Each new year always gives us an opportunity to start anew.  I normally don't like resolutions because I really don't keep them but I've noticed that I do much better when I have set goals in mind.
So, here are the new goals I'm setting for the 2012.


1. Stop dressing like a bum - A work from home a lot and I tell you, sweat pants and head scarfs are my friends. However I was in Walmart buying a bottle of wine when the cashier took a look at my driver license's picture, and said (no lie) "You look nice here".  She was lucky she was an older lady because I might have been prone to cuss her out.  I was also recently (ok two days ago) approached by a woman in HomeGoods who wanted to know where I got my Louis Vuitton bag and she was shocked when I said 'the Louie Store' to which she replied, "Oh I thought it was a knock off" because obviously I looked like couldn't afford a real Louis Vuitton Bag.  Yup she needed to be cussed out too.  So I guess that's a sign to say stop looking homeless?  Hmmm maybe...

2. Finish my bedroom - yes it's still unfinished

3. Remove the carpet from my steps and replace with wood, because right now it's nasty looking... ewww

4. Get an additional source of income -- still figuring this one out

5. Eat a piece of fruit or veggie each day


Do you have any resolutions or new goals for 2012?




Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous 2012!

Picture Heavy Post
I hope your holidays were great and I hope Santa brought you the gifts you needed.

I had a great time with my family in NYC.  If you ever had the chance to spend Christmas or even a couple of days before Christmas in New York City, do it.  NYC comes alive on Christmas, we ventured out to enjoy the store windows and of course Rockefeller Center.  I was disappointed with the Saks Window displays, it was so not Christmassy (it that a word?) but the Lord and Taylor windows made up for it.

Did you get up this morning thinking "Oh Sweet Jesus" Christmas is a day away and I still need to get a couple of gifts, or oh crap, I ran out of money and can't afford to buy another gift.  Well since I have that pesky thing called a mortgage, (would you believe that bank has the nerve to want it every month) and I'm on a budget, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on Christmas this year but I still wanted to give my friends gifts they would love. Let's face nothing is worst than a scrappy gift.

I like a good sugar scrub and I started shopping around for a sugar scrub to give as gifts, but those suckers aren't cheap.  So of course I thought why not make my own because I roll like that. I did a little research and there so many recipes for sugar scrubs to choose from.  I tweeked the recipes and came up with my own.

Here's my recipe

3/4  cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon essential oil ( you can buy this at Michael's or a health food store)
 3/4 cup extra virgin oil


In a small bowl, combine the brown and white sugar. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to blend well.  Spoon the scrub into a pretty glass jar and viola, great gift for less than $3.00.  I also created my own label to add to the jar.

Here's a 5 min project I did today using a dollar store candle holder and using spray paint.



Cover outside of the candle holder or vase with paper, spray inside of the vase with mirror spray paint, let dry, then spray with gold spray paint and Viola...

Well Christmas is right around the corner and I'm trying to get into the spirit so I finally slapped my wreath on my front door and added the mini trees to the porch.  I'm hoping that seeing them will get me in the Christmas spirit.  Have you put up all your decorations already?

Don't pay any attention to cord in front of the door, the bricks and the crooked picture. I rarely use the front door anyway :).

Disclaimer, this post has nothing to do with design, so if you don't feel like reading, I so understand...

Today, I turned 40.  


When I was 16, 40 seemed a lifetime away, now that I'm 40, 16 seems like yesterday.  This is the first birthday I've had where I actually had a little anxiety approaching it, not about turning the BIG 4 0 but about where I am in my life currently.  (Maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis... anywoo)

It's so easy to get discouraged if you're looking at the next person and measuring your success against someone else's life plus in the society in which we live today so much emphasis is given to staying young as if growing older is a disease.  It's especially harder on us women because the message is always out there pushing us to always compete to an ideal that no human person can achieve.

Today when I woke up, I was laying in bed and thinking about my life so far and I can I tell you the anxiety faded away.  While I still have many things I want to accomplish, I've realized that whatever I've done so far is enough.  As Oprah says 'I am Enough'.  When I immigrated to the US at 14 years old, my mom, my three siblings and I lived in one bedroom in my grandmother's house for three years until she could save up to move to an apartment.  Basically, we were poor but we had each other and I never look back on that time as a struggle because really all you need at the end of the day is a loving family.  With scholarships, loans and aid, I put myself through college and I have two pieces of paper on the wall that won't ever expire. :)  I have a great job, I own my house (well along with bank) and I have two great kids, all while being a single parent.

I've realized that we all have different paths we need to walk and measuring your life or journey against another person can be detrimental and will leave you feeling inadequate all the time.  However, while some of us will be superstars for the world, most of us can be superstars for our friends and family. 

I'm leaving you with one of my favorite people, Lady B, who has walked her own path to super stardom.  Her song, "I was here", says it all. I'm going continue walking my path and living my best life.  So I'm praying that God continues to bless and keep me because with him, all things are possible.  I'm looking forward to the next 40 plus years.