Upss I did it again......

At my office, a corner in the hallway which I covered in what else, RED wallpaper....


Well, my finger is almost completely heal... oh yeah!! I'll be getting my acrylic nails soon, but.... yes, I did it again!!! this time is my big toe nail, the left side AGAIN!!!!..... Yesterday while I was helping my Girls organizing their rooms my toe started to hurt a little, I didn't pay attention, I kept reading one of their teens magazines, gossiping with them and forgot about it.


Later at night, while I was preparing this post I got this 'feeling' something wasn't right, I looked down and saw my toe nail loose.... oh no!!! when, how, who???? then I remembered. About a month ago I tripped with my left foot, hitting my big toe. It did hurt like *bleep*, but I checked it out and my toe was o.k. so, I forgot, until last night.

To make a long story short, my toe is o.k., a new nail was under the old one. But, I think I have been in one of those 'stages' where our distractions can harm us and my body is telling me "hey, watch out, take care, look at me, rest".... After all, we have been under a lot of pressure, with My Boricua's illnesses and the battle with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This is why, in part, I posted so late, today I rested and enjoyed my Familia, we dinned out in a wonderful mexican restaurant, the food was good and I treated myself to a delicious cold strawberry margarita, perfect to relax and cool down on a hot-humid day.... ahhh, yes, life is good....

The Price of Freedom....

We often hear the phrase "Freedom isn't free", but few of Us realize it's meaning. Freedom is a precious thing most of all take for granted. Our military men and women, veterans and their families pay a high price, please, don't forge it.


I have always admired the WWII generation. I learned about them watching old movies. From the serious ones to the 'pleasant to the eye movies of Cary Grant'. Last night I watched "Operation Petticoat", it brought so many memories of my childhood in Mexico, when I first watched the movie with My Dear Father. For years I didn't remember the title of the movie but with the help of the wonderful internet I researched about 'a military movie with bras in the sea' and voila!!! I found it.

So, my way to honor all those Heroes is by sharing my passion for "The Greatest Generation" series by Tom Brokaw. I never get tired of reading them.







And share this cute set I found in one my thrift stores adventures... is from the LTD commodities catalog. I plan to use it at the 4th. of July bar-b-q.....


To our Heroes past and present Thank You.... Gracias....!!!!

Hot Rednesday....

A couple of my favorite British Comedy Series.......



Well today was 86-88 degrees, 100% humidity, tomorrow will be 90 +.... We were inside all day with the A.C. on... But the weather isn't the only "hot" thing going on around here.

This past weekend was a "hot" one, on Friday, My Boricua went to pick up our oldest girl earlier than usual, He had several appointments at the VA Hospital and we wouldn't be able to be back by the time school was over, to His surprise He found our Girl at the main office crying, she has been bullied since last year, but Friday My Girl couldn't take it anymore. And how amazing is Our Lord that I suggested (( well it was HIM who put that thought on my mind )) my husband to go that day into the office himself, usually I am the one who goes into the school to sign out our Girls.

Oh My Lord...!!! all the h*ll broke loose, even the devil ran away from My Boricua that day, being a former Marine, well a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine), He took charge of the situation and defended our Girl with all His heart and guts. What agraviated Him most was the Principal didn't take the time to listen to him. My Girl is a Honor Roll student, she is a role model and an asset for that Middle School. He notified the school our Girl wouldn't attend school until the situation was resolved.

We went on Monday mornign to school, first we were told the Principal wasn't there, I told them her car was in the parking lot; then we were told she was in a very important meeting, I asked them if She was refusing to meet with Us; then they suggested we could of meet with a counselor, we refused and asked for the Superintendent address and phone number; we got the number and asked again if the principal would spare 5 minutes, they said she couldn't; My Marine told them our lawyer would contact her; we were offered to meet the Vice-Principal, My Boricua said -"NO! already spoke to Him on Friday, a very unpleasant conversation"-; we were told the Principal was on her way and were guided to her office, and then THAT WOMAN!! with a "stupid look" on her face told the vice-principal "I have a very important meeting", I told her "it will take only 5 minutes"; she said she wished she could but she couldn't.

At this point My Marine PTSD was skyrocketing at the light speed, the vice-principal asked if we were willing to meet with him, I had to drag My Marine with me to the vice-principal office and we talked and talked... except My Marine, He didn't blink or moved, at one point I felt sorry for the Vice-Principal, he was trying the best He could to reach out to a very upset Father. But you see to a PTSD combat veteran there are very few things with value, almost none, but do NOT touch was it is important to him because he can go to war once again to protect it.

And well to avoid a 10 pages post, we were told The Girl was suspended from school until her parents schedule a meeting with the vice-principal, my Girl will be doing her art work (this incident happened at Art Class) with her gym teacher, KUDOS for Mrs. Ferrante because She is an amazing teacher and teaches the Girls to be strong. Science class will be the only one they share, we were offered to attend that specific class just to make sure our Girl will be o.k., but apparently some family crisis happened on the girl's family and she is not coming back to school any time soon.

Finally for my Rednesday, I had in mind these pics, but my finger ER trip changed everything. The book "The Red Leather Diary", I won it via Swag-bucks, a searching engine that gives you swag dollars you can exchanged for prices. I accumulated several hundreds and got an Amazon card and got the book. Love it..... it's an amazing story, a diary from the 30's found by an writer in NY city.


Finally...!!!! I have been dying to read this book for a couple of years...



P.D. My finger is healing wonderfully thanks to God. I can't wait to get my acrylic nails with a neon color on them and a beach scene, so ready for summer. ( Can you believe the first thing that came to my mind when I "sliced" my finger was "Oh God, I won't be able to have fake nails again???", LOL....)

Another painful Rednesday...

Well, I had in mind another set of pictures for today, since it is My Beloved Maternal Grandmother 24th. Death Aniversary, but yesterday while I was chopping the radicchio for a delicious salad somehow I 'missed' and chopped the tip of my left index finger.







I endep up in the emergency room, got a Tetanus shot (the 'new shot' for adults, the same kids get) and I came back home with this huge new finger, my kids call it "the number one finger", they think they are very funny.... Mmmmmmm...
Notice the RED sweater I was wearing.....

Ouch...!!!! Thank God is healing, as My Boricua said this morning, "beautifuly"....



Yikes, Mom...!!!! that's what My Kids were saying....

So, here I am, with a painful finger and an aching heart....

A "now what" Rednesday...

Well, today we had another round with the Veterans Affairs and doctors from the VA Hospital. First the rheumatologist didn't hear a thing about My Boricua's fibromylgia pain, for her and 99 % of the Veterans Hospital doctors, all medical issues are because of the 'overweight', because My Boricua isn't "sleeping good" or because of something else except the fact He IS a combat veteran, the fact He was 6 looooong months in combat and He was exposed to God only knows what.

I am very, very tired, yesterday My Boricua told me with a sad voice: "You are not bubbly today"... you see, according to My Boricua I have a "bubbly personality" and He likes that. But yesterday I couldn't take it anymore, I broke down right there at his therapy session where we went after My Boricua experienced a break down. Now what...? Every link in the chain of command had failed Him.


I now realized I put my trust and faith in the wrong place. I should of come first to the One and Only, the One Who IS in control, the One Who allows a leaf in a tree to move.

Now for my Rednesday...


A deep red vase My Boricua gave once with flowers. These lilacs are from a neighbor's tree. I was walking back home after dropping off My Girls and I admired her tree, a very nice Lady, offered me some flowers to take home, of course I couldn't say no.






A magnet My Youngest Girl made for me a few years ago. I love it.

A board game found in a Salvation Army Store, in pristine condition.

And a Second Place Medal My Oldest Girl won at a school health competition. I am very proud of Her, She not only won the red ribbon medal in one week, She also won 3rd. place at a science fair project.



And last, a pic of My Bambino's bed. I love to lay down and rest in My Kids bedrooms, they are full of happiness. You know, He was breech when I was pregnant, He is already 5 years old, and I find it amusing that He sometimes sleep in this position.


If you find it in you heart I ask you for a prayer, for My Boricua, for my children, for me, for all the families, like us, that suffer the consequences of a war, for all our veterans and all our men and women in uniform.

Painful Rednesday....

Well, today My Bambino has a doctor appoinment, He needs one shot to be registered for kindergarden, ouch!! it's gonna be painful. He is 5 years old and He can kick as hard as mule, let's see how it goes.

For my share of Rednesday I have a warm wool blanket made in Rumania, I got it from a very dear couple, They have retired to Puerto Rico and gave us their sleeper couch and the blanket, it is soooo cozy, I can see myself wrap in it, reading a book in a cold winter night like the ones we have here in NY. It's made of virgin wool.


This jar was only 99 cents in my favorite thrift store. It was empty until yesterday, finally I found a pop corn maker and this jar was perfect to store the kernels.

Tom Brokaw' s Greates Generation Series. I love them, love them, love them. I have always admire the WWII military men and women, since I was a child in Mexico. I never, never in my wildest dreams imagined I would of end up married to a Marine.

Today was The Day...

It was an amazing day. Today My Girls received Jesus for the First Time. It was very emotional. There have been many things going on. My Boricua's health, the headaches with the Veterans Affairs and PMS.... =-( ahhhh PMS, don't we ladies love PMS??, yeah right!!! But nothing could make this day look gray, not even the clouds and the fact that the weather has been a nightmare, from snow last week till today when we had a very, very humid and hot day.

There were moments when I had to contain my tears, I missed my Family so much in this important day, but I know they were present in mind and spirit. After the Mass we planned to go to Limp Lizard, but it was full of bikers and rebels (nothing against them) drinking beer and having a really, really good time, so we thought it wasn't the right place for two girls in Communion attire, he he he... at the end we went for another Limp Lizard location and opted for take out, mmmmhh... delicious bar-b-q ribs, chicken, pull pork sandwiches (nothing compares to the North Carolina pull pork), fries, chili, corn bread, slaw, mmmmmhhhh.... delicioso!!!


After that delicious meal we all took naps, the air conditioner made it impossible to resist. It was good to rest after all the work we did getting ready for this day. Isn't our Lord Amazing?

Last Minute Rednesday...

I wanted to post earlier but one thing lead to another and I kind of 'forgot'. These past weeks have been very difficult. My Boricua is out of work because of his doctor orders. It is so hard to see him in pain but the worst part is every single "no" we have experienced in the institutions that are supposed to help.

My Boricua is a combat veteran from The Gulf War. Over the past few years his health has declined, not to a death point but to a very unexpected way. We try to live one day a the time and enjoy life and beautiful things. I believe in God and I believe He does send "little gifts" when one least expect them.

It started yesterday with a conversation with my Dear Aunt The Teacher and my cousin. I enjoyed it so much. Most of all because we live far away from our families.


Today We went to the flea market we discovered a couple of weeks ago. I found some Pyrex. But the mos interesting thing was when this Lady told me if I wanted to buy anything She will give me a good deal and if I wanted to take a box full of "stuff" that was on the floor I was welcome. Well I did!! I took the box and when I came home I found most of the things were very nice. Here is some of the treasures....


A vase with red roses made in Japan. A very cute doll with a red plaid dress. A basket with red roses. A floral door stopper and a wreath withe red roses.

A very 'heavy' wreath with little red apples.

Thanks Heaven for little presents...

Well, today was good, I found another tablecloth, 2 sets of cloth napkins, 2 pot handlers and 8 gorgeous placemats, while my Boricua was in line to pay, I look in the necklaces and pins bin, and I found a small First Communion pin without even looking for one, oh, I know that was sent from Heaven.

I few days ago We were looking for the Rosary sets for our Girls, I only found one set with the Rosary, Bible and a First Communion Pin, so for my other daughter I picked up just a Bible and a Rosary. I wanted my girls to be sort of "even" to avoid the classic "why her and not me" type of discussion, so I was a little dissapointed, but oh well I kept up with our daily tasks.

That's why I believe that little pin was a precious gift from Above, something totally unexpected and so small, but has brought so much joy, I love those gifts from God, those gifts that other people may find ridiculous, but only our Father who knows our hearts knows the joy they'll bring to us.




My findings today.... total damage $12.00 not bad, not bad at all... 8-)

Another tablecloth, I can never have too many, I simply find them beautiful...

Another view of the 'knit/lace???' tablecloth I found today for only $2.99


I found 8 placemats they are made in Italy....

Beautiful scene... love this placemats...


2 sets of cloth napkins, first one with very "mexican" colors, very intense, second one a buttery yellow...


The Bible and Rosary bought a few days ago with the "Gift" the Communion pin I found today..


The First Communion Set for one of my daughers bought a few days ago...

Get 'green' with envy....

I have been away lately, there have been so many emotions, it's like a roller coaster. Fighting for My Boricua's rights as a combat vet hasn't been easy.

So, to get 'un-stress' (?)
I went to a few thrift stores and I hit the jackpot. At the first one I found this gorgeous 'Morgan Taylor' green robe with the original tag still attached to it. It is from Macy's, the price was $21.99 on sale for $15.99 but the thrift store tag was only $3.99.





The details on the sleeves are beautiful and those pockets are very useful.



This is my favorite detail, the back, I have always wanted a satin robe as those in a Hollywood film, I think I got pretty close.




Then today I found what I believe it is Ali Ba Ba's cave, a country flea market full of treasures, some priced REALLY high and some at a reasonable rates, it is full of Pyrex and vintage linens, I have to go back there with plenty of time to search in every single corner.

Here is my find, a gorgeous tablecloth.





I L O V E it!!!! In a previous post I talked about how much I wanted a embroider tablecloth but the prices in eBay were ridiculous, so for $10 I think I got a pretty good deal...

Earthquake...

I just found out a few hours ago about a big 7.2 earthquake in My Mexicali, I have been trying to contact my Family without any results.

I pray for their safety and of all the people in Mexicali.

Till death do us apart....

I have been away for a few weeks, there has been so much going on. I am the wife of a Combat Veteran, it has been a great ride to be marry to my gorgeous Boricua, but there is a lot of things that I can not understand because of the result of his military service. Things that affect our daily life, things that will never go completely away.

It's hard for me to understand how somebody who served with great pride and have honored this Great Country has to endure all the tecnisisms and long, long paperwork to get the medical attention and the financial compensation they are entitled to because of the injures and illness resulted from the service they provided to This Beautiful Nation. We have been fighting for several years to get his compensation, it has been a roller coaster, it is tiring, but I can not give up, specially when I see him laying in bed in pain, when I see Our Cubs worry because Papi is not able to play with them, life isn't fair, I know that, but I do believe in a very good God, I believe that if He created the World in 6 days, He will for sure helps us trough this.

I love so much My Boricua, My Marine, because after all, Once a Marine, Always a Marine. I pray everyday for our Military Men and Women and all our Veterans and their Families, keep them all in your prayers today, it is because of them that we can enjoy the freedom and beauty of this Great Nation and we can rest in a comfy bed at night.

On March 11th. 1997 I became Mrs. Santiago with this kiss. A month later we swore our love before God and our Family and Friends.

Colorful finds...

I love colors around my life, they can brighten a sad gray day. They make me smile.





I was in my favorite thrift store without any luck, but suddenly I saw this beauty. A Talavera chest from My Beautiful Mexico and it was only 1.99 dlls..!!! I know Talavera is very expensive here in the US and in the border, I really would like more pieces, but for now I am very happy with my treasure.


I found this bowl at one of the Salvation Army Stores, it is actually a set of 3 bowls, but they seem very fragile to prepare food on them, so I used them as planters, just cover the bottom of the pot with plastic to avoid stains, I paid 5.99 dlls. for the set and that little tree cost only 99 cents at the clearance rack at Lowe's, it was a very sad tree, but now it is beautiful.



This cookie jar was found in my favorite thrift store, it's from Italy, used for some sort of pastry, I love the colors, I believed it was around 3 to 5 dlls.

Rednesday and a life lesson...

My bedroom wall with the thrifted wall paper that I love and the Rosary made in Mexico that My Mother gave to me.

My handy dandy red hammer.

My Bambino in his red Pjs.

While I was taking pictures for the previous rednesday post, My Bambino asked me to take a picture of Him and this cute dog from my magazine. Times really DOES go fast. I was feeling a little bit down and I wasn't in the mood to post, but You know, life is really good, GOD is really good. So I want to share with all of You this life lesson I experienced.

My oldest daughter has been asking me about life and the existence of God, I understood God was calling her, so I enrolled her and my youngest daughter in religious class for the First Eucharist. When we took them to class after mass, the Lady in charge offered us to enrolled My Bambino at the kindergarten level, my first response was to say He wouldn't stay, the Lady was very gracious and told us that My Bambino could say hi to the kids and if He didn't want to stay was fine, obviously this Lady is very wise. So, we took him to the classroom and to my surprise My Bambino stayed the whole 45 minutes with the other kids, without his Mama.

I guess I got out of the classroom looking very sad because My Boricua told me: "You look more scared than He really is", and it was true. My heart was half broken, my baby is growing up.


Happy Rednesday...!!!

Rednesday and Ash Wednesday....

I can't believe tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent and somehow the beginning of the end of winter. Ash Wednesday brings so many good memories from my childhood, the food, the meaning of the season, My Familia. It is very hard to be far, far away from my love ones, but I try to find ways to cope with the loneliness, I am very grateful that I found the world of the blogs, it has been a blessing.

Here is my red contribution....


My office, it small but I adore it. It's the hallway leading to the upstairs bedrooms. It was plain white, I found the red wall paper in a second hand store, it's very 80's but it was perfect for this space. I found the little frame with the tulips in my neighborhood Salvation Army, there are some spots in the petals where the paint fell, but I like that way, it has character.

This is a family size bucket for pop corn, it comes with 3 small ones, I found it one day in my favorite thrifstore, when I was ready to pay for my finds I saw it on the counter, asked if it belonged to somebody else and of course the answer was no, so I took it.


My coffee mug, from My Boricua, who's is combat disable veteran and works for the VA Hospital, please pray for our Military and Veteran Men and Women.

My so favorite coat. I was dreaming of a Red Coat for the longest time, but they were expensive, one day at Sears all coats were 50% off, so I thought it was a good deal, to my surprise the register rang it for less than 50%, yeeeyy!! this Mami of 3 was very, very happy.


Happy Rednesday Everyone!!!

Blue - tiful....

I can't believe next month will be our 13th wedding anniversary, I still feel butterflies in my stomach every time I see My Boricua. Where did the time go? Anyways, I got these 2 picture frames in one of my thrift-hunting adventures for $ 1.00 each, unbelievable!! they sparkle under the light, just beautiful.