Keep Dreaming, Baby!

When it rains, it pours. Right now it seems to be "raining" good things and I hope it stays that way. I interviewed for a job yesterday and I think I may get it. It would be a part time, weekend job, but it would be a great one. A fun one. Another job opportunity came my way today and I will hopefully be interviewing for it this week. At one time the idea of holding two jobs at once sounded frightening. Something that would be more than I could handle, but instead it just sounds so very exciting.

I could have the more light, fun job on the weekend evenings and the more serious job where I would be doing some good, helping people, making their lives better in such a small but significant way during the week. I welcome the challenge. The opportunity to better myself and my knowledge. I'm going to do whatever I need to to make sure I take both opportunities with courage and open arms.

I am so thankful. I want to pay off bills, and begin saving for a "rainy" day. To be able to say, "I like that, and I can actually afford it without worry." Oh how lovely that would be.

There are so many things I want to do. I want to go back to school too! Be able to afford classes and have the ability to secure them. It's been such a challenge trying to get classes at the community college level. Everyone is scrambling to better themselves and their knowledge like myself. I want to get my associates degree and then move on to my bachelors. Get a degree in science. Environmental Science.
Be able to design green homes and/or landscapes. Maybe even minor in creative writing while I'm at it. The sky is the limit!

I want my own garden, to remodel and do as much DIY decorating in my yard and my home. Things can't be perfect, but I could have something close to it. Something that I am proud to say I did, all by myself. Even if not all by myself, there is never anything wrong with getting help when you need it, but to be able to say that I did it. I hated school when I was there, I always thought negatively of myself and I let people feed that feeling. But no more. In the end all I have is me and I have to build me. I have to look to me to achieve all the things I want to and am capable of. And I am capable of so much. All I have to do is put my mind to it ( Thanks Doc Brown ;D ), put my will, my drive and my heart and soul into it. And it all starts now.

I had the most wonderful day on Thursday. I got some cleaning done in the house and took Moon for a walk. It was so gorgeous outside. Such a warm, spring-like day. The flowers were in full bloom and it just made me feel so happy. I sneezed like crazy, but things were just too lovely for me to care. To stay inside. I decided to spend some time in the backyard. I put a blanket out on my hammock and some pillows and lay back and enjoyed the sun, a glass of delicious riesling and the latest book I'm reading.
It was a relaxing and wonderful way to spend a lazy afternoon. I need to do so more often.

On Thursday night, while on a run to Walgreens I saw some small pots of Hyacinth and bought a pretty little purple one. I have it sitting on on the table next to my ivy topiary and I'm waiting anxiously for it to come to a full bloom. I want more greenery, more flowers in my life.

I adore fragrant Stargazer Lilies. They had bags of bulbs all ready for planting at Costco and I bought a bag. I found these cute multi-colored planters at Walmart for about a buck and I bought one. I plan to sit out on the deck tomorrow and plant a few bulbs in it, get some ready to bloom in summer. I can't wait to see some green start peeking through the dirt and know that I have some lilies coming. Instead of buying expensive bouquets at the market, I can grow my own to cut and have in vases in the house. Have their beauty and delicious scent on display.

It's the little things that make life grand and I plan to find and bring all the small and simple things to myself so that I can find something around and within me every day to remind me that though things might look bad at one moment in time, there is something to always be thankful for, to strive for. And I will pick myself up, dust off and keep going. For my readers, I hope you will do the same for yourself.

xoxo,
    Gina

Mom's Day 2011

Mother's Day was a lovely day filled with family, good food and a lil Mother/Daughter shopping.

My Grama Mc requested that I join them at my former church Sunday morning and I went, very much looking forward to it being over and thinking how much I love my church. Even though I didn't enjoy it, that's ok. It wasn't my day, it was hers and Mom's and I'll do anything she requests.

After church we drove to a local Cheesecake Factory and while waiting for lunch to come, we commenced with card and gift giving.

Card to Grama from Mom and Dad

Mom reading her card from Me

Grama and her beautiful laugh

Me helping Grama open her gift from Mom & Dad

Checking out the lovely Blouse she received

Smile!

A slice of scrumptious Banana Cream Cheesecake

Mom and her MEGA plate of ice cream and Godiva brownies

My mother was promised a special gift from me (I've already told her what's coming and she's very excited to get it!), coming soon and I gave my Grandmother the box of soft center See's Candies and a mini box of truffles that she requested.

After lunch Mom came home with me, while Dad and my Sister took Grama home. Many hugs, kisses and "I Love You's" later Mom and I were off to look at gardening stuff. The place I had planned to take her to see some beautiful, reasonably priced pot's was unfortunately closed. We ended up at the local mall and when we stopped in G by Guess I fell head over heels for this gorgeous bag and clutch...

The clutch

The bag view 1

The bag view 2

Bag & Clutch interior lining

The classic, feminine look and lines of this bag and most especially the colors had me oohing and ahhing all over the place (I don't think the photos do it justice). Before I could stop her, my Mom grabbed them up and said, "It's your Birthday next week and I want you to have them." I followed her up to the sales counter, my hand over my mouth trying to get over the shock then protested that it was her day and that I should be buying something for her! She wouldn't hear it though and I am now the proud owner of these two gorgeous little bags.

My Mom never ceases to amaze me with how sweet and giving she is and I only wish I could take her out on a lavish shopping spree and talk her into a relaxing mani/pedi (she's not all that into them). (but) She deserves it so much! Someday I will be able to do it and I can't wait to pamper her. She's the hardest working woman I know. 

I felt extra guilty because besides that, my parents gifted me the money to begin my small business and I am so thankful to them for helping me get started. I hope I am successful and will be able to return the favor many times over. 

As for my small business, this Friday I will be shadowing and assisting my mentor/rep at a party, Saturday will be a fun, all day training and learning session, and Monday I will get to meet all the local reps at the monthly meeting they have at one of my favorite restaurants. I am so ready to jump in, meet and make new friends, and learn as much as I can, so I can be good in my business.

For the rest of this week I'll be working on researching and writing my term paper for PoliSci class and hopefully next week I'll be off to AZ to celebrate my birthday with my 'Sista from another Mister' and the rest of my wonderful extended family.

Oops... I almost forgot. The Hubbs said I could go get a mani/pedi this weekend (haven't had one in MONTHS) and to go along with one of the themes of the new business I'm starting, I got my nails done in the signature color. 

Hope you had a Happy Mother's Day with your Mom's and Grandma's and if you did anything super special, I'd love to hear about it!

Another day, another step forward

I've finally started in on the story I plan to write and I'm taking it slowly. I don't want to push myself into writing when the inspiration isn't there, but as soon as another line enters my head I'm back into my little journal book writing away. I have big dreams for this book, but we shall see how it goes.

Today has been a quiet day. Took G to his physical therapy appt, went to the post office and stopped by a cute little bakery in Claremont to pick up a scrumptious dark chocolate and peppermint buttercream cupcake for G and I to share and made a long awaited for stop into Trader Joes and picked up some groceries. We had a wonderful cajun salmon for dinner and I had a glass of Trader Joes riesling. It's very good, and I definitely recommend picking up a bottle and trying it.

Tomorrow night is English class and I found out that I got a B on my first PoliSci exam, so I'm very happy with the way school is going and hope to continue doing well. I hated high school and didn't try at all, and I'm proud of myself that I went back and got my Diploma and am now back in school and working hard to get through my general-ed so I can apply to the Rad-Tech program.

Once I get through all that and have a job, we can move down into the main house and I am so excited about that. Fixing it up, starting a family. So much exciting stuff in my future, but I must remember to be present and satisfied with the here and now. Every day is a gift and I must treat it as such.

Rain, rain go away...

I know very well that CA needs all the rain it can get, but I've had enough of the rainy chill. I'm aching for summer to get here! And it will be wonderful as we have our pool and our eco-friendly Coolerado air conditioning system.

I'm going to do my best to post on here more often. I just get so bogged down with school, the job search, keeping the apartment clean and well... life in general.

I have a job app to fill out and take in at the mall and while visiting a cute little stationary shop in Downtown Claremont I filled out a job application there. I NEED A JOB! Me and a few million other people... but let's not go there. lol

As far as I can tell I'm keeping my grades up pretty well at school, but I am a tad frustrated as I feel like I can't focus on the "book" that I'm hoping to write, what with all the english essay stuff I have to keep up on. I need to learn to be better focused. The story I plan to write is beating around constantly in my brain and I bought a cute little journal book to write in... I just need to put pen to paper. And keep on top of my homework.

Originally this blog was to be about our decorating of our apartment and then the eventual transition into the main house and the decorating projects of that. But money is tight, and there's not much decorating one can do on a near non-existent budget. So I think this will just be a blog where I talk about everyday things, inspirational things, music I like, books that catch my fancy and eventually when money is not so hard to come by we can talk DECORATING!

Well, I'm off to more, never ending house cleaning. It's amazing how two people can constantly keep a small apartment messy, but we need to get our organizing and a daily cleaning and upkeep plan in place.
Have a wonderful, happy weekend!

Gin

Lazy Daisy

I would show you a picture of my new dining room table, but it's covered in boxes right now.

We've decided to ditch crappy AT&T as our service went to hell and one night I had 7 dropped calls in less than 20 minutes. I almost threw my iPhone at the wall.

Luckily I was done with my contract and got a Spint EVO 4G, which is exactly what I've been wanting and so far I'm REALLY happy. G's phone is basically a piece off poo too, so we decided it's time to get a home phone. We ending up getting the Ooma Telo VoIP with a handset and finally got it up and running today. G's gonne drop AT&T tomorrow. I'm sure that conversation will be as much fun as it was ditching Time Warner for our internet the other day. And as to internet, we're now using Clear 4G network and that's working out well too.

But back to the table, I found a gorgeous round clawfoot table for $100 on craigslist and snatched it right up. It has an aged, antique look and totally fits into our decor and pretty much completes the dining room. All I'm waiting for now is being able to afford a buffet type table to put under the window.

Back in school now and I really wanted to get 3 to 4 classes, but was only able to get two. But I have plenty of homework from those two, but in the summer I hope to get more classes. I want to get through my gen-ed as quick as I can so I can apply to the Rad-Tech program. Might have to apply at another local community college so I can hopefully pick up more classes there so it doesn't take 4 years to get my AA.

Other than that, not much is going on. I got laid off from Macy's, so I'm gonna start looking for a new job. I'd love to work at B&N. I'm a bookworm, so the discounts on books would be really nice!

It is VERY windy here tonight, and was eerily quiet out when I stepped out earlier. They say the strongest winds will be tomorrow morning through the afternoon. Good thing I'll be holed in doing homework.