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.

Just Love...

I never get tired of chocolates on Valentine's Day, Never!!! and thank God My Boricua knows that!!. This box is very cute, the picture doesn't show it well, it looks like needlepoint, very original. Unfortunately, they didn't last long, they were delicious. ;-P

It Is rednesday....

http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/




This rednesday it's dedicated to my maternal grandma or 'mi abuelita'. She past away on May 19th. 1986 and I still miss her so much. She and my grandpa lived with us, what a great blessing that was. Every morning before I went to school She would give me her blessing, doing a Cross signal. When She was on vacation at my aunts homes 4 hours away, She would get out of their house at the precise moment I was about to leave my house for school and from there She would send me her blessings. She called me "mama mia", I was her favorite and that saved me from several punishments due to my misbehaving. I got the frame and picture from my Mom in our trip to Mexico last year, when I saw it I asked for a copy of the pic, and the night before we left She gave it to me.




Next my beautiful tea pot. I bought it at an oriental store at the mall, I saw it few weeks before but I decided (as moms do all the time) that I could wait. Next visit I couldn't say no, it was only $8.99, so it wasn't a big expense and We enjoy it so much. I like the box too it is so elegant!


Last but not least, my thrifted red shoes, a great bargain at $ 3.00. I super adore them, comfy, cute and RED!!

Do You salsa?

No marks or place of origin. But still cute.



We love salsa! and not only the dance, we love salsa in all its varieties. I made salsa verde and chicken quesadillas. I found this jelly set? in my favorite thrift store but I use it for our salsa. I just love it, it's perfect for different salsas. This time I made salsa verde fresca ( fresh green or tomatillo salsa ) and salsa verde asada ( roasted green or tomatillo salsa ) mmm!!

Syracuse china dish.

Quesadillas are sooo easy to make. All You need is tortillas, (corn of flour) cheese to melt and whatever left over You have, meat, veggies, etc.




Heat a skillet, heat tortillas, add cheese and meat or veggies, toast and voila!!!

Syracuse china dish.

Homemade super easy chicken quesadillas and salsa verde. Mmm!!


Fresh green or tomatillo salsa and roasted green (tomatillo) salsa, (hard to pick one) in thrifted jars set.

Rednesday....

It's red time.... http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/?







Today my post includes my red blackberry pearl and the red tray I found in my favorite thrifstore. Red is my favorite color, specially now that I live in NY, coming from the desert I am not used to gray cloudy days. Red makes me happy.

First Rednesday...

Getting in the mood for Valentine's day....

Coffee time...!!!

My current "automatic" coffee maker... a thrifstore find. I used to have a smaller version, but one sad day it broke. I love this one, it makes me feel so "chic" when serving the coffee.

Feeling blue....

I found this blue vase? in one my huntings. It was there standing by himself in the shelf, it doesn't have any marks, so I don't know if it's vintage, but I love the color, specially under the light of the china cabinet.

My affair with Pyrex...

I love those pyrex bowls, unfortunately I just have a couple, I have no luck in that category.








I was dreaming for one of this corningware and I was very happy when I found it, but I broke the lid after a few uses, grrrh.... I still love it though.






The pics are not good... but I love those bowls!!!

My addiction....

I have a secret... well, I believe most women share the same addiction... shoes!!!. These are some of the ones I have found at different thfrifstores, I believe I paid about $ 3.00 ea. pair.

Casual Corner, Made in Italy.

Bandolino.

Karen Scott.

I got this pair a year ago, I was so excited and then I twisted my left ankle, sniff, sniff!!! so now that I'm better I'm hopping to wear them soon.

Apostrhope... this pair was 6.99 dlls.

Alpine, Made in Spain.

I wore this pair all fall and they are super comfy.

Believe it or not every pair was new.