Hair Bow Vlog!

Hello my beloveds! So I've been seeing so many vlogs lately, I figured, Eh, why not give it a go? So as kind of like a magical unicorn, I decided to give you guys a treat and do my very first VLOG! Please excuse me if I don't make sense some of the time or if the cuts are bad, I actually did it a couple of times and edited afterwards so I combined everything together and put my high school video production skills to the test! So hope you enjoy it, I'm not sure if I'll make another one, Vlogs are exhausting! Until Next time......

The Children are Starving

1 in 4 children are effected by hunger across the globe; it is an epidemic that a lot of people don't even really think about. While we are so consumed about our busy schedules and what we are going to be making for dinner, there are children that are going to bed hungry.  I for one, know first hand what it is like to not have food on the table. I know the ache in your belly when you're so hungry, but there is no option to eat. Luckily, my family was blessed with enough love and support from family members, that we were never really hungry for long periods of time. But for so many out there in the world that don't have the same support, they are starving. This is why when I got married, I made it one of my own personal missions to always help a child in need. I will never hesitate, no matter how much discomfort or an inconvenience it will cost me to make sure that a child has at least food in their bellies.

On this note, I was talking with my husband recently about our company that we started...Incase you didn't read my blog about it, it's an online company that is doing surprisingly well, considering we barely opened it just a few short years ago. Since we have been doing so well, I asked my husband if we could donate a percentage of our proceeds to feeding children not just here at home, but all over the world? My husband didn't even hesitate and he even added that we should eventually just start our own foundation to help kids in need and making sure they are able to have the resources they need for daily living.  I couldn't be more over joyed and I jumped on my trusty old computer to research an organization that I feel would meet what we are looking for.  It didn't take me long as I already had an organization in mind and the winner for who our donations will go to is:  Feed the Children!

They are not only a non-profit organization that has been around for almost 40 years, but they are transparent and aside from providing food to starving children, they also give them educational resources, as well as health and water! You also have the option to choose where your donation goes or you can even sponsor a specific child.  This fits everything that my husband and I are looking for in helping children around the world and I can't wait to be able to do more!  If you would like to support our cause, you can check out our online store at www.marmarstoys.com or you can check out the blog I wrote on our site as well, where I'll give more information about the foundation....Until Next Time!

The love of Family

I usually get really depressed around this time. I'm not sure if it's because Summer has come to an end and it's a realization that time is fleeting and another year has come and gone, but I think it goes deeper than that? You see it was around this time that I lost someone very close to me, that I loved with my whole heart and when I lost him, it felt like a part of me died with him. It's been almost 20 years already, but every year around this time, I go into this dark depression. People always say that time heals all wounds, but sometimes, it just isn't the case.  Sometimes, the wounds heal, but the scars are left as a reminder of what was once there and now is gone. I used to get to a point where I didn't even know where and if I would come back? I remember once it got so bad that I became catatonic. I would cry so uncontrollably that when I would get so tired and weak from crying, I would just be numb. I think I said this all before in a previous blog somewhere, so I'll just leave out all the dramatics and just cut the present.  Today, I'm much better with the help and support of my loving husband and family which is why I wanted to blog about it.

Have you ever had one of those days, where there are so many people around you, yet you feel so utterly alone? I was having one of those days today and I wanted to just talk to someone, yet, even though there were people around me, I just felt like I was in such a dark place. It got to a point, where I went into my room with the lights out and was watching videos online and I just wept and cried. I was remembering my lost relative and missing them so much, but then out of the blue, my phone rang and it being so late at night, I didn't think anything of it, but then my phone rang again so I picked up. On the other end of the line was my niece, with her ray of sunshine attitude and with her light, it in an instant brought me out of the darkness.  She called to ask if I can see them as they were visiting my mom and wanted to see me. I told them yes of course and in a matter of seconds, all that pain I had in my heart turned into pure joy, simply by being around my happy, wonderful nieces.  I just wanted to put that out there in the universe.  If you are ever feeling sad and alone, just remember you are not and the best medicine for it is surrounding yourself with people that love you and give you pure joy....Until next time!

College Life

Hello my beloved, how are you all doing?  I just came back from taking a final and all I have to say is that it is in God's hands now! I tried to study so hard, but at the same time, it's hard being an adult, while trying to finish school! Everytime I tried to study, I had a parent calling me to take their kid here, I had to drop one kid off there. I had a toddler begging for my attention, my mother asking me to babysit, while she runs a quick errand and the whole time, I'm like..But I HAVE TO STUDY?! Nope, doesn't matter. When you are a responsible adult, all of a sudden your "To Do list" outshines your priorities.

So there I was a half an hour before class, trying to get as much reading and studying in that I possibly could, before the professor walked in.  Luckily, she had a brief class with us to help put our minds at ease and even gave us a couple of the answers; but then the test started! I felt ok about probably the first 6 or so questions, but then I started getting these questions like:

7.) "Timmy called out "ball" to refer exlusively to his blue ball, what linguistic phonological process is he exhibiting?"

8.) "Timmy called out "ball" to refer exlusively to all blue balls, what linguistic phonological process is he exhibiting?"

9.)"Timmy called out "ball" to refer exlusively to not just blue balls, but all circular objects (shape, eggs, balloon, etc.), what linguistic phonological process is he exhibiting?"


All that I started thinking was, who is this "TIMMY" and what is up with all these "BLUE BALLS?" But I couldn't let a little blue balls questions, distract me, so I kept pushing forward. I started regaining my composer, but then I remembered I was hungry because I didn't eat before the test and now my head is starting to hurt. All I could think was "DANG IT, WHY DIDN'T I EAT BEFORE THE TEST?!!" But still, I kept pushing through to the next questions. Eventually, I just kept telling myself, "When in doubt, choose C." Quite frankly, I'm not that confident about what grade I am going to be getting for this class, but at this point, I will be over joyed if I pass with a C!!!...Until next time....

Maybe it was Jose?

Hello my beloveds! I really should be studying right now, but it was sooooooo HOT today and I'm sooooo tired I don't feel like studying!!  I know, I know, I really need to buckledown and JUST DO IT!! But can I atleast take a little break to tell you about a funny, but kind of mean thing I did today?

So with Halloween around the corner and the nights getting darker and so forth, it's right around the time, the tricksters should start coming out of the woodwork.  I have to admit, I do have a bit of a mean streak in me, especially when it comes to messing with peoples heads, so this was especially enjoyable for me..teeeheeeheee!

It started innocently enough, with my godson spending the night at our house. He was getting ready for bed and I was in the livingroom on my ipad, when he all of a sudden quickly came into the room and told me, "I think this house is haunted?!"  I looked up from what I was doing and wasn't really sure what he said, because he kind of mumbled it, so I said, "What?!" Then my nephew told me that before he went to the bathroom, he was in his room (all our nephews and nieces fight over this extra room that we have, because that's where they stay when they come over, so we just call it all of their rooms) and before he went to take a shower, he noticed the fan was at the end of the desk and was going to fall, so he moved the fan to the middle of the desk and went to take a shower, but after he left the room, he heard a bang and when he went back to check what that sound was, he saw the fan on the floor!!  OOOOOoooohhhh Creepy right? Well for me, I'm used to living in old houses, so it wasn't any surprise to me.  I didn't even bother to look up at him and went back to doing what I was doing and just told him, "maybe it was Jose?"  He stood there kind of dumb founded and asked me, "What do you mean? Who's Jose?!!" I acted very nonchalant about the whole ordeal and was like, "you see my dear godson, where we live now, didn't exist way back when. This was all actually open space and just dirt and metal support beams.  My grandfather was the contractor that built this house and Jose was his second hand man who worked with and for my grandpa.  Jose was also homeless, so he would sleep under this house in the dirt and so my grandfather built this, the way it is now for him, so that he would have a warm place to sleep at night and some say that he never left this place."

I then looked up at him at this point with very serious eyes and looked straight into his for this next part. I even sat straight up and leaned a little closer to him for more dramatic effect and said,"you know, sometimes, when I'm alone here, I see him." My godsons eyes grew double their normal size as I continued.  "Yes, it's true, sometimes, I will just be sitting here on the couch, or I would be doing my chores and then I'll see someone in the hallway or standing in the doorway, and then when I turn and look again, there is no one there." My godson, half believing me, half not, was starting to freak out and responded with, "OH MY GOSH, WHY WOULD YOU TELL ME THAT?!!! NOW I'M NOT GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT!!!".....I could of stopped there, but that's just not my style; I always need to finish what I start, so I went on." Don't you ever wonder why when you sleep the doors are closed and when you wake up in the morning they are open?" He responded with, "That's because you tuck us in and then leave the door open when you leave?" and I quickly rebut with, "nope, I always close them, because you told me you don't like sleeping with the doors open." He is now officially freaked out and wants to cry, he's twelve years old and is now looking over his shoulder to see if he sees anything supernatural!

On another note, all the above is actually true that I said, so I really wasn't lying to him, but I'm pretty sure there are logical explainations for it all....or is there...DUUUUUuuunnnn Duuunnnnnn DUUUUUUUUUNNNNNN!!!!! Until next time.......

My Dream Car

Lately my husband and I have been window shopping for what our next car would be and we were talking about our dream cars. His of course was an old 47 model T, where mine on the other hand was a 1967 Mustang Fastback. Just thinking about that car gives me feels!! I've always been a mustang girl and if I could have any car out there, without hesitation that's what it would be! Well, actually, I take that back. Although I am and always will be a mustang girl, I think if I could have any car out there, no questions asked, it would definitely be the new 2016 Volvo XC90. That car has a way with words without even saying anything! Have you guys seen it? OMG, look it up! 7 passengers, 400 horsepower, all the high tech gadgets any car enthusiast would enjoy and I could go on but I mean...you just need to see it to drool like I'm doing right now! I see myself driving it whenever I close my eyes. The beautiful thing is that I thought with all the bells and whistles it was going to beat least  an $80k starting price, but it actually starts at only $50k..so you know what I'm going to be asking God for Christmas and my birthday! Until then, I'm happy driving around my Suzi; that right I name my cars!

My very first car was a 1997 Eddie Bauer Ford Explore. I loved that car so much and had so many grand adventures in it! I named him Red, because he was really Burgundy and Beige, but what kind of name is Burgundy? No, Red was the kind of name that takes you places. Red was the type of name that would see you were having  a bad day and instead of trying to solve your problems, would just take you in his arms and tell you, I don't give a Damn, we are going on an adventure and that adventure is called life! I miss that old car, I swear if it didn't get wrecked and was falling apart I would probably still have it today. It's okay though, now I have my Suzi...she's reliable for the most part and just as adventurous! Suzi, is my 2007 Suzuki Forenza wagon, complete with racks on the top. I once had a car friend, who practically begged me to trade cars with him. At the time, he was driving a brand new Nissan 350Z coupe and he told me the Suzuki wagon was his dream car and he would totally trade me right there and then. I looked at his 3.5L engine and compared it to my 4 cylinder 2.0 and was like Nahh, no thanks, no deal, get to the back of the line! Truth be told, his car was nice, but as for me, yeah I may be sporty and spontaneous and all that good stuff, but at the end of the day I'm also very economical and I wasn't about to be paying how much in gas to be filling up the tank! Aside from that, I pretty much paid my car off in cash and was free and clear and if I took the Nissan, I would of had to pay the remaining balance on it, so no thank you, I like being debt free.

My Suzi gives me the best of both worlds, it's torque gives me the thrill of a sports car, while its electronics gives me luxury. The only downfall is that because everything in it is computerized, it kind of has glitches that need to be upgraded and rebooted every couple of years otherwise it starts acting like an old jalopy! Other than that, I wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world........unless it was a brand new Volvo XC90 or 1967 fastback!! Until next time......

Don't ever give up on LOVE

Hello my beloveds!  How are you doing today? As I sit here in my office just scanning through my facebook news feed, I came across a post that one of my friends had made.  It is kind of like a small blog, but in comment form and I thought it was interesting enough to blog about. She was commenting on a blog she read from Jim Daly and if you don't know who Jim Daly is, then click here and you can see for yourself JimDalyBlog.com.  Getting back to my topic though, she titled her comment as "Epic Love in Marriage," and talked about the Titanic.

She mentioned how everyone was so enthralled with the main characters love story that it made it seem like love like that could only exist in movies, but gave some enlightening information about a true love story from that fateful day.  She goes on to write:

"Aboard the Titanic when it sank in the Atlantic Ocean’s frigid waters on April 15, 1912 were Isidor and Ida Straus. As the terror of that ill-fated journey unfolded, the couple knew that after forty years of marriage they were about to spend their last moments together. “Women and children first” was conventional protocol at the time, of course, which meant Ida would have to leave behind her beloved husband. But when the moment came, she refused, saying, “As we have lived, so we will die … together.” Numerous accounts of that night indicate the couple then settled into deck chairs and held hands, waiting for the inevitable."

I'm not sure if you remember the movie, but in all the chaos, there was an elderly couple that accepted they were not going to get off the ship and retreated back to their cabin, where they both died holding each other as the waves came crashing in.  These characters were to represent Isidor and Ida Strauss, although, there was a lot more to it then that.

Isidro and Ida were the owners of Macy's Department Store in New York and they had seven children and as their children were grown, would travel a lot together.  They were actually coming back home to America after vacationing all Winter in the South of France. Being that they were of upper class and their age, they were both offered a seat in one of the lifeboats, but Isidro refused to get on while there were still women, children and men that were in line before him, he told them, "I have lived my life."  After his refusal to get in the boat, his wife with one foot already in, stepped back and said her famous words, "I will not be separated from my husband, As we have lived, so we will die … together.”  It is also documented that she then took off her fur coat she was wearing and gave it to her newly hired English maid whom she made get on the boat.  She then told her, "Take this, you will need it more than I will now," At which point she went to her husbands side and there is where she stayed until the cold, bitter end.

This is the kind of love story that doesn't exist in movies.  Whenever you watch a romantic movie, it always goes like this: They meet, fall in love, something traumatic happens and then they either separate or get married and live happily ever after.  Movies never show you what happens afterwards and how two people can be so in love and devoted to each other. I am sure both Isidor and Ida had their ups and downs and hardships in marriage, but the fact that at the end of it all, they can still love each other enough to stand together on a sinking ship...Well....there's no greater love than that.

I have been blessed enough that I have found my own Isidro and Ida story and if you don't know what I am talking about, then I suggest you start reading my blogs from the beginning. I would like to think that if my husband and I would of be put in this kind of situation in our old age, that we would probably do the same thing.  To be honest, we have been put in similar situations, maybe not as dramatic or epic as being on an actual sinking ship, but we have made our sacrifices and proven over the years that my husband and I are stronger together, then we are separate and that nothing in this world can tear us apart.

So what is my point about all this?  LOVE DOES exist and it is out there for anyone to find. If you can't find it, then maybe you are looking for the wrong kind of love.  Isidro and Ida didn't just love each other, they loved God and showed it through their actions. 
(1 John 4:8-16)  Until Next time Beloved.......

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