tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166782181896677742012-03-03T00:12:09.627-08:00News about home schooling, crafting, sewing, kids stuff, tutorials, product reviews and everyday life with some fun stuff thrown in the mix.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.comBlogger721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-14804231504966935072012-02-29T08:13:00.000-08:002012-02-29T08:13:49.761-08:00

In case you couldn't see the letter, I am posting it here...(with corrections) Hello baby How are you [?] I hope fine and well. I just chillin out - nothing better to do in here. Honey, I don't have any other way to tell you to forgive me [while] I am in here. I know [that] you still think [that] when I get out [of] here, [it'll] go back to the same. I don't have any other friend out there

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-62821063613660196532012-02-28T22:09:00.001-08:002012-02-28T22:11:53.056-08:00

Giving it all I've got right now seems so difficult. Some days I just wish for complete silence. Getting out of bed is hard sometimes & I wish I could just stay in bed and cry all day. Accepting that our lives must go on without Julian is like trying to accept that a knife must remain in it's wound despite the excruciating pain it causes. I won't pretend to understand God's plan for us and I've

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-90729336536074443532012-02-28T10:34:00.000-08:002012-02-28T10:34:21.516-08:00

In July 2005, Julian was out partying with friends. They came upon a traffic check and the driver was arrested for DUI. Julian was arrested for public drunkeness and jailed in Stanly County Jail. While there, a spiteful police officer falsely identified Julian as a gang member and turned him into INS. What should have been 24 hours in the drunk tank turned into nearly 2 months in jail and Julian

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-66412587672489055112012-02-21T18:32:00.000-08:002012-02-21T18:32:25.776-08:00

Julian at Kure Beach (2009) I have to be honest and say Julian wasn't all that crazy about the beach. He always said he grew up so close to the beach in Mexico and he wasn't a good swimmer, so it wasn't as much of a treat to go to the beach for him as it was for us. My kids inherited my love for the beach and are way better swimmers than their dad and I are. Julian loved going to the beach

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-16065988131036833352012-02-11T01:45:00.000-08:002012-02-11T01:45:15.025-08:00

When our son Julio was born, Julian watched as I nursed him. He told me, "You are so lucky to be so close to our baby. I feel like I wanna be that close to him." I would lie down on the bed and nurse Julio and Julian would lay on the other side of Julio and gently rub Julio's back as he nursed. It seemed so important to Julian that his child feel him there with me as I nourished him as only a

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-22084829183193863762012-02-04T00:03:00.000-08:002012-02-04T00:04:39.848-08:00

Back in about 2002 when I had my old Nissan Pathfinder - which I loved, by the way - the thermostat went out on it. Julian wanted to fix it himself. He had a strong urge to learn so many different "manly" trades and car repair was one of them. So, Julian went to an auto parts store and bought one of those books specifically for our make and model vehicle and, of course, a thermostat and the tools

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-58226928267501142082012-02-01T01:55:00.000-08:002012-02-01T01:55:57.828-08:00

Julian has barely been gone a month and a half and I know the grieving process is intense. One of the deepest emotions I feel is guilt. Not guilt over his death, but guilt over my life. I feel guilty when I laugh, guilty when I feel happy and even guilty when we sit down to a delicious meal. While we try to enjoy everyday things, Julian can't enjoy them with us. He can't laugh at a silly joke or

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-33398549250067058772012-01-28T16:25:00.000-08:002012-01-28T16:32:40.104-08:00

Okay, if I say Julian was perfect in every way, many of you would probably crinkle your nose a little at that. But let me explain Julian's perfection. He was a man. He had his moments. He made some bad choices. But to me, Julian was the perfect example of a man. He was the perfect example of what every husband and father should strive to be. Not forgetting that in the looks department, Julian

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-57007130670569450112012-01-27T17:40:00.000-08:002012-01-27T18:49:46.694-08:00

It's been just over a month since we lost our sweet precious husband, father, brother Julian. To me it has been an eternity without him and I can't imagine what the next 10, 20 or 30 years will feel like without my love. Some days I feel so guilty when I do all I can to not think of him, but it by the days end I cry myself to sleep at night. A glimpse of photos of Julian cause a lump to form in

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-26590284899051964972012-01-22T19:03:00.000-08:002012-01-22T19:03:26.548-08:00

When you lose someone so young, the future you planned together becomes just a faded memory. Julian and I had wonderful plans for our future together and I know that we would have - if we'd been given the chance - grown very old together. It's very hard for me to imagine the children's and my life without the man I loved so dearly to share it with us. But the truth is, I have to move forward.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-27205432392541612172012-01-21T13:26:00.000-08:002012-01-21T13:26:51.844-08:00

Eyes that looked so deep into my soul Lips that spoke the sweetest words Arms that held me so close It felt as though we shared one heart beat Sometimes I can still feel your breath on my neck Sometimes I can still hear you saying "I love you" My soul aches to hear your laughter again My heart skips a beat when I remember your touch Once you were here with me There was a time when you were

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-88931184598637236102012-01-19T16:42:00.000-08:002012-01-19T16:42:47.753-08:00

The kids and I were coming home from a little shopping trip, today - mostly window shopping, which I do to get them out of the house - when the subject of the after life came up. We all had different opinions. Julio has pretty much lost his belief in anything after death. Caleb believes that we live our own personal heaven (or hell) after we die. Daisy doesn't say much, but she believes her Papi

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-67959255154071573832012-01-18T21:33:00.000-08:002012-01-18T21:36:07.694-08:00

Nothing in my life will ever be the same. All the plans Julian and I had made together are void. Without him here, everything I wanted to do with my future has changed. We were going to travel the United States together when the kids were all grown. That was part of his attraction to out of state work. We'd be able to see the country together and he'd still have steady work until he was ready to

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-25578961636689664392012-01-12T05:54:00.000-08:002012-01-12T05:54:42.290-08:00

I feel butterflies every time I think of Julian. Not the pretty, happy fluttering kind you feel from a first kiss or watching your newborn baby nurse. These butterflies are nasty, sickly creatures that grab me from the inside out and make me feel sick to my stomach. These butterflies form a lump in my throat and cause me to grit my teeth hard and try to hold back the tears. The butterflies I feel

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-33930509370057790622011-12-07T20:41:00.000-08:002011-12-07T20:41:26.919-08:00

We teach our children to beware of the dangers of strangers. We tell them not to walk alone at night. We tell them not to get in a car with anyone without our consent. We tell them not to let anyone touch them in a bad way. We have childrens' books with pictures of scary monsters with mangled bodies and twisted faces. But the reality is some of the monsters out there who can hurt our children are

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-42615403661065015942011-12-04T13:33:00.000-08:002011-12-04T13:33:09.820-08:00

After nearly six years of homeschooling my 3 youngest children, I've come to realize the hippie environment isn't as much of a positive thing as I had first thought. I still want my children to be able to express their individual personalities, but I know they also need some sort of discipline and structure in order to become functioning adults in today's society. I have been working over the

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-68814555972317783822011-08-11T17:26:00.000-07:002011-08-11T17:26:08.218-07:00

My Website

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-56582155699849183582011-08-08T18:07:00.000-07:002011-08-08T18:07:22.946-07:00

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-57090598205183177302011-08-08T01:07:00.000-07:002011-08-08T01:07:46.894-07:00

What does that mean to you ? I used to think I knew what being grown up was. I fed my kids, took care of the house, paid my bills, but I still couldn't hold it together when pressing situations arose. I was quick-tempered and easily distracted by the simplest daily problems. Now that I'm 40, I can look back on my life and see that I didn't so much have it together back when I thought I did.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-89825835322052334032011-08-03T10:20:00.000-07:002011-08-03T10:21:18.733-07:00

Thanks to Kimberly, my website is up and running AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS ! The website turned out perfect ! Kimberly did an awesome job and she stuck with me until the shopping cart was fully set up (which took some extra time and work). I've got soaps curing on the shelf and more to make, but I have quite a few on the website. You will also find handbags in the Renee's Fashions section. I will

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-41267699844005547262011-07-30T01:13:00.000-07:002011-07-30T01:14:28.621-07:00

To be quite honest, I've never wanted to stay in web places like Etsy or eBay. It's not that they aren't great places to shop or sell, but I've always seen myself as more independent. I want to have MY OWN presence on the internet & not get lost amongst the thousands of other shops that sell on second party sites. I'm very appreciative of the opportunity that Etsy has given me, but I see it as

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-76882158284361910302011-07-21T20:04:00.000-07:002011-07-21T20:04:13.533-07:00

I have a job. There's no time clock for me to punch in and out everyday, but I work all the same. I take care of my household daily. I do dishes, wash clothes, cook the meals, shop for the groceries, pay bills online & at pay stations. When the kids can't agree on something, I'm the referee (and trust me, I do a lot of interference). When one of them gets hurts, I'm their nurse. If hubby can't

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-81996217652574007452011-07-19T23:16:00.000-07:002011-07-19T23:16:57.313-07:00

My kiddos just couldn't resist this little guy. Daisy & Julio took these photos. He was set free immediately after the pictures were taken.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-3120681087891458832011-07-14T00:34:00.000-07:002011-07-14T00:34:39.793-07:00

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-3283276904607863702011-07-14T00:13:00.000-07:002011-07-14T00:13:55.239-07:00

Well, I have really gotten into it this time. I've been creating so many new products over the last few weeks. I am running seriously low on supplies, but decided to use what I've got to make what I can until it all runs out. So, here are a few pics with descriptions of my new products - Beach Babe Sunscreen Eva Mae's (should say) Old Fashioned Salve (label was corrected after taking this

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-30780431332142152182011-06-27T16:56:00.000-07:002011-06-27T16:58:02.151-07:00

My photo of the week. My daughter, Daisy with her new pup, Pedro.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-70477428619803103232011-06-26T00:32:00.000-07:002011-06-26T00:36:14.021-07:00

This recipe turned out GREAT. It had the perfect taste and I was even able to chop up my "burger" and make tacos with it. Veggie burgers do not have to be "BLAH" ! With a few choice ingredients, they can be savory and delicious. My kids even LOVED them ! Ingredients : 2 Cups Cooked Black Beans (add salt and 2 cloves of Fresh Garlic while cooking) 2 Cups of Water/Juice from the cooked beans 2

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-22849080475606182432011-06-23T01:53:00.000-07:002011-06-23T01:57:42.846-07:00

Making the most of what I've got to generate some sales.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-33672507222442209342011-06-22T19:29:00.000-07:002011-06-22T19:30:06.809-07:00

Daisy's been bugging me for weeks to stop at the small pond on the way to her Papi's job so she can take pictures of the Geese. I snapped a few photos myself. We left outta there running ! Those Geese were kinda mean. Photograph taken using Canon PowerShot SX130. (Albemarle, North Carolina)

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-46406829638209381392011-06-21T19:53:00.000-07:002011-06-21T19:53:19.972-07:00

The video explains it all !

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-82602138308642791962011-06-21T00:40:00.000-07:002011-06-21T00:42:38.860-07:00

Took out my Canon PowerShot and decided to play around with some of the features. I set it to continuously snap pictures. My son, Julio is the subject of this set of photos. Below is my favorite shot of the set.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-25018994578691478202011-06-20T13:46:00.000-07:002011-06-20T13:46:50.986-07:00

Totally worth the brain freeze ! 4 Cups of ice 1 Package of Coolaid (Your choice of flavor) 3/4 Cup Sugar (Add more or less for a sweeter or a more tart flavor) 3 to 4 Cups of Water Place all ingredients together in the blender (we don't have food processors or ice crushers in the ghetto). Blend until slushie. Enjoy !

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-2498478041427394372011-06-19T15:27:00.000-07:002011-06-19T15:29:04.861-07:00

Strawberry Cake is my husband’s favorite dessert. He doesn’t care for frosting or super-sweet desserts, so for Father’s Day, we’re making it just the way he likes it ! Strawberries : 1 pint Fresh Strawberries  4 Cups Water  ½ Cup Granulated Sugar  ¼ Fresh Lime Cake Ingredients : 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour  1 Cup Granulated Sugar  ½ Cup Butter (Room Temperature)  1 Cup Milk  3 ½ Teaspoons Baking

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-53056595289695306942011-06-19T00:50:00.000-07:002011-06-19T00:54:07.366-07:00

This recipe is quick, easy and delicious. These can be made as appetizers, but in our household, they're a meal. I like them, because it's one of the only ways all of my kids will eat Pinto Beans. You'll need : 2 cups of cooked pintos (see below for my home-cooked pinto beans recipe) 2 Chipotle Peppers 1 clove of Garlic 1 TBLSP Olive Oil 2 cups Cabbage (thinly chopped strips) 1 large Tomato

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-83257924480750570962011-06-18T10:42:00.000-07:002011-06-18T10:42:08.098-07:00

Everybody talks about Hispanics “stealing” work from honest, hardworking Americans. But I’ve noticed a trend lately and it involves employers stealing work from employees. My husband, Julian did not start out as an American citizen, but is now legal to work in the U.S. and is on his way to becoming a citizen. He’s worked jobs on farms, in construction, in factories and has seen a different side

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-45708291465197205712011-06-17T02:08:00.000-07:002011-06-17T02:08:52.807-07:00

In late March when my husband, Julian was laid off from his job, we didn't worry for the first week or so. We thought things would even out, as they always seem to do during rough patches. By mid-April, Julian was working odd jobs in peach fields or the occasional day-labor with one contractor or another. We barely had enough money to buy groceries, much less pay our utilities. One of our

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-60195141268078381652011-06-15T19:56:00.000-07:002011-06-15T19:57:01.490-07:00

My daughter, Daisy will be eleven this July and I find everyday with her to be more fascinating than the last. She shares many of the same interests I do, but in different perspectives. One thing Daisy and I have in common is our love of photography. We'll take pictures of anything. Daisy's interest in photography seems to veer more towards structures. Buildings of almost any kind catch her eye

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-68259361041369268462011-06-15T01:17:00.000-07:002011-06-15T01:22:46.612-07:00

The carnival passes through our tiny town every year around April or so and stays for about 5 days. This year I nearly missed it. These photos were taken as they were setting up for the last day's fun. I was kind of glad I caught it before all the people got there. I used my Canon SX130 to capture these pics in Vivid Color Mode. It was cloudy & the ground was soggy, but I still love the effect.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-21798652025719269642011-06-14T18:48:00.000-07:002011-06-14T18:48:49.933-07:00

Recently (very recently), I joined an online group. It was a FaceBook group for locals wanting to buy, sell or trade. I listed a few of my things on there, but they got lost in the chaos of THOUSANDS of other posts. I saw that other members were "bumping" their own posts to the top of the list. So, I figured it must be allowed and I did the same with my own. Not wanting to seem needy or greedy, I

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-29743034476040546012011-06-12T20:29:00.000-07:002011-06-12T20:29:50.780-07:00

Last year was my first year attending the SouthTube event. It was lots of fun, but I didn't get to attend all the events & programs that were on the schedule due to lack of funds. I was also a little shy and didn't mingle like I wish I had. This year, my kids & I will be attending ST5 in Nashville, Tennessee and we'd like to have the best time that we can and spend time getting to know all of my

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-88714293926897823272011-06-10T19:09:00.000-07:002011-06-10T19:09:14.474-07:00

I've been thinking of going back to eating a basically vegetarian diet for some time. We have been off our Veggie diet for about 2 years now and I have to say, I miss it. I felt better when I had fresh fruit for breakfast instead of cereal with milk. So, after doing some research online, I decided to try my own version of a homemade veggie burger. It did turn out quite good. We used black beans

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-70725265656236429142011-06-09T20:25:00.000-07:002011-06-09T20:25:58.240-07:00

On my 4th birthday, my Aunt Carolyn came to visit. I lived with my great Aunt Gert since I was about a week old. Gert was old, arnery & dirt poor, but she did love me. She had never married or had children of her own. I would spend some Christmases with my Aunt Carolyn & her husband Lonnie who were not able to have children of their own. On this day, Aunt Carolyn was bringing me a cake & presents

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0Biscoe, NC, USA35.3598626 -79.7797613000000235.3447101 -79.79884230000002 35.3750151 -79.76068030000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-69055129701055279582011-03-27T20:02:00.000-07:002011-03-27T20:02:24.545-07:00

I'm having such a blast making these cupcake soaps. I've completely filled my soap shelf with all of these and will be making many more in the coming weeks. My kitchen is filled with the most delicious fragrances ! http://stephaniereneegomez.com

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-86738647202467032692011-03-19T20:38:00.000-07:002011-03-19T20:38:59.238-07:00

I think most of us have big dreams. Whether we live them out or we just dream of bigger and better things, we all still have dreams of a life more full of the things we desire. What I am learning is that for me, it's time to turn off the dream switch and start living a more practical life. The truth is, we live in a trailer, we drive cars that are more than 5 years old and we live paycheck to

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-6464444851446652402011-02-13T01:06:00.000-08:002011-02-13T01:06:42.836-08:00

I did awful at haggling down the price (the seller only knocked off $200). But I got the van I wanted. It's beautiful ! And the price was pretty fair for the condition, age and mileage. I won't go on and on about it here. I've already talked about it on FaceBook and YouTube. Just sharing a quick update here.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-22999191069563744272011-01-17T05:10:00.000-08:002011-01-17T05:10:06.417-08:00

I was asked (by a friend on YouTube) to create a tutorial for a simple handbag. That tutorial got me wanting to make some handbags, but I didn't want them to be simple. Here's the first bag (with the exception of the one I made in the tutorial). I need to go back in and line up the handles right, but this actually took me about 3 and a half hours to complete, it was already late and I was very

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-77305731143543769232011-01-16T02:13:00.000-08:002011-01-16T02:24:14.125-08:00

It's been 5 years since we bought a vehicle. We still own the 1995 Nissan Quest that we purchased used in 2006. We paid $5500 total for our van and it has been a very reliable vehicle. We bought it from a small car dealership, but we are the second owners. It had about 140,000 miles on it when we drove it home. It now has well over 250,000 miles on it (the odometer stopped working about 6 months

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-33991209781376870432011-01-13T18:18:00.000-08:002011-01-13T19:00:59.993-08:00

I joined the YouTube community October 2006. I began making videos around April 2009. For me, YouTube became an outlet and a doorway to the outside world. I had pretty much kept myself inside since December 2003, when my family experienced a very traumatic home-invasion robbery. After the incident in 2003, I became physically ill and was emotionally traumatized. I didn't want to leave my home any

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-11197459794360584192011-01-13T09:37:00.000-08:002011-01-13T09:39:24.360-08:00

We had snow this past Monday, which then turned to sleet. It's now Thursday & remnants of our winter wonderland remain. The kids didn't play in the snow, because by the time they got outside, it was covered in a sheet of ice. Yesterday the ground and the trees looked as though they were made of glass. I stepped out to take a few pictures.  I can't wait for Spring to arrive !

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-33753000995004022762011-01-13T01:24:00.000-08:002011-01-13T01:24:07.730-08:00

Singer® Heavy Duty Professional Sewing Machine (That's my dream machine !) I first saw this sewing machine on TV about a year ago and I've been pining over it ever since. I hope to have one VERY soon. I can't wait to unbox it and get to sewing !

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-63774625421865055712011-01-10T14:12:00.000-08:002011-01-10T14:12:26.613-08:00

I did a YouTube video on this topic some months back and now I feel I want to write about it here. Sometimes it seems so much easier for me to express myself in the written word more than in the spoken word. I hope I make my statement without coming off offensive or defensive. I simply want to state my point of view on the matter. I grew up in church. Mama always took us on Sundays & Wednesdays

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-72870753212285514892011-01-10T01:13:00.000-08:002011-01-10T01:13:23.888-08:00

Hubby made some fried Tilapia while he was here for the holidays. He and the kiddos enjoyed their meals very much. When I first saw this fish prepared with the head still attached, I couldn't see how anyone could eat this. Of course, once I tried Tilapia this way, I couldn't imagine having it any other way.  Preparation : First, prepare the pan. Add about 1/3 inch deep oil to pan. Set on

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-30480849356797344352011-01-09T11:24:00.000-08:002011-01-09T11:24:26.344-08:00

Below are some pictures I took in Rockingham, North Carolina (Richmond County) using the Miniature Feature on my Canon PowerShot SX130.  This features works best holding the camera horizontally. I took these while standing in the parking lot of the ESC office. It was above the main road there and made for a great angle to try out the miniature capabilities of the camera. You can see how this

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-13298859681601849402011-01-07T09:17:00.000-08:002011-01-07T09:17:02.599-08:00

Daisy (10) & Julio (12) love doing their school work in my bedroom. The kids learn at their own pace and are always encouraged to experiment with things they enjoy doing. We spend much time during the day discussing current event issues, politics and history. I encourage all three of my home schooled children to ask questions about anything and everything. I strongly believe in being completely

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-69857604925041083062011-01-06T12:50:00.000-08:002011-01-06T13:17:18.736-08:00

Yes, it's true. I'll be turning 40 this year. I can hardly believe it. I remember when I thought being forty gave someone senior citizen status. Now that I'm nearly there, I would hardly call myself a senior citizen. I am a grandmother now, but I don't really feel old. What I feel is maturity. Reasonable, logical thinking, not afraid to express myself, loving where I am in life MATURITY ! So,

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-50124702160725072662011-01-04T23:59:00.001-08:002011-01-07T07:55:50.169-08:00

When you find a product you like, you tend to remember & stick with that name brand. Back in 2004 when I got my first brand new computer, I purchased a Lexmark printer and quickly discovered that I truly hated Lexmark products. The printer was cheap, noisy & just didn't work right most of the time. Once I was able to afford a better printer, I purchased an HP all-in-one. I had that printer for

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-34138776165875957992010-12-22T00:25:00.001-08:002010-12-22T00:38:17.347-08:00

Just recently I purchased the Canon PowerShot SX130 camera. After reading many reviews on this one, I really wanted to give it a try. I have had it for about a week now & am already in love with this neat little, featuread packed camera. It takes flawless pictures, HD video & has many features including Fish Eye & Miniature. Stereo microphones capture every little cricket's chirp. Easy to use &

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-70732630816171365882010-08-31T11:15:00.000-07:002010-08-31T11:27:55.147-07:00

Giving up some of the things I've cherished for so long. In trade, I get to spend more time with the PEOPLE I love more than anything in life !

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-34507771001197726012010-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:002010-07-15T11:13:38.944-07:00

Dove Fresh Picks For Fall Sweepstakes

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-43143518528967165852010-05-29T11:33:00.000-07:002010-05-29T11:47:18.523-07:00

*I got my Z915 last week. Plenty of time to get to know this neato little, affordable camera. The Kodak EasyShare Z915 sells for $129 at Walmart.com (couldn't find it in any Walmart stores in my area, but Staples and Best Buy have it for $199). This camera is awesome ! For the price, you can't beat the picture and video quality. It takes hi-def video and flawless pictures. I'm not at all

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-27754130016369869102010-05-29T11:18:00.000-07:002010-05-29T11:32:23.116-07:00

Thirty-nine years on this earth ! WOW ! I almost feel mature right now. I turned 39 years old May 2nd and reflecting on my life I feel as though it's time to be a real grown up.When I think of the years past, it doesn't feel like so long ago that I was playing Super Friends in the back yard with my little brothers and my cousins. It seems only yesterday, I was walking the halls of my highschool

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-20913424983844062112010-05-19T10:15:00.000-07:002010-05-19T10:53:38.625-07:00

The morning bell rings (which is mom saying "get your butts in here and do your dang reading"). Where will class be today ? Mom & Dad's bed ? Okay then, let's get going. Homeschool is in session !My two youngest, Julio (12) & Daisy (9) flop down on my bed with the books they have chosen to read. Caleb (15) has a stomach virus, so he's in his room reading.Our homeschool atmosphere is very laid

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-27490443701887501552010-05-17T13:43:00.000-07:002010-05-17T14:06:16.251-07:00

So, I bought a Nikon D3000 a couple of months back. The D3000 is a semi-pro or beginning pro type of camera. I always wanted a pro camera ever since I was a kid. I didn't take it lightly that I finally had one. I searched local community colleges for a photography class. No luck there. But I wasn't giving up. I had this camera and I wanted to learn to use it. It had so many wonderful features

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-80233170668593923992010-05-16T21:13:00.000-07:002010-05-16T21:27:10.158-07:00

Thinking about my nearly 40 years on this old planet earth, I realized, I live very much within my comfort zone. I'm a home body. I don't go out very much. In fact, I don't do much of anything. I have to say, my comfort zone is getting quite boring.My comfort zone is plain, boring and colorless. I want to be creative, adventurous and a little - not too much, though - fearless !In my mind's eye, I

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-52708005484953401132010-05-16T17:59:00.000-07:002010-05-16T18:42:19.727-07:00

Thanks for coming by my blog. Please, subscribe. I'll sub back. I look forward to seeing my YouTube friends & Facebook pals here.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-43086715508777529892010-05-16T14:08:00.000-07:002010-05-16T14:12:46.933-07:00

Last night I decided to delete my FaceBook & MySpace pages. I haven't blogged here in a bit, but I'll probably be posting here on a daily basis since I don't have the distraction of the other 2 sites.

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-1365956588809030532010-02-20T23:34:00.000-08:002010-02-21T00:22:07.732-08:00

Life goes on. Blogs are forgotten. It's been a bit since I posted here and with only 4 subscribers, no one probably cares very much anyway. Yet, I'm still posting here, right ? LOL...That's the optimist in me. I figure one day someone will come upon my blog and either really like or really hate, either way, they'll probably link to it, talk about it or something.We had a light, powdery 4 to 6

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-37372789160770840332009-12-04T23:26:00.000-08:002009-12-04T23:50:28.528-08:00

The title is the beginning of a HUGE issue for me. I'm a mom of three. Over the years I've heard daycare workers, doctors, relatives say to me "I'll treat your child just like she [or he] was my own child..." Well, nosiree you will NOT. I have seen how some people treat their own children and I prefer to have my child treated by others as if she/he were MY OWN !I say this because I heard this

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-46951145628593332662009-11-22T14:16:00.000-08:002009-11-22T14:34:33.596-08:00

A while back, I applied for a Vision Prepaid Card by Visa. I already have A Rush Card that I use to purchase things online, but I was thinking this may be an even better deal.I've had the card for months & just decided to use it the other day to make a quick purchase online. I loaded $25 onto the card using Money Gram. I came home & immediately got online to make my purchase. The card was

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-3783789623691993262009-11-08T17:30:00.000-08:002009-11-08T17:48:06.650-08:00

It's that time of year again. I always love the Christmas season. Watching my kids open their gifts is the best part of all ! But now that my 3 children are older, it's hard to keep their gifts a secret.This year we decided to do most of our shopping online. It seems a much better choice for busy parents. With Kmart taking layaway & sites like eBay making it easier to get what you want at a

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-11140108143142670592009-11-01T22:40:00.000-08:002011-06-19T02:29:07.192-07:00

Felt Food (Doughnuts) Baby Boots with Skid-Free Soles Snowman Baby Shoes & Matching Burp Cloth

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-716678218189667774.post-35393253008021063992009-10-27T07:13:00.000-07:002009-10-27T07:19:18.651-07:00

I love for my workspace to be neat and for everything to be as easily accessible as possible. I am also a bit of a frugal shopper so I went bargain hunting at thrift stores the other day and found some plastic caddies (is that what they're called ? -- they're the ones with the handles that are used to store cleaning supplies). I got 2 big ones and one small one (a repurposed plastic caddy for

Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12025939274193043396noreply@blogger.com0