Continue your dream...

Everyone is always saying how you should never let someone steal your joy or your happiness; I have come to realize that you should never let someone steal your dreams. People come into your life and you share your dreams with them and then you get someone who is always willing to tell you all the negative or that you will never do it or that you won’t get as far as you think. Those are the people who are there to steal your joy, your happiness, and your dreams. Don’t let them do that. 

This is something I have learned to work on and I am trying to make sure I don’t let anyone steal my dreams. I did that all my life, and I would see my dreams come true for someone else, and I would simply I’ve up on my dreams and desires and go into a self pity mode. I don’t want to always be giving up on myself because someone else does and doesn’t want to believe in me.

I have to believe in myself first and then be able to accomplish and do anything that I can, not only for myself, but for my kids as well. I want them to grow up with a confidence of self worth that I had to learn on my own and still struggle with today. 

Continue to shine on even with others turn off their lights and don’t want to turn them on. Be happy with you and be happy with your own accomplishments, no matter how small. Continue to dream and keep on working on your dreams. 

Making something

My weekend was amazing. The kids make my day and my life. They make me so happy. Sometimes I think what life would be like without kids. I think of the adventures, the movies I can watch, the travels, etc and then I always see myself looking down at my side and I see my twins. Life would be different without kids, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I really love being around them and really love seeing them.

I am hoping to take them to the circus this weekend on Sunday. I love watching their expressions when they see the excitement of anything fun and fantastic. I think this would be something amazing for them to see and I would love love love to go. Hopefully, everything comes through and works out so I can.

I joined a blogging class this week and Tuesday was the first night and I learned a lot. I have a manual to go through and I am learning more and more about blogging. The class is four weeks long, every Tuesday in June. It talked about helping out other bloggers, monetizing your blog, and other great tips. So, I do plan on learning a lot with this course.

Nothing more amazing happened than me waking up and realizing I wanted to really do my passion. I love working this business of blogging, but I love another business even more. Actually two businesses are opening up for me, and I will be announcing them on Friday! Super excited about that!

I hope to keep getting more followers and people who comment on my blog, I would love it if you left a comment!

Amazed

2012 was a horrible year. I hated it so much...if it wasn't one thing it was another. Well, I got to change some things around and started working on my happiness. Got back into my blog, noting and writing about my journey, looking into really wanting to help and change others’ lives, even with my own crazy story. I wanted to be in charge of my life and how I was going to handle and react to things. That is hard for me since I never have been really happy with myself, never knew how to make myself stop being so angry, and my reaction time was always 0-mad angry within seconds. So I started to change.

Yes, there have been some hiccups along the way, I have stopped trying and went back to my Debby Downer ways, or I would be the victim, instead of rescuing myself. However, when December 31, 2012 came and I celebrated it on the road with my twins as we were driving from Arizona to Colorado Springs, CO...I realized that I was happy...that I really loved me. I was on my way to making 2013 a really good year. Don't get me wrong its been a bit of a mess at some points, but hearing from people saying that they've noticed my changes, or that others let me know they are inspired by me (I know right lol) that it made me want to be better.

March to April was really tough. I felt a bit betrayed and hurt by someone I cared about and that took me for a bit of a loop on this journey. However, after much prayer, much crying, and much "Erika, just stop it." I finally have let that part of my life go. It happened, I didn't change it or speak up, and now it is done. However, the friends that I have had that have helped me out...simply floored me. The ones that picked me up emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially, I couldn’t believe I had so much love given to me.

When I decided to change my course of life in 2012, I let go of many people who I barely spoke to, people who continuously used me for their gain, and others that I knew there wasn't going to be nothing there. Instead, I started speaking more to those that were and have been my friends. A group of ladies that have helped me out with encouraging words, to my best friend for just keeping it real with me, to my mom and family just being supportive, letting me rant.

So when everything happened in March and April, I thought I was alone, but it was those friends, the ones I had laid roots with, the family that weren't blood related but still were family...they came to my rescue and I have loved that ever since.

In our life, we have people who come into our life for moments, for seconds, to be there to teach us something or for us to teach them something. We have people in our life who we believe are our friends, but turn out to be not. I named this post Amazed because I am, once again, amazed by how our life changes, how many friends I have, how things have been happening for me and working with me and teaching me lessons. I am amazed that I get so much love from the twins, amazed by my own talents, strengths, and my friends.

2013 has been rough but it has been amazing as well. I got a job after not having one for five months, I got my tooth pulled on Tuesday and on Wednesday, after work, my daughter simply came up to me and rubbed my face and goes "Mommy, how are you feeling? Can I kiss your ouchie?" How amazing is a child’s love!?!?  This year may have a rocky start, but its going to have a great middle and a fantastic end.

How have you been amazed?

Change...I don't think I have any :)

In all our journeys of life, we have to accept the changes that come with it. My twins and I have dealt with many changes...some good, some bad, but all worth it. Changes help us create balance and structure and help us to accept something that isn't working for us.

So this post will be short because I am gearing up for a fantastic blog hop...I have never done one before and am beyond excited. From what information I have found out about a blog hop is that you add a link to your site (May Blog Roll) and then "hop" to each blog, follow, read, and comment on their posts (commenting optional I believe) and then you have built followers and can also now post to an actual audience.

This is so exciting for me and if you have never done one, and want to do one, check out Bloggy Moms May Blog Hop. This site is one of my favorites and I am so happy I found this site. +Tiffany Noth  has been an amazing inspiration to blog, to learn about blogging, to create a site for moms, and its brought/taught me so much! I hope to attend her blog-ference (conference) in Sept, I am working on that goal now.

As you also know, I wanted to make my blog more money and income savvy, I would like to bring in advertisers on my website, link my blog to my website, and just bring in some little extra income. I want my blog to be a mom two twins, single mom, and mommy inspirational site. I want to start posting more pictures of the things me and the twins have done and will be doing. I would like to post our science projects, our outings and adventures, and just what consists of our journey.

I would also like my site to be popular and to host giveaways, do reviews, and work with other blogging moms or giveaway sites to host huge prize giveaways. I know...I know...one thing at a time and for me that is getting more structured. I now have a blog post listing for myself that I will do on each day. For instance, on Fridays, it will be Fantastic Fridays, showing all the wonderful things that have happened on that Friday, and what made it fantastic for us. So watch out for these wonderful days :)

I guess this wasn't so short after all. I hope you all enjoy our blog and continue to follow us.

Thanks,
Erika S.

Another journeys great

What is the greatest thing in the world?

Each person’s answer is going to be different. From their personal background, to their beliefs in life as an adult. Each person has a different outlook for the way they term what is the greatest thing in the world or what is important to them.

For me, it is my kids and I love them. They saved my life and they gave me life. I may get frustrated with them and I may see them as rambunctious kids, but I love them so much.

This journey of mine is very hard. Right now, I have been going through some rough things and trying to be a balance for my twins. However, they have been so amazing and so wonderful. Two beautiful creatures God gave us and it’s amazing how they are….how much they could mean to someone.

Life is about how you make it. 90% of life is problems, situations, etc…10% is how we react to it. I know some may see that has backwards, but it is important for me to see and understand it that life is major or throws us many curve balls and 10% of life is all how I handle it, since life is not promised to us even for tomorrow.

I hope everyone can sit down and see what their greatness is, not only within themselves, but also within others. Seeking to find my own happiness has led to a lot of tears for my past, a lot of smiles for my present, and many giggles and stomach rolls for my future.

Life is one amazing journey and it is all in how we look at it. Take a moment to see how you look at and within things.

Love,

Erika 

What makes a friend?

I didnt have a fantastic life growing up and my childhood had way more shares of troubles than good times, however, I had my family.

In my teen years, I was awkward, a wallflower, dealing with my childhood, and wanting to be...loved and accepted.

As I turned into an adult, I acted out, making decisions I now look back on and regret, wish I had changed, made myself more clear to others, and stood up for myself. Ive had a rough adult life too lol...

Now as I look back and ponder on things and fully accept my life for what it is, I get this sense of joy, the sense of contentment in me. I have had my shares of ups and downs, like anyone does, and had my woes and happy times. What matters now, though, are the ones i continue to share my happy times with.

As I look around me though, there aren't many people I can say I want to share those times with. My kids are special and will always be the ones I share my happiness with first and foremost. I notice that most of my family is on Facebook and although we keep in touch, I doubt many of them know my struggle, my new fears, and my new happiness. Some family members dont even know my kids names.

Most of my "friends" cant return a phone or a basic text message without some reason why I shouldve made contact first (um, I have two two year olds, thanks) or they dont return it period. Most of my "friends" dont even know where Im at because once I got pregnant, the world changed. I was no longer the single, lets go out every weekend, party Erika...I was the chilled, dont say that around my baby Erika. Ive become a mom and who wants to hang around a mom with twins hanging on her legs (I do, actually!!!)

So with that realization, I looked closely at the people that have really been there for me, calling ME up and seeing if I was ok, texting me, helping me out...without strings attached. Ive always been the motivator in my friends life, the natural born encouraging one, the friend thats always willing to be there for you.

So I ask you, What makes a friend? Them being them. a friend is someone who is not only a friend in word but in deed as well. Thankfully, the handful of friends I do have, have been so awesome and so terrific, it makes a girl want to cry! Recently one has helped me out a lot, talking to me, keeping me company, and just being there for me (even after only knowing me for little less than a week). A friendship isnt based on who has done what and for how long, but the bond and the strength in between those two people! (thats a shout out to a special mama!!)

In that same note, if you dont have "family" remember who your true friends are and remember that family doesnt always have to be blood related...just there for you! Im glad that lately, with so much going on in my life, Ive had some amazing, awe inspiring, loving, giving , creative, wonderful, patient, kind, long suffering, fruitful, successful, friends...friends who love me for me and accept me for me.

So I say to you, look around and see how many real friends you have...cause I know now that I have a few. A very special few!!

New direction

I think that when people start over they feel its a bad thing, they feel as if its a failure to have to start over. They feel so sad at starting over and get in a frump.

When I was a child, we moved a lot and we may have stayed in the same state but we did move more than most kids. I feel that I am doing that to the twins and Lord knows I dont want to do that. I am planning on being in Denver and simply staying put for a whole year. It'll be tough but I really want that stability in me and my children's life.

So for me, starting over has never really been a failure, but an adventure to a newer place. I am moving to my final destination right now and in this process I do feel a bit sad, that I couldn't provide well for my kids. I dont want them to know what it feels like to struggle, I dont want them to know that a meal can be missed, or that people really have hard times. Yes, they should know these things and be considerate and humbly, but I dont want them to experience these things first hand.

I am taking another route and going to land in Denver and get my life fully together. Support from my bloggy moms and my friends and family I know this move will no longer feel like a failure, but a great success!

OMG!!

So, Ive been dating this wonderfully great guy and he has been simply amazing. His name is Joel, Ive known him for a few years now, but never seemed to like him like that. So we stayed friends!

I moved back home (from AZ to CO) in December and it was the greatest, yet most stressful thing for me. I wanted to be happy...inside and out, yet things werent looking like that was going to happen. Well, Joel pops into my life the moment I start praying for better. I then see him with the twins and realize that I DO like him like that.

So, now we are dating! Its been a glorious time and this...start to my future has felt so right and so comfortable. He is encouraging, loving, wonderful and full of life and love. He is smart, talented, funny and so spiritual. He loves the kids as if they were his own and he makes sure they are taken care of has well.

I couldnt have asked for anyone better and I am so glad that God was listening to my prayer and gave me what I needed and not just what I wanted.

So, here is the awesome part as well. We know we want to get married. we have a date (sept 16, 2011) and we know our budget (5k). I dont have a ring yet but he is going to purpose in March!! We arent your traditional couple and since I do have kids already, we've been very open on this relationship!

The wedding planner in me has been bursting with things to do, the checklists and everything else that only goes into the planning process, not to mention handling the wedding. However the respective, lets not talk about anything until after we are officially engaged girlfriend is BURSTING to start planning.

Well, my lovely blog followers, he gave me the green light tonight and told me to plan my heart out! I wanted to share my joy and excitement with you all!! I started another blog for my wedding planning, the new journey, the changes and PICTURES!!!
http://meyouthemforever.blogspot.com/

I hope you all follow my journey!

Oh...PS!!!! He said he was thinking of proposing sooner rather than later....an engagement story might be here soon!!!

To blog or not to blog! Twins Tuesday

I wrote this long, very inspirational blog post and my phone deleted it. So, I'm just going to write quickly.

Today was long, fun yet tiring. My twins are reaching into terrible twos and they just turned one. They were just all over the place today and so busy!! They looked like little Skittles when i got them dried up...had my daughter in a sunshine yellow towel and my son in a lime green one. As they walked around, I couldnt help but laugh.

As I put them to sleep and watch over them, I know 2011 with be very great for us. I want to make some changes that allow me to be the greatest for my kids and be great for me. I want to be a stay at home mom...so its best to really work on my PartyLite business. My next goal is to be more spiritual and active in my learnings of God. If i give him the power to run my life, things will be ok and better than ever.

I want the best for my kids, but most importantly, I want them to be happy and know they are loved. My goals are simply and i plan on making them happen.

What are your goals, focuses, dreams and wants? I'd love to hear (read) about them.

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Chuck E Cheese

Me, the twins, grandma and grandpa went to Chuck E Cheese on the day before we were leaving for Colorado Springs, Co. Karen (grandma) has been trying to get them there for months and I thought this would mean a lot for her. We arrived early for the last show, ordered a pizza and drinks and Jazmen started playing in the Toddler Section, enjoying everything she could. I thought that was the funniest thing. Not only is she a DIVA in their house, but she runs CEC too.

Jazmen enjoyed it all and had so much fun. Zeke-man looked like he could care less but once Spencer (grandpa) put him on the slide, it was so much fun then. He seemed to light on up. He played on the slide with grandpa mostly.

Right before we left, I put Jazz and Zeke in the toy car and thought of how cute it would be to get a picture of my babies (like I needed to tell myself to get one). I got on one knee and took a picture. It is so awesome!

I hope you all like the picture