Sugar*Sugar

The Beginning of Summer

I have the photo above as one of my scrolling pics for my screen saver. So I see this photo all the time, every day.

And, I have this fortune (from Panda Express... Orange Chicken, OMG so good!) posted on my fridge... if only I would consider it more often when I reach for the mint and chip ice cream or extra rich super fattening coffee creamer or the dip to go with my chips, but that's a whole other blog entirely.

I think I may have shown this photo before, but I felt like I needed to share it again today.

Mostly for me, but we can share....

I've started my summer with a bang. I've been working on a gigantic yard sale all week to raise money to send our church kids to summer camp. I'm so tired, it's not even funny! We will continue to raise funds for them for the next few weeks, then I will be their chaperon to Kids Camp in July.  

Because of all of the things I've got going on, I am going to need to step back from the computer a bit more and focus on the kids.

Oh God, please help me.

*wink*

hee hee

Okay, so here's the dealio...

For all of you out there wondering about this week's Show and Tell, you can find the sign ups HERE at the sweet Miss Heidi's blog, Birds of a Feather. She has graciously volunteered to host this weekend as Cerri is preparing for her new shop opening!

Like Cerri, I also will be unable to post and share this weekend, but I'm sure you will all have a great time without us! :0)

Also, If you are new to Show and Tell and would like more information on how it works each week, read HERE , HERE, HERE or HERE to find out all the details!

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If you've sent me an email and I haven't yet replied, please accept my full apologies!

I have been gone most of the week and will be pretty busy for the next week and a half, not on the computer much, except when I can get a few moments! I will do my very best to return all questions as soon as I can! :0)

Thanks so much everyone, I hope you are having a great summer so far!

Enjoy every minute!

Oh, and remember...

YOU ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT OTHER'S SAY YOU CAN'T DO!

xo

Analise

33

Guess what TODAY IS!

MY BIRTHDAY!!!

33 TODAY!

I decided to share 33 random facts about me you might not have known...

1. I'm not necessarily a tidy person.

2. I like candles to smell like food, not flowers.

3. I recycle.

4. I dislike socks with designs of animals or holidays or anything else.

5. My closet is organized by color.

6. I wear ribbons in my ponytails.

7. I tan easily, because I am half Mexican

8. I hate when people bite their nails, especially men.

9. I have a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor.

10. I don't like seafood, at all.

11. I remember weird things like the location of a sentence on a page or specific things about people.

12. I have lived in Russia.

13. I love playing games, especially Pictionary.

14.  I do not have a degree.

15. I don't like planning a meal party.

16. I do not drink soda... mostly iced tea or water.

17. I tell random stories.

18. I LOOOVE to laugh.

19. Sometimes I am too critical.

20. I'm sensitive, but I hate to admit it.

21. My hair is dark brown, but it was purple when I was 18.

22. I re-read my journal to remember what happened.

23. I like reading self help books.

24. I love crunchy ice from Sonic.

25. I love pink, but my house has very little pink in it.

26. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip is my favorite cookie.

27. I can sing harmony.

28. I love to eat cereal, for any meal.

29.  I have been to 8 countries and 41 states.

30. I enjoy teaching myself how to do something... I read directions.

31. I like buying things for other people.

32. I have never smoked, not even once.

33. I can't believe I'm 33... I still feel like a teenager.

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Okie dokie! I'm off to take some pictures for Sunday's Show and Tell! Click HERE to read our assignment for Sunday May 4th!!

See you Sunday!

Spring Cleaning/Spring Break

It's been a week.

I'm STILLLLLL cleaning.

Thanks to my BFF Aly, I have made progress on my "switcheroo". For those who just dropped in, I am trading rooms with my kiddos to make a bigger space for them and also create a studio for myself.

Last weekend, we emptied out every one of our bedrooms, and pulled all of our junk ( and we have got lots of junk!) into the living room, dining room and entryway. Seriously, we had to make a path to get thru all the piles of stuff.

So, the kids are finally moved in to the master bedroom, they love it! They have lots more room to make messes now! yeah for them!

Mommy and Daddy have the next bedroom, it's actually nice... not so much room anymore for baskets of laundry to pile up! yeah for us!

I have the smallest room, which will be a studio/guest room. It's nearly complete.

YEAH FOR ME!!

:0)

So, I still have allllllllllll the small stuff to get put away. But you know, I just like my stuff~ I love to look at every single bit and bob...I think it is all very necessary and useful, even the tiniest little scrap of lacy trim. AND it can get SUPER MESSY!

I have a hard time getting rid of stuff when it comes to supplies. I just always think of ways it might be used... I can't help it! Therefore I have (literally... I just counted) 23 little shoebox size boxes of "bits" to sort out. :0| That just what's in the room, not counting the six shelves of junk in my garage.

ouch! that's sad. I'm going to have a yard sale soon, to clean it up a bit. or maybe an ebay auction or two??

Okay, back to the happy~

I took a few "in progress" photos today of the little studio... and I had, had HAD to included my Oscar the Grouch... he's just so adorable!

SCRAM!

gotta love him!

Oh, look at this PEZ dispenser my MIL sent... I stole it from the kids... shhh, don't tell!

ribbons and crepe paper

vintage boxes that hold glitter letters and small stickers, jars will be filled with little bits, glitter and buttons

I love this vintage badge I found at a thrift shop...

Bad lighting, but I used a wire mesh hanging basket (usually used for fruit) to store some of my favorite vintage trims... 

my messy desk.... I LOVE these little "spring" taggies I ordered from Ellen at OneRipePeach and my shabby pink pincushion from Betty at ShesSewPretty.

Well, I need to wrap this up.

Oh, I wanted to briefly mention that my shop will be closed for 2 weeks beginning today, March 16th and will reopen April 1st.

My to do list for the next 2 weeks:

1. spend time with kids

2. make goodies for shop

3. pedicure

4. finish reading my book

5. nap

6. craft night with Aly

7. watch tv?

8. exercise

9. celebrate 1 year blogiversary on March 20th

10. catch up on all my favorite blogs

11. laugh about something with Cheryl

12. bake cupcakes

13. color easter eggs

14. prepare my swap goodies for the Junque in my Trunk Swap

15. check all thrift shops and antique shops for yummies

16. give away something on my blog

17. journal

18. go to dentist

19.  try not to feel guilty about #3. #5, #7, #12

20. feel happy about #1, #4, #6, #8, #9, #10, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17 & #18

I'll do my best to blog as often as I can in the next 2 weeks to keep in the loop!

xoxo

Analise

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!

Wow, I am so ready for a new year. Last year brought so many good things, my life changed in so many good ways...I'm looking forward to more goodness in 2008!

I've been a bit slow about posting a blog, with 3 kids at home during their winter break, it's been a chore to sneak a few moments to post here!

We had a great Christmas at my mom's... Santa came and brought WAAAYYYY too many toys...and now, a week later, the kids are bored. Go figure! I have to keep reminding them of all the new toys waiting to be played with and too quickly broken!

Quotes from this week...

"Go play a game. Go play with your new Barbies. Stop it! How about the Ninja Turtle Van? Have you listened to your entire Hanna Montana CD? Is your bed made? Yes, I would love to wind your yo-yo for the 26th time this morning."

I can finally understand the line in the Christmas song "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" where they sing, "...AND MOM AND DAD CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR SCHOOL TO START AGAIN!"

My friend Aly and I were singing that line last night when we snuck away to the grocery store at 9pm last night... sad when a "break" is going to the grocery store when the bakery is already closed... :0(

It's okay, I don't need the donuts. Oh, I love donuts.

I'm feeling a bit grossed out now, right after the holidays. All the junk food and sweet stuff is all catching up to me... I just feel the need to drink LOTS of water.

Anyway, I wanted to show you just a few gifts I received from my little sis Nikky and from one of my BFF's Aly.

So, my little sis, well not so little anymore, we're all grown up, but she's still my little sis gave me a very thoughtful gift. Her husband inherited several large boxes of his grandmother's jewelry. So, they decided to share a few of the goodies with me...

I think these earrings are my favorite pieces...

So pretty! Thanks Nikky!

So... Aly is the super shopper. She is the one who wakes up ready for a 2 mile jog. She wakes up ready to go and wide awake.

Not me.

This is my coffee cup.

I'm drinking from it as I write this.

Scram.

That is what Aly says when she calls me in the morning and I'm barely awake...

Scram.

It's taken a life of it's own now... it's what we call coffee. "I need some scram...Put the scram on...Have you had any scram this morning?"

Anyway, back to Aly. She the gal who literally wakes up at 4:30 am the day after Thanksgiving to shop the sales. She shops like a pro and finds all the deals and is back home drinking her scram by the time I am rolling over mid snore.

So, this year... she shopped the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas. She calls my house and leaves messages like, "I was wondering if you have $5, because I saw something you will LOOOOOVE!" or "Hey, do you need ______? They have them for 85% off at Macy's."

I did, however, benefit from her skills this year.

She picked up these AWESOME ornaments for me at Kohls. I have heard from all of the bloggers out there... "Go to Kohls, such awesome Christmas ornaments this year!"

I just never went. I SOOOO missed out. But, here's what Aly picked up for me!

I'm so lucky!

Oh, I also wanted to show you my stocking I received from Rachael in New Zealand!

She sent me some incredible goodies in a sweet little stocking that is so adorable!

I love how she used vintage lace doilies for the accents, so pretty!

My kids quickly helped themselves to some of the treats! Everything is so pretty! Thank you so much Rachael!! You can find her blog, the Rose Room here.

So, the weather is totally YUK today. My house already has bad lighting, but when the weather is bad, it's like night in here!

This has been such a long post, I should wrap it up. I'll have lots more to show you next time!

I'm working on lots of goodies for my shop and will post asap about that too!

Cheers!

*Analise*

Merry Christmas!!

It's Christmas Eve!

I just wanted to briefly stop in to say how thankful I am this Christmas. My life has been such a whirlwind in the last few moths, my "to-do" list seems to only get longer and longer!

It is important for me, however, to stop and share how thankful I am to all of my new friends in this blog/craft community. You have no idea how much my life has changed since I began this blog and opened my etsy shop. I've shared this before, but I feel like I was pulled out of a deep pit into something so wonderful!

Although I have not met most of you in person, I feel like we are still friends! Thank you for your sweet and sincere comments on my blog... I wish I could respond to each and every one of you every single time!

Thank you for being so supportive and encouraging...it has been something I've held on to very dearly!

So Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! May your homes be blessed with happiness, joy and lots and lots of laughs this Christmastime!

Before I go to wrap up a few last minute gifts, I wanted to show a few pics of my tree, as promised, and also a few fun things around the house!

and finally,

Merry Christmas from our Family!!

Love y'all!

~Analise~

Praying for our friends in YWAM

Our hearts are heavy and grieving today.

As many of you may have heard, there were two shootings in Colorado yesterday, Dec. 9th.

One of the shootings was at Youth With A Mission Denver, in Arvada, Colorado, where 2 of the staff members did not survive their injuries, and 2 are still in the hospital.

Jeff and I were staff members and leaders at this very Youth With A Mission base for the first 8 years of our marriage. We both did our missions training at this facility and then joined the staff. Jeff was the leadership training school director.

Although, we have not been on staff for the last 7 years, we remain friends with the staff and their families who are deeply and personally affected by this tragedy.

Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts as they recover and heal at this very difficult time. Also, please pray for our friends Peter and Linda Warren, as they lead the staff and students thru this time.

fall frenzy!

Well friends, my month of doom has finally come to a dramatic close!! I am at last free to do as I please and lie around on my cozy couch and dream of the holidays!

The last 2 weeks have been a blur, with so much going on and hardly any time to sit and reflect. I did however take plenty of photos to share!

Let's see, first there was my son's Kindergarten trip to the Pumpkin Patch in Reedley, CA. Oh, you would have *LOVED* this sweet little place!

 

They cater to young children! Every detail is covered! First, they tell a story of Mr. Rabbit and his adventures...

He lives in the Pumpkin Patch!

After finding a giant pumpkin, he pops it open and discovers how to plant a pumpkin himself! Then the guide shows each stage of a pumpkins life... from seed to fully grown.

The children are taken on a walk thru the forest to discover Mr. Rabbit's house!

Then they are all treated with a hay ride and a walk thru a corn maze!

After all of the fun, each child gets to pick their own small pumpkin!

It was so much fun to be a chaperone, listening to all of the 5 year olds direct me... I told them all to take care of me so I wouldn't get lost in the corn maze! It actually worked! They all stayed right beside me!

On Friday, my mom hosted a Halloween Party.

Oh, I thought for hours of what to wear... really, I did! I just couldn't think of a great costume! Finally, I had it!

It took me about an hour to make my PRIZE WINNING COSTUME!!

A lady in the shower!

We had such a great time! Everyone came in costume!

My kiddos came as a Ninja Turtle, A Fairy Princess and Spaghetti.

My mom was a pirate...(she'll kill me for posting this picture! Shhh...) Isn't she cute though??

My baby sister and her hubby and baby came as a hunting party... she was the prey.

We also had a Nun (complete with Wine Bible), an Ipod, an oompa loompa, a baby nurse, a bumble bee, another pirate and a butterfly!

We played lots of games... like "Eyeball Search" where you search for "eyeballs" in a huge pan of "brains"!

We also had a Donut Gobble... SO FUNNY!

Jeff is in the back, he came as Charlie Brown.

Oh, it was such a fun time! My kids won't soon forget!

On Sunday, I invited all of the children at church to come and carve a pumpkin. I remember as a kid carving pumpkins with my family... I even won a pumpkin carving contest one year when I was 9 or 10.

I wanted to let the kids of our church have some of these same memories... carving a pumpkin, there's nothing like it! For some of the kids, this was the first time to carve a pumpkin!!

Lastly, I wanted to share a photo of our trunk for the "Trunk or Treat" and Harvest Festival that our church sponsored. This is what has been consuming ALLLLLL of my time lately! So, I am happy, SO HAPPY, to say it was a success! We had a good turn out, lots of fun, games and of course, CANDY!

Our trunk's theme was CANDYLAND!!

My kids *LOVED* helping me with the decorations and making all of the "candy".

We made a Hershey Kiss out of paper and foil, a giant Hershey chocolate bar, giant M&Ms, giant lollipops, giant peppermints and giant candy canes... then topped it all off with a HUGE sprinkling of candy!

Jeff came as "KING CANDY". I made him a candy hat, candy tie and even a candy scepter!

Well, I have so many crafty and sweet things to show you as well, but it will have to wait until Monday my dearies. I am exhausted!!!! ( I think I am going to watch Marie Antionette again this evening, just to see something pretty!!)

Until then,

*analise*

a better week

Whew! What a week! My family and I spent the entire day Thursday at the county fair. We did have a lot of fun, but I was EXHAUSTED after a day of walking around! It was like the walk you have after a day at Disneyland... your legs are all weak, the smell of hot fry oil makes your stomach turn... your clothes even hurt!

The first half of the day I was a chaperone for my daughter's third grade class. We had a scavenger hunt where we had specific questions to answer about the fair... like "Name two breeds of cattle" and "Find a your favorite quilt...what it is geometric pattern?" and "What is your favorite greenhouse flower?"

So we ran around like chickens with our heads cut off, searching for answers... but a good time was had by all...

My husband and my other two kids met us and we stayed the rest of the day... walking around the exhibit halls, riding a few rides and eating funnel cakes!

These are my girls sitting on the prize winning pumpkins, weighing about 260 lbs. each... the pumpkins, not my girls! hardy har har

These are some of the grapes in one of the booths. We live in California's Central Valley which is 400 miles long and supplies one-quarter of the food America eats!

This is the view from the ferris wheel, which was funny because I started to really get scared!! Funny, I was the only one screaming from the top while my 7 year old says, "This is so boring!"

And finally, the Candy Factory... I just love the colors! You can see the shadow of the ferris wheel over it.

So I came home and plopped on the couch for the rest of the night, whining about how my legs were sore!

The next morning, I met Betty from She's Sew Pretty and her daughter Christy for coffee. We had such a great time together! We ended up sitting for about an hour and a half, just chatting and laughing and getting acquainted... it was the highlight of my day!  Betty and I found each other thru etsy and blog-land.. turns out we live really close to each other... it is so nice to meet such sweet people who can understand your point of view! Thank you so much girls, we definitely need to get together again!! :0)

On a serious note...

I want Sugar!

Well, dear friends, it's been over a week since my last blog. I'm sorry if you are waiting on a package from me... it's going out TODAY, I promise!!!

I need some Sugar! or hugs or love or what ever...I need my peeps!

I've had a very difficult 10 days. Lots going on that I really can't share so publicly, but things have been a bit rough.

I've shared a little about some of my struggles and I have quickly been thrown into some new situations that I have to deal with.

I have found myself to be quite strong and able to handle some of the things that 9 months ago would have taken me out, so there is improvement!

It's hard to share this with the world, but hey, why not share the reality of being a pastor's wife? If we only knew the real stories of others, I think it would be a shocking surprise to most people.

I've chosen to be open about the reality of my life. My husband and I are real people and we don't buy into the "fake it 'till you make it" idea. I think that's kind of dangerous because it can become something of a crutch for people who really should look at their circumstances in an objective and realistic way. On the other hand, I also see the value in postponing feelings, etc. until a more appropriate time and place to really deal with them in a safe and healthy environment.... does that make sense?

Aaaannnywhoodle, so this week has been a bit of a "testing of the waters" for me as I re-enter the world of...well, people! Things got testy.... already.

It doesn't take long to make people hate you, all you have to do create some small, tiny change for them that they don't like.... and ....BOOM! You've got yourself a group of folks who think you are the devil! :0)

Oh, and I *LOOOVE* it! I loooove being screamed at, accused, being called a liar, hung up on...it's greeeaat!! Especially when it happens in public, in front of other people, that's even better!

(I HOPE YOU KNOW, I'M BEING SARCASTIC!!!)

Okay, okay, I'm gonna stop because you're gonna drag this dumb story out of me if you keep this up.... *wink*

My friends and I are thinking of writing a book, I think you might love it! All of our stories. It would be juicy, too! hee hee hee

So, I'm trying today to look back at my priorities... the things that bring me joy. My family, my children, my home, CUPCAKES, writing my blog...sharing with you, much prayer, MORE CUPCAKES, reading scriptures and books that help, creating...crafts, MORE CUPCAKES.... (hence, my double chin...)

I want to shout out to Ann of Keeping Up With the Tatums, she's my girl. We had a little swappy poo. I saw this fantastic altered card on her blog and asked if she was going to sell it...she said it's for another swap, but she could make me one like it with the "SUGAR" quotes...

Well, she ended up sending me that very card, AND I LOVE IT!!! Isn't it adorable?!?

Thank you ANN! You're a DOLL!!

Also, just wanted to show you these SA-WEET taggies I got from PurdyGirlStuff.etsy.com.

Made from old quilt fabric scraps... they are just my colors!!

Well, thanks for letting me vent... I'm feeling much better now.

Blogging can do that to you...

just... ya, it's all good.

Hi friends! Things have been a bit crazy around here lately. As I mentioned before, I am taking on the Children's Pastor position at church...to add to my chaos! Yeah!

So far things are good. I just have to really manage my time...I don't want to take away from the time I am spending on my shop and other crafty ventures...

and my blog.

I have said this before, but I'll say it again for my new friends. I began this little adventure to help out with the $$ side of things, just practically, so I could go thrifting or buy the kids something extra or have a White Chocolate Mocha Extra Mocha without feeling like I am taking away from something else needed. But also, having my shop and blog have brought me to a new place in my personal life.

Since my blog titled "THANKFUL" (see below) I have had SO MANY people email and send messages of love and encouragement. Really, THANK YOU. I have been overwhelmed with sweet and sincere comments from all of you.

I know you are all real people, with real lives, with real families, and real problems... just like me. Blogging is such a great way to connect with each other. So, thanks again for being a listening ear about the GOOD and the Not So GOOD! :0)

Also, I feel really privileged. To be able to do this, every day, is a gift. Really. I know there are people out there who would kill to be able to sit in there jammies, sip coffee, make crafts and take photos and connect with an awesome circle of friends...every day!

Wow. It hits home now that I put it out there like that. I have friends who work ALL the time for their families. It's hard, and I know it is.

I could be doing that too. But, I'm not right now. Yes, I drive a hoopdie min-van that has taken my family across the country 5 times. My clothes are not fancy, I cut my own hair...(so what if it's a little crooked!! lol) and it is a treat to go out to eat with the whole family.

But it's worth it. My emotional self is MUCH happier, and we all know that is most important. If Mama's not happy....you know the rest.

Okay, enough of my thoughts,

I think I'm rambling a bit...

hmmm.

Well, let me show you a few things I've been up to this week.

Heather at Bluhm Studios is hosting an art retreat called Art*Play this weekend here in California. She is giving out goody bags to all the participants...so I was lucky enough to sponsor a little something for each gal!

I wish I could have attended! Have a great time Heather!! *Hugs!*

I wanted to show a little sneak peek of some swap goodies for Cerri of Little Pink Studio. She has the greatest little shop, Little Pink Studio, where you can find oodles of goodies and pretties! Stop by her shop and pick up something wonderful!!

Here are a few of the sweets I am sending her way.

Enjoy Cerri!!

This sweet little sugary bird wanted to sneak his way into EVERY photo!

Rascally!

Well, I think I'm getting close to a give away.

*YEAH!*

In my shop, Sugar*Sugar I am close to selling my 100th item! WOO HOO!

So, I thought I would arrange a give away on my blog to celebrate!

I will post a blog this week with more details, so check back in this week!

Love to you all,

Analise