mess because I don't have the time to focus on it. I like to keep my house tidy and organized and right now neither is happening. Oh, I long for the green grass, pretty flowers, leaves on trees, 70 degree weather and my gardening gloves. For now I will have to just have to keep the images of spring in my head. What is a girl to do??


Blessings,

Jessica

Happy Valentine's Day!

Still around sort of.

Hey, I get on here everyday and read some blogs or at least try too. I have been so busy with school that getting anything done but the everyday things have been difficult. Today, I finally took down my Christmas swag and put up my Valentine's Day Heart Wreath. Yah, week before V-day. lol. Tonight I plan on sewing up some hearts from red felt I had gotten at a Thrift store when I was down at my mother's. I got like 3 yards of red felt for .50 cents. Wish my town or even a town near me had a thrift store. I have to go all the way into Allentown, which is the big shopping area where I live to go to Sally's. I just never seem to have the time to go there either. Just to let you know, my classes are going good. I am more focused this semester and have been really on top of my studies. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an A. Well, I hope to post the pics of the project I'm doing tonight if I have time. Thanks for everyone's kind words and support. They really mean a lot to me.

Til then,

Jessica

My Ghetto Greeting Farm Card.

I will apologize for this card but it was made in a rush. This card needed to be done by 6pm cst and it is 5:48 est. So ya I have an hour but I really don't. This week at The Greeting Farm they will be giving away free digi images but you have to make a card with them in order to get the next free digi image. I love free things so I'm jumping right on this.

I made it in!

I want to thank everyone who wished me the best for my spring semester. I truly appreciate it. Right now I am finishing off my pre-requirements to get into nursing school. Well I have some great news, I went to the college I am interested in going to nursing school and I was accepted into the program. I will start in December this year. I am so happy right now even though I have tons of work to do before I even start nursing school. Nursing schools are so competitive to get into and costly too. I decided to go with a school that offers a bachelor's degree in Nursing giving myself more opportunity after graduation and in my Nursing career. I intend to go for a Master's Degree in the future.
After meeting with the Nursing Advisor she told me that I needed to take one more Art class. Okay I'm thinking I can't draw or paint what should I do until she said Papermaking. Papermaking!!! I would love to learn how to make my own paper. So this summer for 6 days I will be learning to make paper! I promise to share my experience with all of you and maybe, just maybe make some for a giveaway.
Well off to study math. I'm hoping to make some V-day decor this weekend. I have been looking through so many blogs and I have so many great ideas.

Jessica

PS-please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers. They need them right now. God Bless.

It won't leave my head, guess I was paying attention.

This week at church we had a fill in pastor since my church is yet again without a pastor. I love to listen to the gospel and to the sermon that follows. I always try to take something out of it and go with it for the week. Well this week the pastor was going on and on and on and on. I thought I was going to fall asleep and my neck was starting to hurt just keeping it up. Well, I did though come out of church with a better sense of who I am what what my job is. God gave me the job of wife, mother, daughter, friend, student and woman. It is my job to do all of these jobs as best as I can and to continue to work to be the best at them. Sometimes we forget our purpose and why we are in the situations we are in. God felt we are the best person for the job and it is the job he assigned us.
I'm starting up school again on Friday. I am trying reallly hard to stay positive about this next semester. It is going to be really hard. I know that God would not have given me this opportunity to go back to school after all this time if he didn't feel I couldn't do it. I will be trying my hardest to get good grades and be the best student I can be.

On to other news, I got my basement cleaned up and all ready to go for some crafting!! Whoo-hoo! The basement and all its clutter was blocking my creative abilities or aka- my mojo!
I'm hoping between studying to get some crafting done. I will be posting them when I complete them but beware they will be few and far between until the end of the semester. So don't give up on my blog, check in every once and a while. As a matter of fact become a follower so that you can get updates on your dashboard when I post.

TTYL gators,

Jessica

BRRRRRR!!!! It's cold..

Hope everyone is keeping warm. Please keep in your prayers those who are homeless or without heat. My heart aches for them right now. I hope they find a warm place during this awful cold weather.

I will be working on getting things done in my home before school starts up next Friday. Have a great weekend.

Jessica

Seeing Stripes

My daughter wanted to re paint her room teal and she wanted zebra stripes to be incorporated into her room. She is almost 15 so I had to really over look her re do because it would look like a zoo if it were up to my daughter. She is very creative and well she can go overboard a bit. I agreed that she could paint her walls teal but only the bottom half. We live in a Cape Cod style home and her room is on the second floor. Her walls slant inward. The top half we painted white. I thought I would be dizzy if she painted it all teal. The color came out great. I would show you a pic but her room is not 100% done yet. Here is a pic of the color on the wall.

Since we knew we were going to paint I decided to make some of her decor for Christmas. It was a big surprise since she doubted that I would make her pillows for her bed. Hubby took me to Joann's and I got zebra striped fabric for pillows. I made her three throw pillows for her bed. We will be purchasing a black comforter (not really sure how it will look?) and teal sheets for her white bed. Instead of getting a zebra striped comforter I think throw pillows and a throw blanket in zebra stripes is better. She can always change out the zebra stripes for something out eventually. It is also a KISS (keep it simple stupid) way of not vomiting zebra stripes.
While at Joann's I was roaming through the aisles when I came upon this wonderful big paper mache S. I knew right away that it had to be hers. I also for some odd reason knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. I ran over to the scrapbooking section. Since my daughter is so out there (art wise) I thought it need to have a scrappy look to it. I just want to share a quick little pic of my daughter and I on Christmas Day. She is just so beautiful and so smart too. I am truly blessed.
Well Christmas came and went and she loved it all!! I'm so happy that she did. Sadly, it is the only crafty thing I have done in a long while. I really need to get a fire under my bum and do some more. Creating makes me so happy I really should be doing it often.

Thanks for dropping by..

Jessica