Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Homespun Gift Giving

Now that almost everyone received their gifts from me, I can reveal them to you all. When I get around to it I will post tutorials. We are all a little under the weather right now at the house.


These candy sleighs were a hit. I made these for our stockings, in place of just throwing in chocolates. All you need is candy and that handy dandy glue gun.

 

My nieces and nephews got a homemade ornament on their gift to adorn their tree. I purchased a roll of 12 ball ornaments at the dollar store. Mini jingle bells were added and the hot glue gun was used to make the initials. Epsom salt added quickly gives a pretty sparkle.


Who doesn't love a bucket of snow! Our part of California is sunny and green so faux snow for a White Christmas is a must. Add shaving cream to baking soda and voila you have cold powder snow.


I made these sensory play kits for all my nieces and nephews. Check out my 
 Moon Sand  post on how to make sand.


The aroma while making these was delectable. I included instructions on a Christmas card on how to use this Gingerbread scrub so everybody knows it's not to eat. Mommy Musings blog has the recipe and printables.


These lavender heat pillows were all hand sewn with love. Me and my sewing machine have a love /hate relationship. The dried lavender flowers were cultivated from my own plants. Fill with rice and any aromatic flower of your choice, and pop into the microwave for up to two minutes. Your sore muscles will thank you.


The adults received my "Comfort & Joy Baskets".  The time and effort that went into making  these gifts was a true labor of love that I look forward to doing again when the holidays roll around . 

Happy New Year's Eve Eve!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Making Moon Sand

Baby it's cold outside and we long for the days of warm rays and playing on the beach. Roaring waves and sandcastles are things to long for till Spring /Summer arrives next year. But alas don't despair you still can have sand play....indoors! Moon Sand is commercially sold in stores but you can make bulk quantity for much cheaper.


 All you need is two simple ingredients. 8 cups of flour and 1 cup oil. It can be any type of oil you choose, baby oil just makes this moon sand smell so good.


Add the ingredients to a bowl and mix. It really is that simple a 4 year old can do it.


Moon Sand is great sensory bin play. Of course it doesn't have to stay in the container, but in the moments of creativity can get messy.  {M} is making a snowman, which brings me to the next project and future post. 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Simple Days

These past days we have been holed in with rain. It's too wet and damp to do anything outside but take the kids to and from school. The husband and I have been doing house chores together and hoping for brighter days literally and figuratively. It has been a month since he was laid off and it's hard to get a landscape job in this season and weather. Fingers crossed our situation will soon have a positive turn around. 


So this brings us yet again to a very humble Christmas, but this is not my first ride on this rodeo. I kept the decor at a minimum this year. The tree is trimmed and the stockings are hung. Now I must get crafty to make the kids eyes sparkle on Christmas Day.


Last year we didn't gift to anyone but our kids. I really do love to give a gift at Christmas to our family members so I'm going to be like a frantic little elf crafting at my kitchen table. 10 days left till Christmas! Let's see what homemade goods I can create before Christmas day arrives.


 In between the hustle & bustle I will post my projects, and try to keep up with the blogosphere. The kids will be on winter break after this week. "Good grief Charlie Brown, I'm so not ready for all of this"! I hope this holiday season is treating you well and blissful moments are to come. Now I'm off to grab the glue gun.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS



I'm glad to report that the storm clouds around my mind and heart have lifted. As for hometown weather well that's a different story, rain off and on with wind and and occasional flooding, but I can't complain were still in severe drought conditions. 



Maybe it continues to rain because my children can't help dancing when the opportunity arises. The joy and endless smiles they display while doing the simplest littlest things in life warms my heart and reminds me that it's the little moments that make memories.



 On December first I did wake up with a new perspective as I had hoped for on my previous post. The magic of words can be so profound. Words and goals flowed out of me at 5:00 a.m. and I jotted them down on paper to be a constant reminder. So far so good.




 A lot of baking and making sweet treats has been going on around here. The oven baking keeps the humble homestead warm & cozy. My youngest children are the best sous chefs.


We've been crafting too. These set of Reindeer ornaments are $2.88 for a 12 pack at Walmart. A few odds and ends and a glue gun and we made some awesome ornaments for the tree. I'll have to post the after pic later.


The tree is up but is yet to be decorated. Tonight while be our little tree trimming ceremony. Oh did I mention we have been snuggling up on the couch and watching a copious amount of Christmas shows and movies? I hope all of you are having a great kick off to December and all it has in store.

Beautiful Blessings to you this weekend and upcoming week.



Sunday, November 30, 2014

As a new month approaches

 I sit here writing this post with a gloomy grey cloud around my head and it happens to have the unpredictability to storm and rain at any moment. I hate having days and even weeks like this. The people in this  house have been dealing  with "whatever I'm going through right now"and there seems to be no relief on the horizon. I feel I'm not the mother and wife I should be but lately I can't shake this depression that's holding me down.

Tomorrow starts a whole new month and an end to this year. There are so many personal changes / goals I would like to achieve but am completely clueless as to where my starting point is. All I know is I don't like who I've been lately and seriously need a shift to find my inner light again. Hopefully I will get a good night sleep free from nightmares and waking up at 3:00 a.m., to a beautiful new day and month. I usually don't share these things on my blog, but I'm going to keep it real because this is how it is sometimes.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Corner View ~ One Color


One of my favorite places to visit in my beautiful city is Old Sacramento. The atmosphere really takes you back into a place and time of  the pioneering old west. These photos were taken in October during my husband and mine 12 year anniversary date. We both grew up in Sacramento and are lucky to be a 10 minute drive away from such historic landmarks. The buildings are bathed in purple to show pride for our "Sacramento Kings" basketball team.




A spectacular Theatre of Lights event is held every year during the holiday season up till New Year's. It truly is a magical retelling of Clemente Clark Moore's "Twas the night before Christmas". We have attended a few of these shows over the years with the kids and I have to say that it brings adults into a childlike wonder bliss state of mind.


Here in the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow. I would like to wish all of my friends from around the world a blessing of happiness, love, and togetherness.  I'm grateful 
you visit my corner of the world. Visit Fuoriborgo for more Corner Viewing.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Sweet & Savory Seeds

 It's pumpkin season! My favorite part of carving Halloween pumpkins isn't carving and getting all gooey, it's the bounty  of seeds.


 The four medium size pumpkins we carved gave us about six cups of pumpkin seeds. Instead of the traditional salted roast, I wanted to try something different. So of course I went to Pinterest to see what other's cook up, and get the scoop on how to.


After looking through a billion recipes I finally stopped being picky and used these recipes.
Sweet Seed recipe  @ undressedskeleton
Savory Seed recipe @ europeancutie

The sweet seeds were hands down the kids favorite and the jar was empty pretty quick. Rosemary on the savory seeds smelled so amazing when roasted but did make for odd tasting seeds. You never know until you do! Have fun discovering fall food.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Corner View - One Book

One of my favorite books as a child and one I love to share with my children.
 "The Giving Tree" displays a give and take cycle in one's life span. If you have not yet read this book I highly recommend it, and share it with the little ones in your life.


More books can be viewed by visiting Fuoriborgo.

Friday, October 31, 2014

{ This Moment }




{This Moment } is a Friday ritual where a single photo with no words is captured 
from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment, to pause , savor, and remember. If your inspired to do the same visit SoulMama and leave a link to your "moment" for all to view and enjoy.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Haunted Humpday * Corner View ~ Tradition

Halloween is almost here, the excitement around here is palatable. This is our last Haunted Humpday and I would like to thank Marfi for hosting the festivities and getting us all in the spirit since September. I got to choose the theme for corner view this week and tradition came to mind. Stop by  Francesca's and enjoy tradition from around the globe.

 October is full of traditions, birthdays, anniversary, and Hallow festivities for my family. A trip to the pumpkin patch is a must. This year we enjoyed a free festival put on by a church.


 My pumpkins with their pumpkins.



One last trip to the Drive-Inn before it's too chilly. We watched "The Book of Life", a great movie displaying Mexican culture and Dia de los Muertos celebrations.


True children of the corn!


We love to decorate our front porch. This year a few basics were displayed, I seem to have displaced a mass majority of our Halloween decor.


The mummy managed to re-emerge just in time.


Even my dogson Chico get's into the Halloween spirit.



The pumpkins have been brought inside because somebody smashed a few of ours in the street last night. Tonight we will have a pumpkin carving party. We watch a fun Halloween movie or two depending on how long it takes while we carve. Treats and laughter are apart of this tradition.


Nov. 1st and 2nd we celebrate Dia de los Muertos. I don't have an ofrenda up this year but might throw something together to share with you. We will be visiting the graveyard to celebrate our ancestors.

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into our Halloween traditions. Best wishes for a Spooktacular fun filled Halloween.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

It's a Halloween party.... of sorts

Welcome , welcome all who flew over today to pay me a visit at Casa Sol Y Luna. I hope the weather conditions gave you a smooth flight. Park your broom there's plenty of room, as your are my first guest.


 Yes I know it doesn't seem very festive in the traditional sense of Halloween. Since the solar eclipse and new moon I've taken a quite retreat to renew my spirit and work on my transformation. Come rest  your bones a bit with me. You can kick up your heels, take off your hat and let your hair down . All the awesome party's your attending must have brought you to this humble rest spot.


Come on in .... the doors always open. Oh it seems you have something on your mind deary, is everything well with you? Your eyes tell me it's a matter of the heart, perhaps love? Let me see if I can help you with that. Looks like a certain potion  is in need of being made once again, I'm fresh out. Don't fret I can still help.


How about a reading? Have a glance at the cards. Listen to the soft inner voice within you and chose the card your guided to.  These lovely cards are from Susan Bowes "Love Spells & 
Rituals". Now let's get to the heart of the matter shall we.


If you chose the first card

  The Ancestors * Courage
Mystical Realm Guidance: To Follow your Dream

You come from a long line of ancestors who  come from different continents and cultures and how lucky of you to have such rich heritage! This card reveals to you that it is time to break the lineage line in some way. You have within you the power to change the restrictive behavior patterns that have been passed on from generation to generation. You do not have to live your family obligations on other's terms , you are free to live your life the way you wish. Of course this may cause upheaval and criticism from those strict in there ways. Take courage, your ancestors support you no matter what. The more you free your spirit and accept the new you and flourish in that growth you will actually elevate to higher expressions. Even though others may disapprove ,your ancestral tribe is rooting for you every step of the way. Don't be afraid to step into your truth!

Magical Incantation:
 I give thanks to my ancestors for giving me the courage to love who I choose to love.

*

If you chose the second card

Venus * Divine Love
Planetary Guidance: To Release Old Patterns

The beautiful brilliant planet that can be seen from Earth during early evening and morning is Venus. Oh that goddess who's libido and energy rises early in the morning.  Are you an early bird or wish to be more perky in the morning? Venus's glyph is a symbol of spirit rising above earthly matters to heal the soul through divine love. Do you believe in love, or have such matters of the heart left you critical, broken, or at a lose. Do not confuse sexual relations with the euphoria of being in love, there is a difference. The truth is you have been wounded to a point that you have closed up your heart and thrown away the key. Healing is possible and is on it's way as we speak. First you must identify negative relationship patterns and put a stop to them immediately. As soon as you take a stance, your heart will open, take flight and your relationships with be new and full of meaning. Venus is a reminder that not all love is lost, in the moment we think it is gone forever our heart renews and love is stronger than it has ever been! Ask Venus's love to shine into your heart and show you the way.

Magical Incantation:
I call upon the energy of Venus to show me my path to divine love. I open my heart to receive her brilliance.

*

And last but certainly not least , if you chose the third card

The Broken Heart * The Wound
Emotional Element Guidance: To Face Your Wound

This card is of great importance and you need to listen close and absorb all the meaning it has for you. Your heart is asking you to look at all your relationships, all the way back to childhood. Childhood is were we receive our deepest wounds, incidences which broke our innocent spirit and made us feel less of who we felt we were. In remembering how your heart has been broken over the years, the feelings of isolation and loneliness have lead you to create a tall brick wall between yourself and others. The negative behavior and self destructive patterns you have created to cope is like a magnet pulling you to someone with the same broken, destructive heart. Take responsibility for your wounds, then release them and set them free. It is time to release your wounds. This next step is painful but is essential for your healing. Write a letter to self about all your important relationships, both positive and negative. Let your heart speak it's truth and observe the patterns that have occurred throughout the years, and explore the feelings that arise. Tissue or perhaps a hug is needed at this point.  I suggest burning the paper after you are done, feel all your broken pieces float away with the smoke as your heart heals.Your wounded heart will take time to heal. Love yourself  first and that beacon will beckon love to you.

Magical Incantation:
From this day on I  only draw people to me who can lovingly and gently help me to heal the wound of my broken heart.


Well my lovely it has been a profound visit with you. I hope you are inclined to be a dear friend and visit often, like I said before "the door is always open".  I'm off to grab my broom and rain cloak and attend many Halloween party's around the globe.  Would you like to travel with me, just grab the invite and let's fly.




a little note

Hello there , my party post is a little late on arrival , I hope you will stop back by after partying with a few of our fellow friends. Sincerely sorry for the delay.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Corner View ~ Stranger


Synonyms of strang-er
new comer
new arrival
visitor
outsider 
newbie

I think this art sums it up.


 These strange art pieces and many murals can be found on "K" Street or newly named  "The Kay" in Downtown Sacramento.


 Corner view is a Wednesday weekly appointment hosted by Francesca, where bloggers from around the globe share their view on a pre-arranged theme.


Friday, October 17, 2014

It's Friday ..... let's party!

Put on your pointy hat, grab your broom, and fly on over and party with Magaly Guerrero the creatress of this wicked soiree . 


There are many festivities and  creative magic to indulge in, so please visit Howling Partiers & Sponsors.




Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Corner View ~ Rough

This past Summer season has been very "rough" literally. There has been no rain and we are in a serious drought. Not to mention my gardening plans were thwarted by rough dirt, rough water restriction's and the rough drying sun. Here's to the hope that Autumn has some relief insight. Words sure are powerful today, as I write there is rain pitter pattering the window. I love a good gray wet day to tend to indoor chores.


Visit FouriBorgo for world wide views of "rough".  May the rest of the week bring you contentment & joy.

Haunted Humpday ~ The Tragedy's Of Dyer Lane

Hello wicked loves I'm finally back to a Haunted Humpday post. Anyone else feel the whiplashes of mercury retrograde? Mine are mostly mental, but damn if they don't effect everything and everyone around me. Astrologer Maria Macario has a lovely article about the science and nature of this retrograde phase that is quite introspective. Okay enough about my mentality let's get on to the good stuff. This haunted post is steeped in Urban Legend and truth of tragic incident's.
When I was a teenager I was part of the youth group at the church I grew up in. Part of the Halloween spirit fun was taking a hayride at night down a long dark road in the country. Sounds like good clean fun right? After you hear my story you might not think so. My youngest daughter recently asked me what urban legends were and that gave me the idea to give the children a first hand  real life experience......in the daylight of course.

" The Tragedy's of Dyers Lane"





It is legend that a one mile  stretch of  country road in Elverta C.A. is haunted . Oh were do these tales come from? Is it  just a creepy stretch of road to travel at night to freak out your senses?  Kasser Rd, Tan Woods Rd, and Dyer Lane are reported to be haunted do to all the deaths that have occurred over the years. As urban legends go there are many variations on the tales, I'm sharing with you the one's I grew up on.


Between 1854-1857 John and Julie Dyer settled their family upon this land. They owned a ranch, a few houses, and a slaughter house. John supposedly had a way with the ladies in town which made his dear farm wife jealous. Enraged by her husbands affairs she went mad and butchered her husband, children, and then did herself in. The oldest son however was not home at the time. When he returned home to find his whole family murdered he set fire to all the homes and slaughter house. The land was sold to Ross Riolo in 1956.


Kasser Rd. turns a left bend onto Tan Woods Road. The slaughter house was on the right. Some one has cut down the street sign. A ton of garbage and graffiti has accumulated at the turn and seems to be some sort of hangout, probably teenagers with nothing better to do , thinking it's fun to prop and spook those that travel down this road at night.


In 1950's a police officer dead either in a car crash or by mysterious circumstances. Story goes that at night his police car comes speeding down the road flashing it's lights and then disappearing into thin air. Police do indeed drive down this road often to make sure nothing crazy is going on, so to see Placer cop cars is common.


In 1972  two teenagers driving a GTO and Duster were racing. Both the drivers were intoxicated and the GTO driver missed the 90 degree turn slamming into a tree.The impact threw him through the windshield head first into the tree and death occurred instantly on impact. Some say a man with a bashed in skull roams the road.


The game of chicken ended bad in this case and there are plenty of them out here.


In the 1930's -1940's Dyer Lane was a place of KKK meetings and lynchings were done on the branches of the tree lined street. Plenty of hateful graffiti is also along the road. Legend has it that around the witching hour  you can see the ghosts hanging from the limbs, and rocks are being thrown from unknown sources.


Satanic rituals are believed to occur in the fields with cow's being sacrificed and there blood being used in ritual. Redpaint is also splattered on the street around this site.


This guy's lucky there is no longer a slaughter house down the road, but he better watch out for the dark practitioners.


In 1985 a teenager died of stab wounds due to a racially charged gang fight between 100 students from Rio Linda & Encina High. Random gone shots are often heard by the farmers living out here.


There are those out there that think they can freely graffiti and add there own essences to the urban legends and haunted roads. Are you scared of things that go bump in the night? Would you dare travel down Dyer Lane, turn off your car and roam down the road in the dead off night? You might not be able to start your car if you do!


Happy Haunted Humpday, and please visit our hostess with the mostest Marfi to enjoy more haunted fun.