I have started working on my Christmas gifts… several loved ones will receive needlepoint pillowcases from me… and with each thread I embroider I say a positive affirmation for the person I am making these for!

I figure the positive statements will stay with these pillowcases… and make a difference in their lives…plus I love putting all this good energy into my handcrafted gifts!

Try doing this with everything you do each day…even while you prepare and cook meals for your family…infuse the food with loving and empowering words and feeling!

Love you all
Victoria

My youngest daughter has experienced her first real date and Home Coming dance this last Saturday evening. It is a date and dance she will not easily forget.

About half-way through the date at the dance the young man got fresh with her…and she told him where to go… and basically told him to buzz off. She called us to come pick her up… which I did gladly.

I cannot tell you how proud I am of her…for respecting herself and standing up for her values as a young woman. A date with a guy does not mean FAVORS or obligation of any sort. Period.

As a mom I constantly wonder what has happened to good old-fashioned courting and respecting one another when one is asked out?

It seems from what I hear from other women and their daughters… males expect sex or something close to it (use your imagination) on a date these days. OMG when did this happen and why?

In a world when women have fought for their rights in so many areas and won (sort of) we still live in the dark ages and double standards of being treated like sexual objects!
It really angers me that my daughter cannot go out and have fun with a young man… and not have to deal with his disgusting and demeaning behavior!!!

And since when did sexual intimacy start so young… and why as a society are we allowing it? Scary stuff… and issues that parents really need to discuss with their children….like now.

One mad mom…
Victoria

Well… tonight is the Homecoming dance… and after work my daughter will have to pretty much race around to get ready on time. Fortunately… she is the type of gal who looks great and put together no matter what she is wearing…and she is so naturally beautiful she has never worn much makeup… mineral powder, blush… and mascara… so she will be able to be ready in 30 minutes.

I will set out her dress…shoes and purse… plus her real pearls and earrings… for her on her bed…so it should go easy and quick.

Hubby and I are the taxi service tonight…taking 6 couples… in both of our hybrid cars… photo shoot first at her friends…drop them off for dinner…grab a bite to eat ourselves ( at another place… she doesn’t want us to creep on them)!!!…then she will call us on our cell phone… to pick them all up…and drive them to the dance!

okay… so I am parent taxi today and tonight… but hey you as a parent would do the same thing right?

This is my daughters first real date… ( she is 15 ) and a huge deal for me and for her… and hubby too… truly I am freaked out… but gotta let her grow up… and trust!!

To teenage kids and dances
Victoria

Tonight is the homecoming football game…and daughter and hubby are off to the game tonight… I am sure there is high energy at daughter’s high school today… cause this is a huge deal when you are in high school… the game…the dance and all that hoopla to enjoy.

I think I will make something gooey and footballish for dinner tonight… how about sloppy joes?

Although I am not a football fan…I feel caught up in the excitement myself…this is kinda fun for an old gal!

Victoria

Today I start a series of deep tissue massage to get out all the stiffness and lingering soreness from my car accident. It has amazed me how being in an accident really messes up your whole body… including balance and just being able to have fluid mobility.

It has indeed been a slow and painful process for me… it is just this week I have energy in my body… and was able to begin fall cleaning…nothing major yet… just waxing and dusting furniture and doing tasks that have been undone around here for weeks. Hopefully… after my massages I can resume my life.

I want to thank my sweet family for all their love and care they have embraced me with… during my recovery…and for the friends who have sent me emails…cards and prayers. It has all helped me… and made my heart sing with your love and support.

I am so grateful for everything… and for life itself!

In gratitude
Victoria

My day started out so wonderful…my older daughter who now lives in Michigan… called to just chat and talk mom and daughter stuff.

She was telling me how she could not find a donut shop there… and was wanting donuts. This was a special comfort food goodie for the both of us when she was a small child. Small white powered donuts and chocolate milk were a weekend special treat… and jelly donuts from Dunkin donuts were the tops!

It is those small pleasures in life that create such lasting memories… isn’t it? And that even now that she is an adult… and married…we can still talk about those moments that only her and I shared together. It makes me love life…all the more!!! And her too!

This whole conversation made my day… and made me decide to have a day doing things that I love to do… instead of what I should be doing… so I am making a new recipe… from Gordon Ramsey’s cookbook… Cashew Chicken… spend a bit out in the garden…weeding a flower bed… and looking into some ideas I have for new and beautiful products for my business Feminine Living.

In other words… spend my day doing things that make my heart sing!

And it all got started talking about the memory of sharing donuts with my daughter!
To bliss
Victoria

P.S. Sweetpea I hope you find some donuts!

Today… I am gonna have some fun… and start decorating inside and out for Halloween. Pumpkins… cauldrons… and witches brooms for the outside… including the large witches glow light that I put beside the front door.

For the inside of my home… I place… small pumpkins on the stairway… on tables… orange twinkle lights under the dining table and my collection of glitter…handmade vintage Halloween figures… placed in a grouping on the fireplace mantle.

When I am finished my home looks so spooky and wonderful…I love it and so does that little girl part of me…that adores this holiday!

Happy Halloween to all
Victoria

Well… we did it! My daughter and I braved the huge crowds at the Mall yesterday and found the most beautiful and perfect blue dress for her Home Coming dance this next Saturday… plus some incredible black heels… and small clutch purse to match! She looks like a princess in this dress…and just when did she grow up?

The dress is a deep blue… strapless… full skirted with a very sheer patterned black lace on top… a smart looking black satin bow around the waist… and just a tinge of black lace showing through around the hem…very feminine and elegant.

We then went to the hobby store and had to purchase the garter supplies for her date… and she at first didn’t think she could make anything worth while to give him to wear… when you guessed it…her inner creative goddess emerged! This mum garter she is making is stunning… who would of known?

This Home Coming dance and the football game is so steeped in tradition and rituals… just helping a young lady shop and prepare herself for a night of beauty… is timeless isn’t it?

I love it!

P.S. Will try to post a few pictures of her in her blue dress!
Victoria

I am excited today because I am taking my youngest daughter to the mall to pick out her Homecoming dance dress… shoes… and getting her carter for the big Homecoming dance next Saturday night.

If your a mom… you know how honored and pleased you feel when your daughter actually wants you included in decision making for these major rites of passage in her young adult years! Plus you kinda feel… as her mom… and a woman…that just for a few brief moments… you can relive these events that happened for you… how many years ago?

Anyhoo… off we go this afternoon in hopes of finding that perfect dress… perhaps just a little bit different than all the other gals bought… but not to weird to look like a geek.

Wish us luck!
Victoria

Okay…I have finally joined the modern world ( what is that anyway)?… and I now have a face book page!

Can you believe it?
My family doesn’t!

See you on the web…
Victoria

I made my hubby a handcrafted appreciation box this Father’s Day for his gift.

The box is decoupaged… and inside are written all the things we appreciate about him.

Make something handmade for Dad this year… it is gifts like this… made with love…that are cherished the very most!

Happy Father’s Day to all
Victoria

My update on my veggie patch… well we were able to eat 3 tomatoes… and they tasted so very wonderful! Like real food!

However… a sweet little family of birds has also taken a fancy to my home grown tomatoes!

What can I say… it makes me feel good to feed wild life… so I can’t get upset… perhaps this was my purpose in growing them.

Feeding the birds…
Victoria

I have decided this year to grow veggies… as I mentioned in an earlier post.

And I am excited to say… my 3 kinds of lettuce, cucumbers and tomato plant are THRIVING!!!

I check them each day… water them with care and even talk to them… as I feel they respond to my kind and loving words.

I am becoming a garden nerd… and happily browse veggie seed packets and herbs at garden centers… and drool over veggie gardens in magazines.

I know my biggest thrill will be when I can pick some beautiful, green leaves… plucked straight from my heads of lettuce… in my garden… splatter them with olive oil, vinegar and salt… and eat them happily… and with a sense of pride… that I grew them myself!

Ya hoo… for home grown!

Living green… Victoria

Today April 7th is my daughter’s 15th birthday… ya hoo!

Happy birthday Aurora!

I love you…Mom