Beautiful Simplicity

Beautiful Simplicity...Let us all remember what is important and embrace the true meaning of CHRISTmas.. http://www.lds.org/topic/christmas/christmas-ideas.html

Coupons

I have been hearing all about how people are using coupons and only paying $4.00 on a cart full of groceries and I have decided I really want to do that too. I have always been a bargain, clearance kind a girl, but have only used coupons on occasion. So, the last two weekends I made sure to get the Sunday paper, clipped all the coupons I thought I could use, plus some. Went to the store all excited. and only saved $5.00 dollars. Bummer...I thought I would save more. The next week -same hope, saved $10.00 dollars. Getting better but still wondering how the heck people do it. Clipping coupons is time consuming and a lot of work sorting them at the grocery store. My goal is to be better organized ....Look at sale adds and figure how to use the double coupons . Maybe I am a little slow, but this is harder that I thought it would be. Anybody have tips...I would love to hear them.

Look what I won!!

I am so excited. Shhhh. These will make great stocking stuffers for the girls. Check out http://www.dillonrogers.com/.

Thanks to
for this wonderful giveaway...That I won...Me...Can you believe it...Yippee...Doing the happy dance...ohhh yeah....

Wish list

Found this on one of the blogs I follow. http://www.aroomsomewhere.net/ so cute. I love that it is on glass on not on one of the white boards.

In Loving Memory

Rebecca Romero BARELARebecca Romero Barela, 100, died Thursday, October 20, 2009 in Centralia, MO. She was a native of Le- doux, NM. Born Septem- ber, 21, 1909 to Marcelino and Guadalupe (Garcia) Romero, she spent most of her adult life in Cherry Creek, Ely, Winnemucca, Reno, and Las Vegas, NV. She was married to Joe Margarito Barela on December 29, 1937. He preceded her in death in 1996. Prior to marriage, she was a school teacher in Mora and Vadito, NM. While living in Reno, she was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Stead. She was a devout Catholic, and her life was centered around her faith in God and her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, five sisters, and one granddaughter, Emily Barela. Surviving are her four children; Celina Lea of Las Vegas, NV, Helen Hanson and husband, Lee of St. George, UT, Louis Barela and his wife Emilia of Los Angeles, CA, and Roger Barela and his wife Judy of Centralia, MO; 12 grandchildren; 20 great- grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She is also survived by her brother- in-law, George Barela of Ely, NV and several nieces and nephews. Visitation is scheduled from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 25th at O'Brien, Rogers and Crosby Funeral Home, 600 W. 2nd Street, Reno, with Recitation of the Rosary at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 26th at Our Mother of Sorrows Most Holy Redeemer Chapel, with burial to follow at the cemetery.

Memories of my Grandma are mostly from when I was little. We would visit them on their ranch. I would play play endlessly gathering up the kittens and making them endure being stuffed into a coffee can as I carted them all over and loved them to pieces.. I was highly allergic and every time we we were there I would be have the worst asthma attacks. Barely breathing kind of sick. I loved being there though. All my cousins were all 6 year and older or 6 years and more younger. I tended to play by myself on the farm absorbed myself in books. I remember the mean rooster that we were terrified by. My grandpa would have us carry a stick. My grandma was 61 years old when I was born. She grew most of their food. They would have fresh eggs, milk and meat raised from the farm. I remember having little tiny hairs on my bacon and to this day. My bacon must come from a package. She was one of the most hard working women I have every knew. She was a devout Catholic. I imagine it greatly hurt her when my dad joined the LDS Church. When we were younger we spent every holiday with the Barela Side of the family...We would have a long long table so we could all be together. I kind of miss those days. We have not been together like that since we were little. Her funeral is what brought us all back together. It was fun being together with my own kind. All of her kids, most grand kids and great kids were gathered together in loving memory of my Grandma. She was tiny but her love tied all the kids together. I keep thinking of her now with Grandpa, Emily and her parents and how happy she is to see them and it put a smile on my face. Until we see you again Grandma. I love you.

What Kind of Dreams Have you had lately?

Sorry, this post is not fun, but I'm a little freaked out and cannot shake the feeling---So I thought I would blog about it....

I had a dream last night and it really scared me. It started out that we were at one of the girls Soccer games. I turned around and saw a plane coming straight for us. I screamed and saw the plane pull up and then crash in a field away from all the kids and spectators. We all watched in slow motion the plane crash and disappear into the ground. I felt so frantic and scared as I searched for my family. There was so much commotion. We didn't know if we should run or try and rescue people. We all knew, and were so thankful that the pilot did his best to save the people on the ground, Then we ended up at church and it was all weird and random....I was walking in the halls and was really shook up. I could not figure out why everyone was acting normal even though there was such a horrible accident that had just happened. ...

This dream was just awful. I came to work and still felt anxious about my dream. I looked up on the Internet and found definitions to your dreams. Here is the what I found in the dream dictionary.

Airplane Crash--- To dream that a plane crashes, suggests that you have set overly high and unrealistic goals for yourself. Your goals may be too high and are impossible to realize. You are in danger of having it come crashing down. Alternatively, your lack of confidence, self-defeating attitude and self-doubt toward the goals you have set for yourself is represented by the crashing airplane; you do not believe in your ability to attain those goals. Loss of power and uncertainty in achieving your goals are also signified.

Hmmm ---pretty interesting... and even more interesting to me. This week I had my family over for Family Home Evening and the lesson that I gave is directly the meaning of this definition. You can read the full talk here.... http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=ba8e52605a4e3210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

By Jennifer Nuckols, “Truths and Lies,” Ensign, Oct 2009, 62–65

Satan regularly lies to us about the nature of God and of ourselves. But we don’t have to listen.
Some of the greatest battles in my life haven’t been literal battles but struggles in my own heart and mind against feelings of self-doubt, hopelessness, and fear. President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught that this would be the case in the latter days: “Satan is increasingly striving to overcome the Saints with despair, discouragement, despondency, and depression.”1
One way that Satan attempts to overcome us with such feelings is by telling us lies about our worth and about God’s feelings toward us. These lies may originate as simple thoughts that, repeated many times in our minds, can develop into entrenched habits of belief. These falsehoods are then reinforced by the media, things other people say, or even by misinterpretation of the scriptures. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, has warned that “Satan might even misuse words from the scriptures that emphasize the justice of God, in order to imply that there is no mercy.”2 Whatever their source, Satan’s lies can take root in our minds and develop into feelings of depression, low self-worth, and inadequacy.

WOW.....this is one of my daily struggles mainly Self Doubt....I really needed to hear this message and although I was giving the lesson to help someone else. This dream made me realize that the lesson was really for ME to learn and what I need to overcome. I realize that this is really a powerful tool Satan has. He uses it not only for you to bring down yourself but pull away from the things that are most important.

I know this is really weird post, but apparently a message I need to learn.

FLU FLU GO AWAY and never come back another day!!!

We have a house full a sickies....no one come near. Yuck.....They all have the flu....not me yet, but I am exausted.

Bad Blogger

I have been a bad bad blogger. I hope to start again with fun new ideas for cooking, crafts and updates on my children as they are growing up way to fast. Stay tuned.

Ashlynn

ELEVEN! Can you Believe it!!!


When you were born, you came bursting into the world with your lips all puckered and your eyes wide open. I can remember seeing you for the first time and remember the joy I felt in holding all of your sweetness in my arms. You had an opinion from the day you were born. I remember when you were two and you decided you would only wear dresses everyday, and they could not be blue. "Cause boys only wear blue." You are a strong girl, with a very sensitive heart. I hope as you grow up you will use that for spreading good. Everyday I am so grateful to have you in my life, as you make those around you want to be better. You make lists, and are organized and you strive to accomplish every goal you set for yourself. You take everything in stride, and with enthusiasm. Your desire to do well, in school and all you do has lead you to succeed. I am so proud of you. I love that you want to finish your homework right way, and I never have to nudge you. Thank you so much for that. I hope you continue that through the rest of your school career as that will help you when making college choices.


I can picture every stage of your life, first steps, first words etc. When I close my eyes I can picture you with your blonds curls and chubby checks Saying you want "slawberries." It is so fun to watch you grow up. as you know what you like to do, even from the the time you were little you loved watching cooking shows and now you are becoming quite the baker and cook. You are good at it and we are especially loving it too! Yumm. You love to ride your bike, skateboard, Rollerblade and are getting quite good on your rip stick. You love to play soccer, swimming and hiking. You are so fun, and have learned that things only come easy when you practice. You have not given up when you could not do something you have stuck with it. Keep it up and I know you will do well in anything thing you try.

You were born to be a leader and people-impacter. I know at times we all stumble and yes, those time will come in abundance in life, just as you have in the past when things are hard just pull yourself up brush it off and start all over again. I know you like to do it your way, but what always will help you is if you turn to the Lord for his guidance in all things. You will never go wrong when you depend on what is true and right. I am so pleased with the girl you are becoming, struggles and all. I hope you know that no matter what frustrations come up, I LOVE YOU. Please know that my greatest desire is for you to be happy. I love being your mom, and look forward to all of life's moments with you.

WARNING this post could be addicting.

I have always been a huge fan of esty. Then my friend told me about http://foodgawker.com/ I was totally hooked. I loved looking at the pictures. I have been inspired to try new recipes etc. Love it. Then being a on again off again crafter I found a NEW website for crafters. Oh boy!! http://craftgawker.com/ Here is just one of the cute finds.

Handmade Crochet on Etsy - CUTIE PATOOTIE Crochet Flowered Diaper Cover Photo Prop by kathyneilsen

Bake Sale

The girls school had a Bake Sale to raise money for the Sixth Grade end of the year Graduation Celebration. We decided to make these adorable delectable delights. Cake Ball Pops! We made three different flavors. Lemon cream cheese dipped in white chocolate, Red velvet cream cheese dipped in white chocolate, and chocolate dipped in what else--chocolate. Every ones favorite was the red velvet.

They are surprisingly easy to make. They do take some time to make as the chilling process is necessary.

The girls loved rolling them. It is a gooey fun mess.

Check out the recipe here. The Pioneer Woman Cooks - Ree Drummond

Hairy Lollipop

Cooper had his first haircut at 8 months. He did not enjoy it very much as you can tell by the picture below. We were trying every trick in the book to have him stay still. Thank goodness my friend Sinamon is the best at what she does.

When he started to fuss, Sinamon gave him a sucker which OH BOY....He was so into that. The problem with a sucker and a 8 month old is that he was sticky from head to toe and so was I.

See the content baby....Yeah!!

Calm, happy and sucking on a hairy lollipop that we had to rinse about 10 times.

Ta Daa!! Cute baby boy with a very cute first haircut. This makes me ponder--- Where did my tiny baby go? He is growing up way to fast. At his 9 month check up he weighed 22. 6 lbs!! He is in the 80% for height and weight. He is full of life, and on the go. He plows through everything letting nothing get in his way. He loves to explore each room with wonder. He can empty out drawers in no time flat, and smiles as if he is getting away with something. He loves to dance and clap his hands. He can say ma ma, da da and ganga....He loves to hear his voice. He knows how to get our attention by raising his voice really loudly! His favorite game is peek- a- boo! He would play it forever if I could. He loves it when we take the piggies to the market. I like that he holds his foot out for me to do it more. He can crawl really fast and is now walking while pushing some of his toys. He beams with excitement and this new milestone. His smile lights up my world. I love that he wants you to chase him, and when you do he thinks it is the best. His favorite food is bananas. He is dying to go outside and explore.. Every time we open the door he is trying to make his escape. He is a water baby. He loves taking baths. He loves to stand up and fall down to make a big splash. I love giving him a bath, because soon it is bedtime. He is full of energy, but when he is tired he wants his momma to snuggle him. He is our little baby boy.