El Reno Road Trip

We embarked on a quick road trip to El Reno, Oklahoma to pick up Christmas toys for the children that come to the community center where I work. My Grandmother donated and collected donations for the kids. She, my Grandmother is truly a special person. She is so selfless and gives freely.

I scored a vintage Bulova out of the trip.

On the way back to Dallas, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the sky appeared as the sun was setting. There were so many shades of blue, lavender, yellow, and orange. It was absolutely stunning.

We're Back!!!!

Soooo.....so much has happened since our last post.....more hospitalizations.....school at OU......and sooo much more but.....we're back

Around and About

We have been around and about doing a little of this and a little of that....Keeping up with the blog in addition to the several thousand hats we wear is a chore at times but here we are..... and we are soon to begin a new adventure......

Southwest Salad......

We're making Southwest Salad.....fresh organic greens, corn, black beans, organic blue corn tortilla chips, avocado, red onion, cheese, crutons, egg, and bacon bits........

I found some new cookbooks that we may be trying out soon......

We've Been Gone and We're Back

Well, we have been gone for quite a while. As many of you know we spent some of our spring break(March13-17) in Oklahoma....just for some rest and relaxation. Well, Charles was ill the entire time and just wasn't feeling well. He was out of breath, unable to walk and retaining so much fluid on his body. It was unbearable for him. (He had been off of his blood pressure medication for over a year). When we returned home I went to work and he took himself to a doctor. I received a call a few hours later stating that he was being admitted to the hospital for congestive heart failure and they wanted to schedule a surgery. I was shocked!

He had the procedure days later and was eventually released. He has since returned to work but struggles from time-t0-time with the side effects of the medication; however, he is on the road to recovery. We have really attempted to incorporate organic eating, shopping, menu planning, and meal prep into our daily live. It hasn't been easy. He is on a very strict diet. We have also taken up mountain biking and are looking forward to swimming on a regular basis when the weather gets warmer.

We adopted two Great Pyrenees-mix pups....Bella and Darwin. They are such a handful but cute as ever.

PS....my blog exchange buddy sent me the best box of goodies right before Charles was hospitalized.......it was such a joy to have as I endured the hospital stay and running around like a mad woman.......

Woo Hoo...It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Spring

I know it is hard to believe with the cool weather but it really is beginning to look a lot like Spring. We were in Oklahoma this past weekend and as I was looking at the planters I noticed signs of life. Right before my eyes, deeply planted in soil was the a glimmer of a green succulent accompanied by a very beautiful ladybug crawling to and fro. I was shocked because as you all know....it gets downright cold in Oklahoma. At any rate......it is beginning to look a lot like Spring and Easter will be on the way.

We had a great time in Oklahoma and can't wait to get back to enjoy our family.........

Thursday Morning Update....OWOH

Charles and I have been relentlessly trying to contact our winners without much success. Our emails to them keep being rejected and sent back. So, we have been faced with no other choice but to choose a third-runner up in the drawing. Donna will now receive the upcycled cards and surprise gift.........

Good Thursday Morning

Hello Everyone....I hope you all have had a wonderful week thus far.....Charles and I have been extremely busy....we launched an online bookstore and have been working diligently to acquire interesting books for our beloved customers.

I have taken a special interest in vintage and classic books. It has been such a fun challenge to locate past favorites and items I remember from childhood. In addition to the classic and vintage books, I decided to incorporate board and card games. I hope you all will check the site from time to time and see what we have available.

I took a break from the Etsy store but will be back in full swing at the beginning of March. I have decided to enlist the help of my daughter, sister, mom, grandmother, and niece in this adventure. They all are so very talented.

I want to send a special "shout-out" to our followers and my swap buddy for the Alice in Wonderland event.....Blessings....(Namaste).....

Our OWOH winner was tanya904. Tanya you will be receiving your goodies within the week...enjoy.

Well, all, I am off of here for now but will be back this evening to tell you all about my meeting with Dr. Cornel West......it is bound to be a ball and I feel so Blessed and Privileged to be in his presence.

~e~

One World One Heart

Our give-away is extended until midnight central time .....there is still time to leave a comment

Busy in February

I (elisha) have been busy crafting....I have been working on upcycling foreign books into journals by applying gesso over the print. I had no idea that it would keep me this busy. Not too mention, Dani suffered a "dance" injury and is on crutches.

What I want in February:

• To find a truck like the one in this post (reasonably priced)
• Health for self, family, and friends
• Peace for all
• Warm Weather
• Sewing Machine
• TOMS

Rainy & Cold in Texas

Tuesday and Thursday are long work days for me. We had a blast of cold air coupled with heavy rain.....not fun. Long Day At Work + Rain + Cold Temperatures = Subway Sandwiches, Quilts and Crocheted Blanks.....Today was a Walter Bishop day.....

Just Because

So, I of course was multitasking....watching "launch my line"...completing applications for the University of Oklahoma (Anthropology Department), organizing books on the shelf, facebooking, and working on the pages of a giveaway journal...when my beloved vintage doll's head caught my attention...She sits creepily on my bookshelf and faces our bed. Now, Charles has really never commented about this oddity that watches everything that goes on in this bedroom through broken and distressed eyes; however, our children have had plenty to say. Our 21 year old son often stated that she creeped him out (we hid her in his bed once to frighten him....it was way funny) and our 17 year old daughter just flat out called her ugly. Well, I like her and there is beauty in everything so she will remain on our bookshelf. ~e~

PS....while looking up at my beloved doll's head....our vintage globe transfixed me in thought....thinking of all the wonderful blogging friends we are making through OWOH....

Excited Excitement

Well...Charles and I have been meeting so many wonderful people. We are super excited and are caught up in the frenzy of gifting items in the OWOH giveaway event. We scarfed down our lasagna, bread sticks, and salad ....to put our heads together and reinvent some of our finds from this past Saturday and to upcycle more cards. We hope everyone is having as much fun as we are....and for all you curious minds....Walter Bishop is on tomorrow night (watch: Fringe).....xxooxx ~e~

PS...these are a couple of additions that we are adding to the giveaway.

One World One Heart

Charles and I are excited about participating in the "One World One Heart" activity this year. This will be a first for us and we are anxiously awaiting the magic carpet ride that will ensue as we meet new friends and fellow bloggers. We love to up-cycle and we look for to gifting a wide variety of up-cycled cards. The package will contain 15 assorted up-cycled greeting/note cards. Check out our sample. We know that there is something nostalgic about receiving a card in the mail and hope you have as much fun sending them as we do making them. We hope your magic carpet ride brings you here often.

Remember: Each person must leave a comment to be eligible to win. Please provide a link or an email address where we can reach you. Winners will be announced on February 15, 2010 so make sure you get the comments in by February 12,2010. We look forward to hearing from you all.

Back from Break

Charles and I decided to take a small break from the blog to get some of our other projects organized. I am pleased to announce that the Etsy store is coming along nicely and the book site is almost up and running.

Charles came up with the idea of crafting netbook skins; so, we have been experimenting with a variety of materials to perfect this concept. We have also been madly hunting cool foreign books to upcycle into journals and fabulous vintage finds to add to the Etsy shop.

We have decided that we are going to participate in the OWOH challenge this year and look forward to gifting fabulous upcycled greeting cards. We plan to incorporate vintage buttons and fabrics into the designs. So stay tuned and check back regularly.

Haiti

In the wake of the massive disaster in Haiti, Charles and I took a small break from blogging in hopes of doing research on legitimate organizations that offering assistance to those in Haiti. We found this link and hope everyone will do their part in making a difference in the lives of those in Haiti.

http://potomitan.net/haitian-earthquake.html

Avatar on the Fringe

Well, the talk of the town is .........Avatar! Well, you know me, I was watching it in the comort of ho.......wait, no.......I was at the IMAX, yeah at the IMAX and I made an internal observation that the movie was a statement about indigenous people and the way that the "Man" has historically stripped the people from there land and then stripped the land all in pursuit of riches. OK, that part I get, so we get it, move on. Then..... we threw in the nature, mother earth angle and how we have to be one with nature and if we listen we can hear and we will learn how to better live with one another in harmony, yeah right! The damn movie has grossed over a billion dollars. Look peeps, its a movie meant to give you an escape from the real world and we pay dearly for that escape. Keep your money, you'll need it for rising gas prices! ~c~

Declaration of Financial Empowerment

We didn't put up a post yesterday. We thought we would save our 2-cents for today. This will be a relatively quick and simple post to offer financial affirmations for 2010. "From this day forward, I/We declare my/our vigilant and lifelong commitment to financial empowerment and hereby pledge the following:"

• 1. I/we will use home ownership as a foundation to build wealth.
• 2. I/we will be proactive in managing my/our budget, credit debt and tax obligations.
• 3. I/we will maximize my/our earning potential, live within my/our means, and commit to save and invest at least 10% of my income.
• 4. I/we will ensure that my/our investments are properly diversified and correspond to my/our financial goal.
• 5. I/we will immediately commit to a program of retirement planning and investing.
• 6. I/we will preserve and protect my/our assets through proper financial and insurance planning.
• 7. I/we will ensure that my/our children receive a thorough education on financial matters and business issues.
• 8. I/we will ensure that my/our wealth is passed on to future generations through proper estate planning.
• 9. I/we will actively support the creation and growth of viable, socially aware, and community centered owned businesses.
• 10. I/we will use a portion of my wealth to strengthen my/our community and place/s of worship.

Family Outing: Dave Purchases a Car

Everyone decided to pile into the jeep to accompany Dave to search for his magic carpet (Car)....Dani bought a vanilla frap. from Starbucks and off we went. We stopped in Garland before finally deciding to head to Plano. Dave was blessed and found a car and guess what.....it's OU red how ironic (he's a horns fan.....and attends a UT sister school). This was a good day....cold but good.

Marvelous Michoacan Mocha & A Cold Friday

On a cold day like today the best thing to do is stay inside and stay warm. We want to share this fabulous recipe to warm your bodies and spirits.....~e~

1 stick of vanilla

2 chunks of Abuelita's chocolate

2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar

2-3 tablespoons of your favorite ground coffee

3-4 coffee cups of water

Put on your favorite tunes, simmer all ingredients in a non-stick pot until well blended. Ladle through a strainer into your favorite cups or mugs. Add milk or cream and sugar to taste. It should be creamy and flakes of chocolate will swim deliciously around your cup. Now, sit back with your feet up and your favorite book and enjoy. This is also great by the fireplace and if you are feeling really adventurous add a dash of cayenne pepper.

Food Memories

For the past three days I have had a "craving" for the potatoes that both my Mother and Grandmother cooked for me as a child. They are not whipped, mashed, au gratin, baked, or scalloped. They are not sauteed in white wine, red wine vinegar, or any other liquid accompaniment. They are simple. They are delicious and they are fried in oil with onions, salt, and pepper. I am quite sure my Mother and Grandmother added their own spices; however, I will never know what spices they were.

I haven't cooked these potatoes in a long time and for the life of me can't remember ever cooking them for my family. I decided that tonight was the night to feed my craving and prepare these for my family ( I wish Dave could have tried them). I filled the skillet with cooking oil, threw in red and yellow onions, added bell pepper, and tossed in the potatoes. I added salt and pepper as they cooked and said a prayer that they turned out just as I remembered. They did. ~e~

CV's and Taco Bell

Well, Elisha had an all day ordeal. It started with a well placed plan to organize and construct her online CV or Curriculum Vitae, that's a resume' to you and me! "Well, what had happened was........". To make a long story short, the online site that she spent hours laboring over, crashed and all her work was lost and did not display on the site. Were talking about very precise, grad level writing, picture placement, font choosing, color matching, you name it...........GONE! So, E. is not the happiest of campers. Hours lost, nerves racked and to top it off, it was cold. Well, by the time I got home from work, it was game on. I could not say or do anything right so I found out that I might not want to speak to much and walk bery, bery quiet! We made it halfway to church and the traffic was so bad that at 6:45 we turned around because we would miss Wednesday night service by the time we got there. On the way home I made a judgment call to stop and get Taco Bell for dinner. All were happy and we lived happily ever after................. until tomorrow, that is!

Have A Nice Day

The day started off in haze of sleepiness. I have been away from the typical daily grind of rising early in the morning due to the holidays and the interim break between semesters. It was very cold and I wondered if Charles adjusted(lowered) our heat during the night. It was downright freezing and all I wanted to do was stay covered-up by my old worn quilt and crocheted blanket that my Grandmother made for me; but, alas duty called. I had to get up and get everyone out of the door on time. Of course, I put a pot of coffee on and pondered over all of the task that I needed to complete for the day. I was reminded of a facebook status update posted by my cousin detailing all her duties, obligations, and "mom" related tasks that she had to complete for that day. She simply stated, "I need a wife." Well of course, I was reminded of the powerful piece of feminist literature, "I need a wife" and thought wow!!!! there are times when I feel"I need a wife" also.

This article and statement really became concrete when I attempted to purchase stamps at not one but two post-office locations (thinking...wishing...that I had someone to do this simple task for me). It was only 30 minutes past closing and I assumed that the vending type machines that dispensed stamps in varying amounts and designs were still in existence. I assumed wrong. I was so frustrated. Not only did I use valuable time that could have been spent tackling another task from my list but I used "gas capital" that could/should have been saved since Charles paid $2.65 a gallon for it.

I finally returned home after picking up a delicious burger king meal for my 17year old. I felt defeated because I really wanted to get my "Happy New Year" cards to family and friends in the mail. I placed the keys on the counter and checked the baked potatoes that Charles had prepared while I was gone. It was at this moment that I noticed the take-out container from Dave's lunch. Impressed across the probably non-recyclable Styrofoam top was a picture of a smiley face and the words....:"Have A Nice Day." I thought if only all businesses, the post-office included or offered patrons such an admonition....we might stop stressing over events that are out of our control, such as not being able to purchase stamps and ....."Have A Nice Day."

100 Monkeys

My poor child Danielle is stressing and crying regarding going to twilight alums band 100 Monkeys. They play at The Lounge in Dallas Jan. 5 2010. Well she is only 17 and can't go clubbing just yet and I am to old to hang out at such spots. That time has come and gone. I feel for her but she'll have plenty of other opportunities to go clubbing when she is in her 30's.......................

Daddy still loves you Danielle.

Miracles

Just yesterday I was having a conversation with Charles in regards to miracles. Charles asked me my thoughts on why "Biblical" type miracles didn't continue to happen in modern times. I was surprised that he felt this way. I told him that "Biblical" type miracles happen everyday; it's just the way we perceive them. We take things like feeding our family, the health of our Children (Dave & Dani), and simple things like being able to see at face-value; however, these are indeed miracles of Biblical proportion. To prove a point I made a gourmet dinner with dime-store ingredients. I had Mark 6:41 in mind....(And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.) So, remember miracles happen everyday in every way. ~e~

Just Listen

When tension shows up unannounced as it sometimes will

Remain calm and sit silent and still.

Listening for that small quiet voice from above

Remember that your relationship is built on trust, faith, hope and love.

~e~

A Sweet Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all our family and friends. We wish you all blessings, health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year. We spent the day in a laid-back way. We watched Halogen T.V., went to Central Market, and feasted on black-eye-pea dip, salad, and a very scrumptious sweet treat.

Jr. Chocolate Frosties: Free (our coupons were expired but the manager honored them anyway-so if you are ever at the intersection of Arapaho & Hillcrest stop in for a cheap treat)

Graham Cracker Chocolate Mix: .50 (on sale at a certain low price store-from $13 to .50-a great bargain)

Enjoying a sweet treat and watching Halogen: Priceless

~e~

Well we ate green, watched Green and now I have Green Gas. ~C~