I am not really a brand type person. I’ve never cared about brands on clothes. If it fits, and it’s comfortable that’s what I’m buying. Which actually works the best for me because most brands are designed for smaller women. Like 5ft 3” to 5ft 6”. Add 5” and you’ve got me. So their dresses are shirts. Their pants are capris. Their shorts are…scandalous.
So instead I’ve always loved handmie downs. I love them! Free clothes! It’s gotten to the point though that I have to give handmie downs to my sister and not vice versa.
But I love shopping at thrift stores, Ross, Burlington coat factory. Any store where you have to dig for your pieces. Because then you really are picking them hints you like initially off the rack. Then you try it on, and decide again, “is this me?”
I used to take ten things into the dressing room and buy all ten things. Spending about $300 without blinking. My mom told me I had to stop. There was only so many clothes I could wear in a lifetime. $100 limit. So then before marriage I would take ten things in and maybe only buy 3-4 depending on prices. I actually was that person that did the calculations before buying, including tax. Making sure I didn’t go over the limit. Which is why I loved thrift stores. I could get ten things and still be under budget.
And now with kids I think differently. Also the thrift store I go to is a pay what you can. At least $1 an item. Which is awesome!! Because there was a while there that we had no extra money. And I was able to still get nice things for about $5 every few months.
I guess the only brand store I’ve gone into and spent the shiny penny recently was called Lilyful. The name was so pretty and their clothes were pretty too. But I still only shopped in the clearance section. Because I got a beautiful dress for $50. Originally $150…!
But I’ve gone back a few times. But always I go straight to the clearance. But now they are only online. Which I won’t be doing, because that means less clearance items and no trying on. And I have to try things on. Since I’m not a normal size ever.
But I do know other brands. Like Merell shoes. My husband likes them. Milwaukee tools. Again my husband loves. And Ram. My husband loves his truck. Haha!
Cooking food for my family. Hearing my husband praise my food. Or even better, my kiddos yelling, “this is the best food ever, mama!”
Trying to be patient. I struggle with this one. But when I do succeed I usually get huge smiles from my kids.
The end of the day hugs. Usually at the end of a day I feel defeated. Like there were times I could have had mor patience. Or could have made better food. Or given my husband more attention. But usually at the end of those days I get my kids coming up to me saying, “you are the best mama ever! I love you,” and finishing with hugs and kisses.
Fitting into my skinny pants. When I’m good and stay within my healthy food intake I can fit into those clothes that should be packed away, but I keep them out to motivate myself. And as soon S I get to that point I….will be pregnant again. Haha!
Sometimes I just need a hug. When I’m feeling discouraged or useless, I need a hug from my hubby. His hugs gives me so much more energy, that I feel motivated to finish out the awful day.
Writing a post. Posting something on my blog makes me think that I’m having a more accomplished day than I might actually be having. But publishing something can motivate me to be extra productive. Which I have made breakfast, started bread, cooked food for my husband’s upcoming trip, started a load of wash, and have my kids ready for the day. Now I’m posting something. Pretty full first half of the day.
Swimming. Anytime I swim I feel rejuvenated and ready for life. I miss swimming. I really want to be in a pool.
Motivation can come from anything. Things said, things you do, things are done, memories, etc. It’s not going to be a generic motivation moment, you might have to look through your life and find unconventional types of motivation. They are out there!
God! Knowing He is always with me, gives me peace of mind!
My family. This includes everyone. My husband, my kids, my mom, husband’s family, my siblings, grandparents, etc.
My job. Even though I complain about being a mom sometimes, it is still the best job in the world. Just a lot of work.
Chocolate. Yes. Straight to chocolate! But that’s what I’m wanting right now.
Socks. Especially my Winnie the Pooh socks. My kids got them for me two Christmas’ ago.
Organization! Not my own stuff. Other people’s stuff only. Like when my husband makes a mess in his shop, and I get to clean it up and put things away, that makes me happy.
Art!! I forgot art. Art should have been before chocolate, but it can be here. All kinds of art. Painting, drawing, markers, pastels, paper machete, sculpting, etc.
Playing with my babies. I asked my kids what makes me happy, and they insisted I needed this on the list. And it’s true. But it was funny that they insisted this made me happy. Not them happy. Haha!
My car. My husband replaced my car that we had to sell. He got me a seven seat car!! It’s so awesome. I can separate my older kids. I can fit all my stuff.
Cooking. Cooking does make me happy. I love cooking. The cleaning up after cooking…not so much. Haha
Dried mango. Mango is so delicious. And for a while it was awesome because my husband doesn’t like mango. However, my son loves mango, and now my daughter likes mango. But my kiddos only like the sweet pieces. So I’m stuck with the sour ones.
Being married to my husband. This one should have been first. But… my hubby!! He is the best person that ever came into my life.
Chocolate Pudding. I know that should count towards chocolate. But my homemade pudding is in a category all by itself.
Watching movies. I know this is kind of generic. But I do enjoy watching movies. But the same movies over and over again. Like I just watched the new Godzilla movie. I like that movie.
Yard work. I love being in dirt. Mud. Mud is fun!! But planting a garden. Keeping up on flowers. I’m excited to being in my mom’s yard.
Skorts. I like shorts. And I like skirts. But something about wearing a skirt, and knowing your underwear’s won’t show is a nice feeling.
My new black shoes. My husband bought me a nice pair of shoes and I wear them everyday. I used to be someone that like to wear a different pair of shoes, but now I wear my black shoes with shorts, pants, skirts, and even dresses.
Swimming. This should be an earlier number too. But swimming is what makes my body relax and feel energized. Or at least that’s what I remember.
Dancing. I like to dance. But I also like to watch dancing. Any style that is done tasteful. Which doesn’t surprise me that my daughter also loves dancing.
Seeing my husband with his son. To me seeing a man with his son is one of the cutest things. My husband with his daughters is super cute too. I guess seeing Father’s with their kids.
Cardboard boxes. I guess I’m still a kid at heart. But when we get a large cardboard box, I instantly want to make a little house. With a door and windows.
Reading my short stories. I actually read through my short stories often. When I want to read something. That I know has nothing inappropriate. Just feel good stories, that what I reread.
Finishing. Seems like an easy thing to do but for me it is sometimes impossible. Like even writing this post. I’ve had to stop four times. Finishing a painting. Finishing a short story. I never seem to finish my long stories…but I will someday.
Creative writing. I’m assuming you know this. But I really do love writing. And I do really get my ideas from dreams. Or when I daydream.
Ross: Dress for less. I really do like that store. I haven’t been for a long time, but I remember liking finding gems in the chaos. But I also like thrift stores. The thrift store in our town is every item is $1. I’ve gotten great things over the years that I would have never been able to buy originally.
Wandering. I like wandering in stores. We don’t have to buy anything; but I like looking at things with no crunch for time. This was my husband’s and I’s normal date, while first dating. We would walk around Home Depot and Lowe’s. Costco, Bass Pro, etc.
BBQ ribs. Another food that should have been listed farther up. But yes, I love bbq ribs. My husband’s recipe. If my hubby didn’t stop me I could eat all of them! And I don’t use a napping until I’m done, my bbq stained face is my medal.
Baby animals. Almost all baby animals make me smile. Tiger cubs, kittens, and baby hippos. Those are just my kids favorite animals, so I see those pictures often. But puppies too.
Doing my daughter’s hair. When she allows me to braid, put up, style, her hair; it makes me happy. When she became the age to want to do her hair I was huge pregnant with my newest daughter; so I was exhausted. So sadly she taught herself. And now she wants to do it by herself, even when I have time. But I’m happy when I get to.
Rain. I’ve come to realize that I’m not a huge fan of snow. Living in the North has shown me I don’t like being wet and cold. But rain is the exception. I like to run around and play in the rain with my kids. Or find worms the next day. Rain is fun.
This was actually really hard to fill in. But I like these types of prompts. It makes you think about what truly matters.
On the funny side…
My son said, going potty. Haha! It was a good laugh!!
Leaving in two days. So I had a chance to write this post, but I won’t for a while. Unless is one of my many drafted short stories. Those are easy for me to write.
“Sailing In The Clouds” Photography By: emily2jane 08-04-25
It really looks like a sailboat is sailing on the cloud waves. Also looks like a moon…
What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?
Since I make everything myself now I’m going to list some for my past.
I can remember when I was fifteen. My older sister made me a pb&j sandwich. It was so delicious. She got the peanut butter, jam ratio right. She picked out all the chunks of strawberries from the jam. Maybe it was extra delicious since it was made for me. But the sandwich is still in my memory.
Next I think would be when my mama got me my own tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream. We went down for a visit; and at the time, ice cream was a luxury. So she got me my own. I ate that whole thing in one sitting. Haha! Probably not the smartest thing to do, but my husband wasn’t there to be my voice of reason. But it was so delicious!
Jim’s fries. I think Jim’s fries will always be drilled into my brain. I remember that Jim’s fries used to be a dinner. Mom and I would order a large Jim’s fries and we would eat them until we were full! When I make fries now I try and get them close to Jim’s fries. So good.
Ramen noodles. I made them for myself one day. But my brothers came home, one after the other. And I made three ramen packets that day. I know at the time it was super delicious, but it probably was extra yummy since I got to make my brothers some food too.
Another would have to be when my mom made fresh bread for the first time. We were at the Duarte house. Fresh bread is always delicious, but it was probably extra delicious since I made it with my mom.
My sister’s chocolate cake. My sister is a master at chocolate cake. I’m bummed I can’t eat it anymore, because of the sugar) but they were perfection.
So many things you can remember loving throughout your life. But for me it was the people I was with that made it extra special.
Love the people in your life. Cook a meal, or share a meal with your loved ones. Have a great Friday!! ❤️
Apples. I love apples. I always have. You know the scene from Harry Potter and the Sorceres’ Stone…where it’s the grand feast; I called out apples the first time I watched it. Haha!
Cantaloupe. I love cantaloupe as well! I love it dipped in vanilla moose. So delicious. But my daughter is allergic to it, so the only time I get to indulge in cantaloupe is when I’m visiting my mama.
Peaches! Fresh! In the summer, they just melt in your mouth. You can make peach sherbet….now I want peaches!!
Strawberries. Straight off the vine, is best. But I love strawberries. Fresh from a farm in late May is the best! Strawberry jam is also divine, but no chunks! My son usually steals my strawberries.
I think my 5th would be blackberries. Off the vine as well. Blackberry jam, blackberry ice cream, in yogurt, just plain. So yummy!! But do you ever get to make these things with fresh blackberries? No. Instead they end up in my tummy.
So I am the youngest of three daughters. So hammy downs. Lots and lots of hammy downs!
But since I’m traveling, I’m wearing exercise pants that are 15 years old, always mine. Socks that are 5 years old. A shirt that is only 3 1/2 years old. But also a long tan colored sweater thing. I don’t really know what to call it. It’s one of those sweaters that you wear with a dress so that your spaghetti straps don’t show in church. But this one is long. Long enough that it covers my butt. Which I planned for, because of my exercise pants. (I don’t like to wear form-fitting exercise pants in public.) But sweater thing saves the day.
But this sweater was my oldest sister’s. And she gave it to me maybe 6 years ago. She was cleaning her closet. But she had it since junior high. So 27 years ago. Wow! But that is awesome!! If it survives I’ll pass it down to my daughter. It will live on! But these exercise pants are a bit snug… three babies later, I’m not as small as I used to be at 15. But I’m traveling; I didn’t want seams.
But my niece would approve of my socks, they are Winnie the Poo characters.
Have a blessed weekend 💕
My outfit
Forgive me. I’m drawing on my phone, with my finger, in a truck, on a bumpy road. Haha 😂
It’s been a while since I got to go see something live. Babies make that impossible.
The last movie I saw in theaters was ‘The Force Awakens’ 2015
The last musical theater performance I saw was Mary Poppins. It was fabulous! That was the last time my grandma had the energy to take me to a musical. 2009
The last concert I went to was ‘The Supertones’ final concert. It was so loud. I also got someone dropped on my head. Crowd surfing at a Christian concert!! 2005
The last small theater performance I saw was ‘Into The Woods’. My sister was the granny. Not really my cup of tea. But it was fun to see my sister do what she loves. 2008
I went and saw my brother preform in his choir. It was epic. I can still remember a few of the songs. He doesn’t sing anymore. Instead he sings the most on key when we sing Happy Birthday. 2005
We went and saw a monster truck and dirt bike rally. My son loved it! 2023
I would love to see a dance competition live. I love most styles of dance. I would have loved to have seen the 2004 Olympics.
I’m still open to seeing new things. But they have to be family friendly now. I don’t go anywhere without my precious cargo.
Have a fun Thursday. For me there are dishes…more dishes…and more dishes!! Haha 😂
Several of the camping trips were great times. And some not so great. But every time gave you memories. Either memories you want to remake with your own family, or memories that you have as lessons not to do with your kids.
A couple of the camping trips, I remember with my mom and siblings, was going to the giant sequoias. That was a great trip. I don’t remember the trees being giant, but they were big enough that we didn’t attempt to climb them. Or at least I didn’t. I was my brother’s spotters. I walked across a fallen one. I remember because I was wearing my vest hoodie shirt with shorts and knee length neon orange and brown socks. I was probably thirteen, fourteen at the time. (I still have those socks!)
We went camping in Lake Arrowhead. I don’t really remember the camping part. But we spent one afternoon in the little town. I remember my younger brother and myself walking around. We stopped into a gallery. And I bought 2 postcards. One was an owl with its head tilted and looked wired. The other was a big chubby bear just sitting looking so relaxed. Just chillin. Which I don’t know why but these two cards made me think of my mama. She was either wired on coffee or she was so relaxed and comfortable like the bear. I gave them both to her as a present that year. I was sixteen-ish.
Another time we went somewhere with fishing. I can’t remember where. But I have a picture of my younger brother standing in front of the stream. He’s got his natural platinum blond hair, black skinny jeans, and a black T -shirt, with a coke in his hand. My nephew is behind him fishing with his Spider-Man fishing pole. That trip was so long ago. Because that nephew is now going to college in September. I feel so old. So that trip I think my nephew was three maybe. So…14 years ago…I was eighteen. I thought I was younger that trip.
But the bad camping trip was when I was eight I think. It was one of the last times our dad was allowed to take us camping unsupervised.
Almost every summer we would go to Jalama beach. Which I loved the beach. I still do. But I’ve been spoiled with Hawaii’s beaches from our honeymoon. But back to the trip. We would go every summer. So that trip my dad decided we would go on the hike to a lighthouse. It was on the end of the beach on a cliff. So far away! W started out for our trip at nine in the morning. Me and all my siblings. Me at eight. My younger brother at five. Older brother twelve. One sister sixteen. The oldest sister seventeen. And my dad.
The trip out was interesting to say the least. We saw so many things we’ve never seen before. We saw the large crabs inside the rocks. One was about the size of my younger brother. We saw many abalone shells. We kept several. (In hindsight not smart to make your bag heavy at the beginning of your trip.) We walked on beaches that we had never ventured on. We saw so many creatures in shallow pools of water. I loved the sea anemones! We walked by tall sand dunes. My older brother ran up the hill and slid down. He regretted instantly for all the sand was everywhere. Haha!
But we walked for hours until we made it to the lighthouse. Turned out to be any army base. And the security asked us to leave or we would be charged for trespassing. That didn’t stop my dad he made us take his picture before climbing back down the cliff.
Next came the hike back. We did eat our lunch finally before we started again. It was only around 4pm…I was starving.
This hike made me realize at the young age, don’t go too far because you still have to hike back. So the once amazing first hike, was now treacherous. Because the tide came in. So the beaches we first walked across was now submerged in deep dark water. Remember I’m eight. My brother is five. It was terrifying! One wrong step and you would be gone. And we were all in sandals.
Remember those dunes. Yeah those became the “stinging sands of doom.” The back of our legs were on fire with sand stinging your legs. The rocks with crabs were now submerged underwater. So not only was the water over six feet deep it was full of large crabs. At one point a wild hog ran across our path and my first thought was dinner. But then I thought I could ride it. No such luck on either.
By the time we got back my feet were all torn up. I had blisters, scratches, cuts, bruises. My legs could barely hold me. My arms were still attached even though I could not feel them. I was so exhausted. But that wasn’t the worst part. Our neighboring campsites had called search and rescue. And they were about to depart in search of us as we walked up. They had been worried since we looked like we were going on a hike, had little kids, and had been gone for almost twelve hours. Yeah. We got back around 9pm. If we hadn’t walked up at that moment, my dad probably would have been arrested for child endangerment. Because at this point my younger brother was passed out in my sister’s arms. And I didn’t know how long he had been like that. So she had been walking that treacherous hike with her arms full.
Safe to say, that was the last time my mom let my dad go camping with us alone. For good reason. Now as a mama I would be pissed, and would be a worried sick every time my babies went anywhere. But my husband knows the limits. He is more cautious than I am about some things.
So that trip gave me more lessons than good memories. There is such a thing as too much. And I have more sympathy for my mama.
What Olympic sports do you enjoy watching the most?
I of course, always loved watching the swimming in the Olympics. Especially the year 2008. I think that was the one year that my whole family watched together. The men’s relay was amazing!!
But just now talking with my husband, trying to figure out the year, I called Jason Lezak old…he’s older now. But to me he was so old in 2008. Haha! He was 33. Granted I was 14, but I’m only a couple years away from 33…haha! But in that Olympics he was 10 years older than Micheal Phelps. So he was older. But still so amazing that he was able to do amazing in that race. It was a race to watch.
Like when I write my story, I want that anticipation. You at the edge of your seat not knowing what is going to happen. Because Micheal Phelps said, that year, he was going to win all golds. And the only reason he was able to keep that promise is because of his awesome teammates. They made that race a gold. A relay is not just one person. He had to trust that his teammates would get the job done! It was an awesome race!!
The other sport is ice skating. Couple or solo. It’s just so pretty! I don’t have any favorites. But it’s just fun to watch and see the pretty outfits.
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
You are probably wondering if I know how to spell…But this is how I called it. Arter: Artist. Messer: one you makes messes.
Haha! Well I am an artist. So that one was correct. It’s amazing to me how some things stay throughout your life.
Messer. This is a two parter job. First. I had a desire to make messes. Not just any mess, but disaster messes. Where I wouldn’t play with the toys, but everything would be poured out onto the floor. Now the second part: I would have someone trail behind me cleaning up. Haha!
I found this hilarious when my mom told me. But hey, that sounds like a pretty cool job! Right! This job, sadly, did not continue throughout my life. I became someone who liked controlled organized chaos. That it may looked chaotic, but everything has its place.
But who would have thought that I would this job would eventually enter my life, but I am the cleaner. My kiddos are the messers. It must be in their DNA. They are masters at it. They learned it from the best.
But I don’t know when, but not long after, I changed my dream job. I wanted to be a mama. I think it was 1st or 2nd grade that I wanted the hardest but most fulfilling title ever. Mama 💕
emily2jane 