First Ruby Tuesday....

I have been a fan of REDnesday and now I am joining the Ruby Tuesday Club.



Thrifted peppers bowls, too bad they only had two.

Patriotic cake baked by my Stepdaughter to celebrate the 4th. of July. This Independence Day was a very happy and blessed one, My Boricua won his pending claim at the DVA on July 3rd. oh YES!!! that day was a HAPPY DAY. Can You Believe this is the FIRST time She did a fondant covered cake??? Not bad at all.... We are so proud of Her.

A Great Find...

Not one BUT two pairs of Ralph Lauren shoes..... Oh Yeahhhhh!!!! $4.99 each pair. They are absolutely GORGEOUS!! the details are amazing.

Again a 'little' present from Our Lord. He does know how much I looooveee shoes, and these ones were outta my league, with a price tag of $500 dlls. a pair, I could never had peace of mind if I had to pay that amount. But oh what a great find they were, they were waiting for my at the Salvation Army Store.

Oh Happy Day....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank You Lord, thank You, thank You.... How amazing You are.... You have listened our prayers, You did listen Lord!!!! I just can say Thank You, Thank You....!!!!!








Thanks for ALL YOUR PRAYERS Our Lord is GOOD....

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

Another Father's Day Without You....

You left us on december 26th. 1999. You didn't have the chance to experience the internet, cell phones, web cams, and You missed the "New Millenium". But what You missed most was my kids. Everyday I think of You, your smile, your laugh, your 'big words', but what I miss most is your stories about your birthplace, "The Land of God", you called it.

I didn't know about that terrible day when You found your dear father hurt by his own hands until after You were gone, that day I cried so much, I cried several days for You, for the pain you had to endure, I cried for that young boy who experienced one of the most traumatic events in life. You were still in pain for the lost of your beloved Mother when You lost your Father.

You took care of your brothers and sisters, You never saw them like so. For You, they were your kids. I just learned that You made a promise to your dear Mother, You did good Daddy, You took care of all them.


Rest Daddy, rest knowing My Boricua is taking care of me, just the way You asked Him when I left all You to follow Him. He is a great Dad, just like You.

Thank you Daddy.... Te extraño.... I miss You....

Almost over.....

We are back.... well since a few hours ago, but we were so tired we went to sleep. I want to thank all of you for your prayers, your words were so sweet and kind. Thank You.

To our surprise the exam was performed by a nurse practitioner. We were expecting a specialist. I couldn't go inside the examination room, but My Boricua told me She looked sort of surprise He was there. My Boricua was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2008, all his treatments and therapies are stated in his file. She just confirmed the diagnose. She told him She will send the results as soon as possible to Buffalo NY where the rating board will make a decision.

At the end we came out as puzzled as before going in. We should get the results in about 30 to 60 days. That's the VA for you. We are just glad this is over so we can move on with our lives.... and today was the perfect day to do that. I watched the soccer game between My Beautiful Mexico Vs. France, I jumped, screamed, yelled, cried, laughed and celebrated each of the 2 goals from Mexico.

It felt soooooo good to do 'normal' things again, well normal according to me, because my 3 kids were looking at me with bewildered eyes while I was screaming my heart out of happiness with the victory of my team. I told them, YES!! this is your mama's passion for soccer so get use to it for the next 4 weeks. LOL....

I think the "face" was a little too much..... well I think not..!!!

Memory Lane Rednesday....

For this Rednesday I have a new RED template, thanks to my friend Blo . Love it.



Well, the dateline is here, tomorrow at 8:00 am, we'll be at the VA hospital, My Boricua has a C&P examen for his fibromyalgia, a Gulf War Presumtive Illness by decret of the Director of Veterans Affairs, I shouldn't be worried since My Boricua was in combat for 6 months during the Gulf War, but.... the DVA can pull a fast one when you least expect it.

There is so much in jeopardy, not only monetary, but educational and medical benefits for our kids too. It has been a long, long battle. I am tired, mentally, phisically and at some point spiritually, but here I am with Faith, with Hope, with a thankful heart for the many praying for an excellent outcome. My special thanks to Julie.

Here are my REDS fill with memories.....

One of my birthdays in Mexico, oh those memories help me so much!!! That RED couch lasted for ever...



Dating My Boricua, He did ( and still DOES ) make happy. Here we were dating for just ONE WEEK.... See the RED pot? and my RED lips? can you feel the love in the air?

In our wedding at the Court House, with this kiss, I became Mrs. Santiago. Loved that RED suit. A present from My Boricua...








Our Church Wedding.... Do you know The US marine Corps has decorated their dress uniform pants with RED lines along the side that signifies the loss of American marines during the battle of Chapultepec in Mexico? Los Niños Heroes de Chapultepec was the name of my elementary school in Mexico.

My parents, Christmas Eve 1999.... My dear Daddy last Chirstmas, He passed away on dec. 26th. 1999. I was away in NC when this happened, I was following My Marine, He received orders from California to North Carolina and I missed the last 2 years of His life, but I don't regreted anymore, I spent my first 23 years with Him and He did make sure we had a happy life.

And finally.... WOW!!! this sunset 2 day ago was amazing, it was heavenly.

Quiet Rednesday...

Well everything is quiet lately. After my finger and toe incident. It seems and feels so calm.

On June 17th. at 8 am, My Boricua will have a medical exam at the VA Hospital. This will define the pending claims and at some extend our future. We want to relocate close to my family, somewhere in California where the weather is warmer.

So to keep my mental sanity I have been...



cooking 'comfort foods' like Mexican rice. Onion, cilantro, Anaheim (California) peppers, tomatoes, chickien bullion with tomato, tomato sauce are the ingredients for this delicious dish.

pampering My Boricua with his favorite Mexican dishes like this Caldo de Res and Arroz, Beef stew with Mexican Rice in my red tray.




enjoying the delicious food our city offers.


delighting in beautiful sunsets. ( Oswego NY. )



finding little treasures in thrift stores like these placemats and a tablecloth for Christmas with my favorite The Poinsettia or as we call it in Mexico "Flor de Nochebuena" ( The Good Night Flower).

looking back at my pictures to get inspired again. (wall in our previous home with my collection of suns and a red wall. I loved that house unfortunately there were many issues as you can see on the dining room ceiling.)


Happy Rednesday....

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...