I am not one to boast.

So.... I am not, well I try not to be. And if I ever came across as snobby or flashy, or what ever it is they call it in the street these days, I am truly sorry. It was not intentional.

I believe people like that are not very likable, and heavens knows that my personally is one that likes to be liked. Even though I do say things I shouldn't at very inappropriate times. And I have had to throw my foot up from the back of my throat a few times. I do try to be nice, and mindful of people.

Ok now that I have set you up into beliving that i am a humble person. I have to say that this post is all about bragging about my self. In October, I realized how unhappy with myself I was. I was just not me, nothing looked good, nothing fit good, nothing made me look how I like to look. I felt frumpy, and wow that's a bad feeling. For a weekend great but everyday of your life? Oh no... Soooo I could sit in the couch, and eat my problems away making them bigger problems. Literaly... Or I could get up and do something. Which I was ready to do.

I started with a goal, 20 pounds... I shut my mouth and started running, and dancing. (Zumba) Holy cow... You know how hard it is to start a diet in the end of the year? When all the food is out. 3 days a week, in the gym not stoping till I was out of breath drenched in the tears of my fat crying.
I felt so good, when I steped in the scale and pounds were falling off every week. In 2 months I was at my goal. But my goal changed, just 10 more pounds... And for a couple weeks I had cursed my self. Nothing came off. Soooo 5 days a week and finally 30 pounds later I am feeling great, I was able to fit into my prom dress room 2002. That's crazy, and if I can fit into that my wedding dress should fit too.

And even though I should be happy and pleased with myself... I just moved my goal another 10 pounds. And I got a month and a half to do it.

I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I know I will.

Scream fat, scream...

1 thing about me...

There are a few things in life that I soooo could live without.

1. Folding Laundry
2. Doing Dishes
3. GROCERY SHOPPING

I am not sure why grocery shopping is such a burden, I have always hated. I don't know if it's because I am spending bundles of money is crap that will end up making my arms and boobs bigger, or if it is the pleasant environment, where everyone is so polite and kind that they will move (shove) your cart for you, kid inside and all, if heavens forbid you are on their way.

Because I love this task so much I have been putting it off ALLLL week. You know it's bad when your kids start their own grocery list, and not just of junk they want but real stuff like Pull Ups. TODAY was the day... I did not even go to the gym, I mean c'mom that's a work out of it's own. I spent my morning balancing checkbook, making a list, and menu. I took my energizing vitamins. And by 3 PM I was ready to go.

I opened the Garage and hooorayyyy, no car. No car that fits more then 2 people that is. Apparently today was the day that my car needed an oil change. So hubby took car, keys, room, mobility, and CAR SEATS!!!!????  And I was left with the lawn mower. (mustang) I mean it's just as small as a mower.

I have to admit, the thought crossed my mind. "well, that's it.... can't go grocery shopping." And if it wasn't for the fact that I needed to pick up my son, 5 minutes ago. I would have marched back in my house where I would watch tv, blaming the husband for not having food around. I opened the door of the car to find out that the back seat was covered in books, papers, joy stick, and whatever else he could fit in there. I pushed all the junk to one side and buckled both my girls into one seat belt, and drove to the school. And since we are in the car and I already prepared mentaly for this task. We went to the store.

NOW... We didn't go to PUBLIX, or KROGERS, or any other awesome supermarkets. Because in this tiny little town I live in, I am not sure it's worthy of the name town... We'll call it... a Gathering of people, "alls we  got round hears'a wamart!!!"

We walk in, to find that the entire gathering of people had the same idea I had. It was like a family reunion, of way to large people wearing way to little cloths, "strollin round n round, loadin up the junk and bears, just gettin ready for tha supper bowl sundy naght"

Anyways.... We go in, and like I said... I AM READY!!! I CAN DO THIS!!! BRING IT ON!!! Right after I prepare a bottle, and lay the baby IN the cart on top of a jacket. (no carseat remember) OK.... NOOOOWW lets do it.

BANANAS check
HAM AND CHEESE check
AVOCADOS check
ZUCCHINI check

I was blazing through this... "not bad" I thought, "they are not asking for anything"

BREAD che... "I DONT LIKE THAT KIND," well i don't care if you like it "WELL, YOU ARE MAKING SANDWICHES FOR ME TO TAKE TO SCHOOL RIGHT??" yes??!!  "I THINK YOU SHOULD CARE, SINCE I AM THE ONE EATING IT."  well in that case... Let's grab 2 bags of it.


BREAD CHECK
BOX OF CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BARS, no check necessary it was not on the list.
TOMATO SAUCE check
JUICE "I WANT APPLE JUICE"  "I WON WAN APPLE JUICE, I WAN RED JUICE" "NO STEPHANIE RED JUICE IS GROSE" "YOU GROSE"  Ok, we will get apple this week.
A BAG OF WHITE SWIRL DOVE CHOCOLATE no check needed on this one either.
CEREAL " I WANT HONEY CHEERIOS" "I WANT FRUITY CHEEOUS" 
BOX OF COOKIES N CREAM POP TART, not on the list

And an argument was created in every single isle from then on, We of course had to stop to pee, and amazingly enough both potty trained kids HAD to go. Spencer fell and got hurt cause he was calmly running up n down the isle. Stephanie had a HUGE break down, because she can not have Fairy Pull Ups, She must PEE on Princess Pull Ups only. And we grabbed a couple more things that were not on the list, like chocolate covered cookies, and some over priced buddy fruity, (glorified apple sauce) and it was now time to go pay...

$150.00 dollars later, I managed to fit me 3 kids and a shopping cart of Crap that will make my arms and boobs bigger. In a mustang with a library of it's own, even in the trunk.

I unloaded the bags and found something chocolaty in every single bag.

Next time I am tempted to go shopping with 3 kids again, I will grab a chocolate and read this post and let that desire pass. And from now on I will hit the awesomeness of WALMART at midnight.

The best thing in life...

When I was 12 years old my family moved to Deltona, FL. from Brazil. Where I lived for the next 11 years. While growing up, I remember all the sacrifices my parents made to put food on the table. To make ends meet. My father did everything from singing at weddings to selling and transporting baby chicks to farmers in Brazil. Now you may say that he went through all this because he does not have a college degree? Actually my father is the best Jeweler out there. I am not just saying this cause he is my father. But his engraving skills amaze anyone who sees it. He has been making jewelry since he was 11 years old. And is just amazing at what he does. But due to some horrible circumstances, and events and the fact that Brazilians can't afford jewelry in Brazil. He could not work in this field, forcing him to do everything else in the book. AND I MEAN EVERYTHING. 

Anyways... The Lord brought us to the US when I was 12 years old, and my dad was able to work with what he was gifted with. Coming here with NOTHING but 3 suitcases, we had an entire life to start from scratch. 

Living so close to Disney World, it was their dream to take us there. They spent the first year of their US lives saving for this ridiculously expensive dream come true. And on Dec, 24th 1997 we went to Disney. Hoping that our first Christmas away from all of our loved ones, and dollar store gifts would be a little better if we spent it there. Along with the enormous lines at the rides, and people speaking every language under the sun. That is a day I will never forget, We were the first ones in the park that day, and the last ones out. My dad wanted to document every memory, so he bought a video camera at a yard sale.

I am pretty sure this is the exact model.

He carried this beast, everywhere. Video taped every parade, and smile on his girls face that day. 

We also could not afford to eat or buy anything else in the park, so my mother dragged this cooler around.

Also from a yard sale, notice there are no wheels on that baby. We solved that... 

Strap it on to this little baby and your set. This cooler had water, sandwiches, juice, snacks. Bottles of milk for my sister, candy, now that I think of it. It was almost like the bread and fish that fed a thousand. We never ran out of food. 

We watched the fireworks, and from the corner of my eyes I watched my parents cry. At that time I though it was because of Disney World. NOW I know better, they were crying because at the ages of 30 and 33 they left everything behinde to give their children a chance to a better life, they cried because they missed their parents, and siblings back in Brazil, they cried because through honest hard work they made the dreams of 3 little girls come true, they cried because of the unknown scary future of wondering if moving here was the right thing to do.  (excuse me while I go ball my eyes out)  

***** 5 MIN LATER*****

Last year when we received our tax returns, in an envelope I put aside a small fortune to make the dreams of 2 little kids come true, once again. 

And 14 years almost to the day, we took Spencer and Stephanie, my own kids to Disney world. My mom went with us. And while watching the parade and fire works. I cried once again, and watched my mother cry. I cried of gratitude, because if it were not for that great sacrifice that my 2 loving parents made 15 years ago. I would not be the person I am, I would not have the husband and life that I have. And most of all, I would not have seen the sparkle in my daughters eyes, as she looked in pure amazement at the princesses. I would not have carried my tiny little princess passed out of pure exhaustion in my arms. My mother cried... because she remembered that day, and all that she was feeling, and now she knew it was all worth it. To be able to see her grand kids dream come true. She was able to see how far they have come, how much they have endured. And it was all worth it. 

Mother... Words will never be enough to say how thankful I am for your unselfish decision many years ago, that has changed my life forever. I love you, and wish I could be half the mother you are, some day.

In this moment we were getting ready to leave, when Stephanie started balling. And with every fiber of her little soul said... "Mommy, I wanna do that agaaaaiiinnnn, puizzzz. Mommy!!! I wanna see that again. Puizzz mommy. Just one mooor tsime. PUIZZZ!!!" 

Soooo, guess what we are doing with this year's tax return?

Knowing all the sacrifices that were made, and how far we've come, how hard it was. Allowing my children to still believe in a fairy tale world, to witness their eyes sparkle, and their little hearts skip a beat, because of some make believe character. I will do my best for it to last as long as possible... And that is one of the best things in Life....