Total MAN HOUSE

What A Great Weekend
Having Laura and Diane together is like
visiting some Wild New Country!
I had so mush fun! I loved Steve's house!!
Total Man House! WOOHOO!!!

Celebrate the Singleness

MY SISTERS AND I SHARE OUR EMPOWERMENT thank you Diana and Laura

"I Sing Like I Feel"

The three of us filed for divorce. For a variety of reasons. And we're better for it.

October 2009 - Angie

February 2010 - Laura

April 2011 - Diana

(title quote: Ella Fitzgerald)

Quote of the day....

YOU GET WHAT YOU SETTLE FOR!

*There will be no more settling for less than 

I am WORTHY of or WANTING!

I like what I have found!!! Yummmmy!

SO MUCH

 We had SO MUCH to Celebrate! 

And Partying with THE LADIES is SO MUCH  FUN! 

But getting a Bonus Gift at the table......WOOHOO! 

July 30, 2011

It was A VERY GOOD DAY!!!

• Diana's Birthday
• Laura IS HERE
• Time with my therapist Miss Marge
• Cookie and I are finished with the power struggle
• Andrea had a NEW baking project
• EDWARD JONES CALLED !!!!!
• PJ is having a house party
• One on One time with Houston
• Cheesecake Factory....girls gone wild!
• Bonus Gift @ the Table

art

remember

YOU

are

Beautiful

oh so very

LOVED

and

Valued

It's a Surprise!!!

I love birthdays, to celebrate you, for just being you! How great is that!

(In my family we also celebrate half birthdays! Life is short, why not celebrate everything!!!)

This weekend happens to be
Diana's Birthday weekend!! 

So I am sitting in the cell phone parking lot at
Sky Harbor Airport.

I am waiting for Laura's flight to arrive. 

We are going to surprise Diana for her birthday.
She has no idea Laura is coming!

We are planning a Big Birthday Bash Weekend!

I always wanted sisters, they are wonderful!!!

Laura just texted, she is landing....
I love Birthday Surprises !!!!!

Perfect!!!!

Quote of the day.....

Quality is not an act. It is a habit.     Aristotle

The Healing Place

Sometimes we are introduced to new concepts, life paths, a change of heart, or a strength that we may have never really given any thought to. 

I met a man who has lived a life so very different from mine. He has experienced things I will likely never attempt, participate in, or endure. His life could be be called "A self imposed train wreck". 

Yet he has come full circle. Although he will tell you that he will never be able to fully repay what he has been given. 

What we do with what we have been given and what we are, is up to us. We can choose to stay on the path of non-progression or we can ask for help. We can do the things, little and big, easy and hard, that will clear our path way. But as my friend said, "We are no better than the drunk man in the gutter nor the wealthy man in the jet above us." I guess prospective is vital.

 The process of becoming someone you like, can be a very long, hard, lifelong endeavor.  But so worth the effort. Along the way, values are restored, routines set in place. And although all the rules and guidelines may not be liked or something you will ever choose to completely agree with, going through the steps will take us along that path to be  the person we can like. 

Liking ourselves, can give us the opportunity to re-establish relationships with those we love, and start new relationships with others. Giving to others will create a propelling drive with in us, to do more, to be more. 

I have been made aware, that there is more to life than what I am comfortable with in my bubble. I am grateful for this amazing man who has so much to give, who is being such an example. I am in awe of his ability to overcome 'the train wreck' and move forward. Bravo Sir!!

"The Healing Place"

"Homelessness is a complex growing problem today. Estimates are that 1% of the population in the U.S. will become homeless during the course of one year. For the majority of those who become homeless it is a one time event. Typically it is the result of a major event such as an illness, or the loss of a job. The majority will find permanent housing in a matter of months. But for those who suffer from an addiction or have an accompanying mental health problem, an episode of homelessness can end up lasting years.

What we know today is that the majority of those who are homeless and addicted can be rehabilitated. Given the proper tools, a safe environment and sufficient time, most addicts and alcoholics will be able to return to the community as productive citizens.

Founded as a homeless shelter in 1989, The Healing Place has become one of the nation's most effective long-term, social model recovery programs. With 65 percent of our alumni remaining sober after one year, our success rate is five times the national average for recovery facilities.

While our statistics are great, its important to remember that we are talking about people. Today, over 2,700 individuals are leading productive lives and many are reunited with their families because of our unique approach to recovery. Our program relies on the assistance and guidance of its alumni to supplement traditional approaches to recovery."

Super Hero

Angela, Angelic Bounty Hunter
I had no idea I share the same name as a
Super Hero!

Of course her love interest is also
the one she is trying to kill...
His name is Spawn
Go figure!

Thought for the day....

Einstein said, "There are two ways to live your life - one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle." Life is filled with miracles, you just have to look for them

Kiss Quotes

 Some quotes on the most important art: Kissing  

Soul meets soul on lovers' lips.  ~Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prometheus Unbound

'Twas not my lips you kissed
But my soul
~Judy Garland

Happiness is like a kiss - it feels best when you give it to someone else.  ~Author Unknown

The soul that can speak through the eyes can also kiss with a gaze.  ~Gustavo Adolfo Becquer

Kissing is like drinking salted water.  You drink, and your thirst increases.  ~Chinese Proverb

Then I did the simplest thing in the world.  I leaned down... and kissed him.  And the world cracked open.  ~Agnes de Mille

A kiss seals two souls for a moment in time.  ~Levende Waters

Each kiss a heart-quake...  ~Lord Byron, Don Juan

A man's kiss is his signature.  ~Mae West

Owners Manual

Life should come with a users guide, an instruction manual,
an owners handbook, a how to pamphlet, a warranty kit.....
Just saying!   

Day 20

Something Orange!

Wisdom for the day

We teach others how to treat us!

It isn't about finding the person you want to go to bed with. It is about finding the one you want to wake up with.
It isn't about finding the one you want to live with. It is about finding the one you can't live without.
In the world you are only somebody. But for somebody you are the whole world.

Day 18

Your Shoes.......Well these are the Right girl shoes. 

Don't all girls Love SHOES!!

BLING for your feet!

Day 17

My Favorite TECHNOLOGY is my iPhone

(Can your iPhone be your best friend? Mine is!)

The Morning After The Concert

Mark and his friends went to see the Greeley Estates concert at
 The Club in Scottsdale last night. 

They got this lovely hand decoration as a Thank You for coming!

 How delightful!!!

Ooh La La!!!

This would be the cherry stem I tied a knot in,

 with my tongue!

Who knew one could feel so accomplished!!

Breakfast In Bed!

My Cookie loves ME!!!

TODAY IS THE DAY

Run with that idea............!
Go

Quote of the day.....

"It's only pretty if it SPARKLES!"

(I don't know if I would apply this to everything....but I will defiantly start adding more SPARKLE to my life!
I just don't think you can ever have too much pretty!!!)

Day 15

March 1989
Disneyland
These are my babies! Emmaly was two and Jessette was 9 months. The trip was short. But I remember so many details; what they wore, what they likes, the reactions they had to every new thing. How wonderful to see this snip-it of time without all the details, it makes it fun to remember.  I so love my Little Ladies!

Hmmmm, something to think about!

  

 Quietly communing with God, is a way of temporarily turning off our ego-mind. Instead of our ego-self thinking, “I can fix this,” we are willing to immerse our perceived problem into our higher self. For those of us who grew up believing life is a “do-it-yourself” project, it can be hard to admit that we need help just to survive.   

 Like a drop of water separated from its source the little mind is unable to create and sustain life. When the drop of water rejoins the ocean it has all the powers of its source. The drop of water separate from its source symbolizes our ego-self when we are separated from our source of omnipotent power.

 With our divine connection we are always in touch with the solutions we are seeking. Problems persist when we fail to recognize, realize, and finally, quietly commune with our own source, power, spirit, God.

 I think of Abraham Lincoln watching his beloved Union crumbling under the energy of hatred that engulfed this country. He wrote, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go.” 

 He is saying, “I surrender to my source and turn this huge problem over to that same power that moves the stars.”  You can do the same thing in times of strife. “Let go and let God,” as they say in the recovery movement.     by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

OBSERVE

Your identity is a detailed concept about yourself that you cart around with you through life. It is a jumble of evaluations, opinions, rules, and perceptions about yourself that serves as a filter through which you view every experience. For example, if your filter contains the thoughts and beliefs that this is an angry world, you will continually see angry people and situations around you.

The problem is that you may not be aware of even a small percentage of the enormous number of beliefs about yourself and the world that you hold. Your beliefs about life and yourself are so ever-present that you often do not even know that they are there. They can be likened to the air that is all around us, but we are rarely aware of it. In other words, the more aware you become of the thoughts, concepts, and perceptions you have about who you are, the more you begin to discern who you really are.

Today, observe your thoughts and the situations around you—become the Observer. Watch your internal dialogue, and observe the language and words that you use. If you discern that your language is filled with disempowering words, consider substituting more empowering ones. You feel different when you use different words.

“I am okay” can become “I am great!”

“I am all right” can become “I am superb!”

“I am good” can become “I am excellent!”

Become a silent witness for a day. Without judgment or evaluation, watch yourself, your actions, and your reactions. Observe the language you use.

Denise Linn

Day 14

EYES
Some Things Just Make You Happy!!!

Vitamin Drawer

In my Aunt Marlene's fridge, one of the drawers at the bottom is known as the vitamin drawer. 

At my house you will find fruit or wilting broccoli, that I bought because I knew it was good for my kids.....but I let go bad, because not even I think about broccoli often enough! 

But I can tell you all the kids loved Aunt Mar's fridge drawers. 

Her drawers have things in it like vitamin K, and vitamin S and vitamin T. 

Why would you think broccoli when your most beloved Aunt would say "GO GET SOME VITAMINS".

Happily my children would do as told and go chose their daily required overdose of Kitcats, Snickers and Twix.

After all Chocolate is a vitamin just like Pizza is a vegetable...Right?

Day 12

SUNSET
This is a photo a friend texted me one night. We use to watch the sunsets from where ever we were. He sent me this as I was watching it from where I was. I needed a friend at that very minute, and even though we were miles apart he knew I needed him, and he was there. It was beautiful! Thank you Guru!

Food for thought!

Getting out of your groove actually lays down new neural pathways in your brain, which create freshness, newness, optimism and hopefulness. This translates into better physical and mental health.
Sometimes we think its a good idea to hold back or delay change. Yet conformity leaves us merely existing. Sticking with the routine that is negative and non progressive can push you into the deep end. Daring to break out of a situation that is going no where positive can improve your overall quality of life.

WAY COOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 11

Something Blue!

I have always had a passion for Cobalt Blue!

This is my Cobalt collection.

I LOVE IT!!!

Christmas In July

Each year I try to get my children to write a letter to Santa. It is very rare that this has ever been done. Yet I do make the request each year.This past Christmas 2010 was no different. Macy's even put up old post boxes to collect the letters that the children wrote. Yet none of my children wrote the letter.
Well, not that I knew of.
Jessette had actually written a letter to Santa. But she had never sent it, I didn't even know about it until tonight when she called me. She had put it in her school bag, then forgot about it. Today she was cleaning out that bag, her next semester at school starts this week, she was prepping. And there was the letter.

As she reread her Christmas Wish list, a holiday miracle happened. My baby girl saw that Santa and maybe God as well, do listen and do give you what your heart truly desires.

My daughter had asked that she would no longer be alone. She wanted to be loved. She wanted a man with specific qualities and characteristics. A man who would care for her, love her for who she is, and fill all the other needs she has.

Let me fill you in on what happened after the letter was written!

Christmas morning she received a text from Cole. She had not heard from him in a year. The last time she had seen him, I am sure they both agree, they thought would be the LAST time.

Yet here he was, Christmas morning.

She said "Mom he fits each thing on my wish list perfectly, every one!" She went on to tell me that she didn't think Santa or God really listened. Yet everything she had asked for, she received. Perhaps this Christmas miracle is two fold. She got just what her heart desired for Christmas in December. And for Christmas in July she got the knowledge that someone above dose listen and love her too.

I took a class...

The class didn't teach me how to make the situations in my life better, 

but it gave me some tools to be a better person as I go through my situations.

The class was designed for the parenting of your children. But I think we all

would benefit from the information. Such as, speak to others kindly, so you 

are not pointing fingers or accusing. Pick your battles, you cant win everyone.

You cant change others. Working together, even if you are not together is good.

When a relationship goes south, deal with the other party as a business partner. 

You still want whats best for that business, even though the partners work 

from different places. Reward behavior with appropriate rewards, not Everything. 

Send people that matter letters, we all like positive mail.

I also again learned the cycle of grief and the cycle of abuse. 

We will go through both. Grief at different times and for various reasons. 

Abuse is one to not create or get sucked into. Have your safety nets in place,

if you suspect you are a victim. Get out, because, it rarely ends well if at all. 

CYCLE OF GRIEF

Day 10

Childhood Memory
These are all things I have that were my Grandmother's or remind me of her.
Let me share....There are two jars of buttons. Many of them where Grandma's, many of them where my Nana's ( Grandma's mother). As a little girl I would go through them over and over again. 
They where not kept in jars when I was little, but in the woven sewing box here. It was Nana's. I know Grandma cherished it. I have always cherished it also.
 One of the canning jars holds three dried dates. My grandparents had date palms in their back yard. And Grandma would dry them. She had a very large jar (the size of the one I keep my cookie cutter collection in) where she stored the dates. I dont remember anyone other than me ever eating them. But I loved them. They are like candy. These are the last three. I am sure they are petrified by now, but I will keep them forever. 
There are a collection of Grandma's hankies. I remember playing with them as a little girl. One has art work from DeGrazia on it. I think Ted DeGrazia was her favorite artist. I was never into the SouthWest art, but I guess for the Italian American girl from PA it was the thing!! 
The cookie jar of Aunt Jammima was a gift from my children. Grandma had one, very similar to it. It lived on her fridge. I loved that cookie jar! Funny, I never have cookies in it! 
There in the back is a paperback cookbook. It was Grandma's first cookbook. She had a wonderful collection of cookbooks, this is the one I wanted when she passed away. It was the oldest, and for me meant the most. 
The music box in the front, the girl at the piano! This is one of my very favorite things! Grandma had one just like it. I loved it. Grandma's was broken and repaired, rumor is I was the cause of the mishap. I do not recall!  When I was a very young mother I saw one that matched this in a very expensive store. I could not afford it at the time. I spent the last twenty some years looking for another. This February my dearest sister-cousin and I were spending the day antiquing. And there this was. Again, at the time I did not have the money. But the Tax Return Fairy was due to arrive, so I put it on hold. Bringing this home, sharing it with my children, listening to the song that has hung in my memory all my life, was like finding a long lost puzzle piece to my life. I love this piece! 

These are some of my wonderful childhood memories. 

Two Funny Kids!

Cole and Jessette came over tonight. I Love Them! Both individually and together. The bring out the best in each other. They each make me laugh. I adore my daughter, she is so ......so....GRRRR ! And Cole is so funny... All the time. They make my heart happy!
They had a art war on my white board in the kitchen. The Art Major failed. The Chef won! He is bigger and he over powered her! Although she got her revenge when the tickling started! So much fun to watch!

Here is the art, that survived. He is a wonderful cook, even if his art leaves a bit to be desired!!!

Day 9

Someone I Love.....

ALTER EGO

This is it......

THIS IS IT.......I want to go HERE! 

Note please.....the GREEN!!!!! 
The cool water, the breeze in the trees!

Anyone want to join me? Or at least give me directions?! 

Have a charming yet rustic cabin in the area 
(with all the modern plumbing required)?

Day 8

I have a BAD HABIT
of leaving my shoes every where!
What can I say I like
being shoe-less!

......Her Little Girl Self

My Cookie did something this week that I knew would come, but I didn't ever want to think about.
It came from out of the blue, I was blind sided. I could not cope, and I didn't deal well at all.
Lucky for Cookie and me, Jessette came to visit for the afternoon.( She played the part of the buffer.
She did, and said, and helped, in the ways I would have had I been able to be rational. Jessette gave
Cookie the support and experienced help required to make her move, and do it with confidence. She gave me the opportunity to breath, step away from the issue and let it happen in my babies time.)

Cookie packed up all her Barbies, even the collectible ones. She packed up the furniture, the clothes, the stuff, the cars. I was beside myself. She played with them far longer than my other girls did. I guess I just though it would go on forever. I had hoped anyway. I helped her move the boxes and the Barbie house to the garage. I didn't cry.
But she didn't stop there. She took down the rose garlands that where around her room. (I bought all those before she was born). She removed the framed "Bearly Dancers" picture from her wall. It was in her sisters room for years and I had had it in my room as a girl. (I think is will go in the girl bathroom now, I just cant part with it.)

We put the posters she had been collecting on the walls. And I am sure there are more changes to come. I dont think she knows just what she wants her bedroom to state yet, but she will figure it out. She made room for lots of  TEEN to explode all over it.

She is a wonderful young lady! I adore her. And I think when she is away for the weekend I will have a good long cry. Because this week I watched my baby pack away her little girl self.

Day 7

Summer Fruit!

Day 6

Miss Cheree

Day 5

Atrium, viewed from 3rd floor!

Day 4

Green Grass In My Back Yard....Big Accomplishment!

Day 3

Monsoon Storm Clouds Rolling In

Day 2

Great colors for the Holiday week end!

Day 1

I am a late starter...I will catch up!

July 30 Day Photography Challenge

Hmmmmm!

Happiness is a process, not a goal.

July 6

Today is my second grandsons half birthday! I have a photo of the day he was born! It was sent to me in a text. He was darling! (I am so proud of my oldest and her great guy, they have built their family by excluding and judging others! A great foundation to build on.)
My disappointment is overwhelming. What more can I say?

Monsoons are Coming!

I love Monsoon weather.
Its like Beautiful Violent Magic

Me

Friendship

Eight types of friendship

Apr 14th, 2010

by Paul Adams.

In their book on friendship, Liz Spencer and Ray Pahl identified 8 different types (based on their research).

Associates were people who only shared a common activity, like a hobby or a sport.
Useful contacts were people who shared information and advice, typically related to work or advancing ones career.
Favor friends were people who helped each other out in a functional manner, but not in an emotional manner.
Fun friends were people who socialized together, but only for fun. They didn’t provide each other with a deep level of emotional support.
Helpmates were a combination of favor friends and fun friends. They socialized together and helped each other out in a functional manner.
Comforters were like helpmates, but they also provided emotional support.
Confidants disclosed personal information to each other, enjoyed each other’s company, but weren’t always in a position to offer practical help, for example if they lived far away.
Soulmates displayed all of the elements.
Which types of friendships are you targeting?

http://www.thinkoutsidein.com/

Go, take that First Step!

I know that life changes. That things dont end up as we planned when we are young. Yet life goes on.
And we make choices that change our future, change everything in our lives. I have lost much, some of which I dont know that I will ever get back. But, I can say that change is not a bad thing.No matter how hard the first step, or the road ahead. I know that change is good, it gives us the opportunity to grow, to live, to learn to like, even love ourselves.
We can choose to stand still, or we can take the steps to have joy. I for one, will never look at change as a scary thing again. I have come too far, learned too much, felt new joy. I can not say that new choices, new paths, rocky roads ahead are not worth taking. I know they are. All great people took chances, took that unsure first step. They changed their lives, giving up some parts, to allow new things, to have a chance at something better.
To everyone who feels stuck, longing for more, I say "Take that first step. It is the hardest, but it will give you the strength to do great things!"

My Three Sons

This is the son I gave birth to.
He is my Pride and Joy.
I believe you give birth to some of your best friends.
His humor is amazing, his compassion is immense.
He is a giver, he takes care of everyone. He is
talented and fun to be around.
He is the perfect son. He has my heart!

This is the son I was given on good faith. 
He is a good man, with qualities every grandmother
would want for the father of her grandsons.
He makes my oldest happy.
I adore him for these things.

This is my son by choice. 
My daughter said she was okay with an arranged marriage.
When I met this young man many years ago, I knew he was it.
His humor  is brilliant, and his heart is bigger that his
love of  food. He fits into our family wonderfully, he is the perfect big brother for my younger kids, and he makes my
daughter so happy! I love this son!

These are my Three Sons. I look forward to adding another one day. I look at the boys that have been in my home; the kids friends, the young men my girls dated, and I love them all. But the ones I get to keep are so very special to me. I love them unconditionally. I respect them with out question. I applaud and celebrate their every achievement, big and small.  And no matter where life takes us, I hope they all know that they will always be my boys and I love them. These are my Three Sons.

Just like NetFlix

I know it's childish, but I bet you agree, that it
would be wonderful to pre set our dreams,
just like we do with movies through Netflix!
I for one would already have my playlist filled!
Just saying!!!

Friday Night Date on Mill Ave

Now I can check that off my Bucket List! BUT... I think I will add it to the Repeat List!! Spontaneous and Fun! I had a Really Good Time!

The man playing the electric guitar. His dreadlocks

were some of the nastiest I have ever seen.

One was about two inches in diameter and 

 reached his shoes. 

 Interesting! But he played like Hendricks.

This guy with the drum was great,
you could hear him playing up and down the street.
There are so many musicians  along Mill.
I tipped the kid playing guitar, his Latin American
style was romantic and spicy!

The Grain Silos are all that is left of the mill.
Thus the name sake for Mill Ave

The Mill Ave Bridge
This is the old bridge, you can see the new one beyond.
A lovely piece of AZs architectural history.
A personal favorite of mine!
I remember as a kid, before they put in the
Tempe Town Lake,
driving over the 100 year floods that would rage there
in the Salt River bed, was supper scary to me.
Now its just lovely!

This shop is named "Happy  Healthy High Horny"
Need I add any other comment?

Loved this spot!
I would love to do my cute "Cookiez" room to match this cute sign!
How yummy is that!


There is a section on Mill that looks like an ally way.
But it is full of little shops stacked haphazardly on top of each other.
There are fountains and a small waterfall.

There is a one chair barber shop, it has a window front.
And its no bigger than my walk in closet!
Its delightful.

When I was a teenager, there was a
second hand book store up on the top level.
You had to climb steep stairs to get to it.
It's no longer there. I think the stairs
may have been against the fire code!
I remember it being enchanting!

Time to head home!
I had been up since 3am so by 10 pm I was
ready to start wrapping up our date.

The weather was great for  July 1st,
the company was impeccable!

Dinner was fun, but way messy.
(hope that spot comes out of my new top)

And who knew Rolo's and Oreo's are so
so so yummy in frozen yogurt!!!

I had a great time!
Thanks PJJ