I could own the whole block and all the stores would be mine.

Growing up my dad has always talked about opening up this restaurant or that restaurant. And since we had family friends who owned a Mr. Jim’s Pizza, which was usually the interest my dad has as well. So I believe it is in my blood to desire to open a restaurant. Although my dad would have loved for me to go to college become a lawyer and put to use my argumentative side…I really have a desire to open my own restaurant.

I think I have shared my desire for a sweets shop; even so I named it Simply Sweet Gourmet Creations. And for short, I would call it Simply Sweet.
This time of year seems to bring the desire out in me more so than the spring and summer. I think this is because I love love love the fall, and the cool weather, and I want my Simply Sweet to not only serve sweets, but bistro type food as well, you know, soups salads, pot-lucky home style foods…

I can spend hours online searching, finding, documenting, and dreaming up my Simply Sweet, but I sometimes get distracted by websites. And today my distraction might be a beneficial one to my dad. I can help him discover what kind of business opportunities that are waiting for him.

I didn’t realize how many businesses are out there to franchise. Not to mention how many I thought were just local joints, but can be considered a Texas franchise (Dicky’s Barbeque anyone?) I have heard of people complaining that there are not too many Carl’s Jr out there….uh hello, go get one yourself, it is available to franchise.

Fast Food business is really the first kind of franchises that I think of, however, there are lots of franchises to get involved with, that does not require food. A lot of the little tax shops, dollar stores, transmission shops, décor, handyman shops, as well as senior centers. Dude, I did not realize how many opportunities are laying there waiting for me to pounce.

Takio's Toy

We bought Taiko a fun new chew toy.....It is bigger than he is, but you wouldn't know by the way he attacks the thing...and I dare you to try to take it from him.

Blessings

Do you remember when I told you about the website that Texas has...you remember the website that tells you if you are owed any money...

Well, Jason had some money coming to him...and we got the check this week...

It couldn't have come at a better time.

We pay our tithes at church, we pay offering....and with $0 to our name, we were in between a rock and a hard place....and just as our faith became shakey and wavered, we got the check in the mail.

When we got it, I ran from the mailbox home to call Jason and tell him of our blessing. I sayed my thank you's to Heavenly Father....I cried a bit....said some more thank you's....and then we went out to eat. ha...

Thank you Heavenly Father!

Lesson you learned from this post....it pays to listen to Layla....

What are you waiting for, go check and see if you have some cash coming....

http://www.window.state.tx.us/up/

this is all about G.E.O.R.G.E

George...my brother in law....

This post is JUST FOR HIM.

HE was sad that the post of Veida and me at the Mavs game, didn't include him....so...he requested one just about him. And here it is.

G is for Great...he makes GREAT big farty smells.

E is for Energized...He is Energized at his own will....but most times not.

O is for Odd...Enough Said.

R is for Really Crazy....because he is and he knows it.

G is for Gorge...because if food is around he is in it.

E is for Easy Going...for the most part he is.....and that is necessary for survival in the Mastali family.

It might be fall time....ask the fireplace.

Just in case you were worried about my fall decor...here is what my fireplace looks like for now...it is the only festive decorations in the house, everything else is cluttered and messy...I need to get on top of that.

My Jackson Boy

The following are the emails I got on Monday morning....and it led to me having a euphoric stoked yay kinda day....

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"Morning!! Drew and I were wondering if you ever do any baby-sitting anymore? I know that you have a lot going on with your own little family, but are you ever able to get away to do some baby-sitting??Drew and I need to find someone to come to our house and watch Jackson on the night of the xxth (November) so that we can go to the Coldplay concert. Let me know if you have the time or are even interested.Jackson specifically asked about you : ) "

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and after I said yes....this is her response....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I am so excited...and I know that Jackson will be too!! We had to Jackson that we were going to ask you....even when Denice said she would come over, Jackson told her no and that his "cousin"Layla was going to come over and play. Too cute : ) We were just crossing our fingers that you would actually be available and interested in coming over.

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You can't even understand how much I love this little boy. It was and continues to be love at first sight.

I stayed all night and into the early morning to be there when the family can see the baby, after Liz gave birth the day after Christmas (other than doctors, nurses and mom and dad, I was the first person to hold this cutie after birth...so I know I am his favorite.) When I held him for the first time I cried like a baby...he was breathtaking...(and already too cool for the world, love the gansta pic!)

Here are a few times I babysat him, and we took pictures together....he was very willing.

Not that these are the most recent of pictures, honestly they are all about a year old or so (the first one a few years old..)...but still, I love him...see.....

I love My Jackson Boy!

Locks of Hope.

I got my hair cut tonight....it is much shorter than it has been in the past 3 years.....I love it...most minutes...but then there are a few moments of panic...but this happens to me every time I get my hair cut dramatically.... But I donated it to locks of love. I hope and pray that my hair helps make a beautiful wig for a child who needs it.

This is before the chopchop

This is during the chopchop - 10 inches
This is right after the initial chop, before the style.

This is the hair that is being sent to locks of love. And Alyssa the photographer
And a few hours later....the finished length...

Not for the soft stomach...

In my house, there is an infestation of...

the nasty..

HORSE FLY

Or should I say HOUSE FLY, because they are as big as a house.

These are seriously the biggest nastiest flies I have ever seen. The are huge....but because of their size they are slow...so I am able to swat them dead quicker than they can get away.

PreSeason Game And Live TV

Veida and I went to the Dallas Mavericks PreSeason Game....we had fun.

I had a busy day doing..errr...I mean helping...Jason finish his final project for a class....Jason had his final to take Thursday night, so even though she wasn't feeling well, Veida was a trooper and wanted to go.

We ate food....and more food....made fun of people....yelled at the Mavericks....

The Mavs lost....but it was just a preseason game, surely they will go all the way this year.....*crosses fingers* We have decided that because we were so high up, the Mavs couldn't hear us yelling at them telling them how to play the game, so next time, we will just have to sit closer.

And we attempted to crash the News Broadcast at "Victory Station" aka American Airlines Center. We were there with lots of drunk people from the game...we didn't have success, but it was fun yelling and screaming for their attention.

We should have joined...we are just that crazy.

My mom had given me tickets to the Shrine Circus for my birthday, so we went last weekend. Above is the pictures I took while we were there enjoying ourselves. Thanks Mom!

Breaking Dawn Broke Me.

So I finially finished it. (if you haven't read it.....someone told me that there is too much info about the plot in this blog...so beware.)

It seriously took me a millions more hours to get through this one....after Bella became a vampire (oh hush if you haven't read it, you knew it was coming, this isn't a spoiler!) I crept through the book. I took the 700+ pages as a death sentance in a sorts.....I made Veida give me all the details (of what I had left) the other night, that way I had an idea of what I was up against....sort of like an over detailed movie trailor....
Just because I had a hard time getting through it, doesn't mean I didn't like it. I enjoied most of it...was sort of irritated at how it peices together, and the lack of a true climax at the end....but in short it left the possiblity open to my mind that if she gets a whim, Stephenie Meyer will write a 5book (not like the almost book she wrote then scrapped) about Nessie and her relationship with Jacob, and the potential for more Voultri action....if they didn't get their fancies hunting the scientist-vamp....but that is my guess....

I am looking forward more to the Twilight movie though...my sisters and I will have a girl night out the weekend after thanksgiving to go see the movie together. Although in the three of us, I may be the only one who is going to wait to see it, I think they are both going to the midnight premiere...

Anyways, off to sleep....just thought I would share my daunting accomplishment

Tracking the Gaggle

I was teasing a friend the other day, who has a few kids who are hitting the driving age. She was worried that she will not know where her kids were and afraid of them getting in trouble. Valid concerns for all parents. I told my friend that she should put a vehicle tracking system on all of her cars so she knows, or can tell at any time where the cars are at least. She thought this was a good idea, but didn’t know where to go to find something.
Little did I know that today as I accidently clicked on an advertisement, I would come across a website specifically for GPS Fleet Tracking… coincidence, maybe; funny, yes. I emailed her the site and together via instant messenger we read through the website.
Now, I understand that this website is based for companies who have tons of cars/trucks/cargo out and about, but why couldn’t there be a GPS vehicle tracking for families with lots of cars? She will end up having 6 cars parked in her driveway, and as we investigated, we found that there was a minimum of 5 cars…we read a testimonial of 5-10 cars, in a “fleet”…. perfect for her. So now I will tease her with the idea of her and her “fleet” of people and cars. It used to be a “gaggle” like a gaggle of geese, but technology has changed not only our world, but vocabulary too.

Itches and Villages...

I am getting that itch…you older 20’s single/unmarried women know. That itch..the baby itch. Now I am not saying I am running out and getting knocked up to make the itch subside. But I do try and hold any and every baby I can in the meantime.
I read other peoples’ blogs about how they love their pregnancy. How big their bellies are getting and how they can’t wait for the big day…how scared they are, how they want to network with other parents to learn tricks of the trade..
These same people are also caught up in planning, decorating and showing off their nursery. Do you realize, the most common colors for nurseries are browns, pinks, sagey mint, and cotton candy blue. And everyone who uses these colors thinks that they are unique, quite funny to me.
I digress…
The point of this, is that a friend of mine told me of a website, I am always trying to find creative stuff to do with Aaron and Alyssa (not any of my biological kids, that why I am having a baby craving). And this site is more of a smorgasbord of things for parents, particularly mothers, that have children, and want to know anything and everything there is to know about raising, dealing with, and coping with parenthood, kids, and all that goes along with it. Networking is key, not only in business but in life as well….you have heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”…
I want kids, but until my time is here, I can network as the nanny/caregiver…wanna know how we feel, how much to pay etc give me an email.

A Sarcastic Thank You...

Dear Person Who Has My Cell Phone.....

I hope you are loving your newly found blackberry as much as I did.
Thank you for being an honest member of society, and contacting me through the friend who I kept having text you, as you have my phone.
Thank you also for allowing me this oppertunity to utilize the insurance on my phone to get it replaced. Heavens know that I pay into this program, I should be getting my moneys worth. Never mind the $100 that I have to pay to get mybb replaced...(you may say it is cheap for a blackberry, but I may have to argue seeing as I already HAD a blackberry.)
Please enjoy the games that were loaded onto my blackberry, and good luck beating my brick breaker score of 16,110 at level 29. I worked hard for that...so please appreciate it and don't clear it and reset the score.
As you get aquainted with all of my friends and family that are in my phoneboook, please let them know that I will soon get a replacement. It will just take a little time since the economic strain is hurting everyones pocketbook...tell the to email me if they need me. It might be a few weeks.
Also, as you have my phone. Please talk to Shayda every day for me. Make sure she is happy, and ask her about her day, let her vent, and tell her over and over that you love her....also let her know I love her.
Please take care of my phone, use it like a blackberry should be used....and please pray that the phone my insurance ends up sending me isn't a crappy refurbished one.

Thank you for not returning my phone...

Layla

My Dream Tour Guide

I was given a trip to New York for my birthday, by my sister Veida. We are supposed to go this month, but life has gotten busy....so I am not sure that will happen.
BUT
When it does happen....I found the person/people I want to meet up with, and hang out with.... this girl and her friends are so me and my sister...they stop in the middle of the street to dance alongside a cooly painted van....and do so while people walk by.....the only difference is that Veida and I are not as cool as this girl and her friends, we would so not walk the sidewalks of NY in heels and hose...even though that is the stylish way to go....we are dorks.

She seems like she would show me the hi-lites of the fun touristy places, but also share the cool underground funky new yorkian places....and we would have some fun in between....

Dear Rockstar....visit my blog... email me....become my friend.... so I can come and visit you, and not feel like I am stalking you!!! Thanks!

This is a you tube video but I found it here.

My Wednesday Expectations

I was feeling better today....still a bit sore.

Tomorrow, if I am feeling better...I am to do the following

1) Laundry Laundry Laundry
2) Dishes Dishes Dishes
3) Vacuum Vacuum Vacuum
4) Hopefully, see and visit with Veida
5) Maybe hang some pictures and shelves that are just hanging about
6) Organize all my crafty things in the living/dining room
7) Hang up festive Octobery decorations that I am making
8) Did I mention Laundry??
9) Deep Cleaning the bathroom (my baseboards are horrible, and if my uncle David came over, he would kick me off the team,... (to be explained later)....well he probably would if he saw my house and car right now.) (can you double ( ) in one set of ( ) ??? ) (confused yet? I am and it is my question..)...because David always says, you can tell how clean someone is by looking at their baseboards)...)....( )...yeah...I am confused.)
10) Calling all hospitals asking how to safely take care of a partially severed tongue....not that mine is, but I like to exaggerate.

A Letter And A Tongue Tragedy

Dear Candy Makers,





Could we all come together, and create/invent/perfect the art of candy making sans air pockets. My tongue would appreciate you, and I would probably buy more blow pops. If my request is overlooked, I guarantee that I have witnesses to my disastrous run-in with air pockets, it is documented with a picture (please see attached), and I have already had medical counsel.


My Aunt is a part of the Pre-paid legal, and I will sign up......consider your self warned.





Thank you for your time.


Layla

The Actual Story:

Sitting tonight with some friends, we were discussing a few religious topics (it was a bible study, then a doctrine exchange) I was sucking on a piece of candy...

when it got to a point of an air pocket, we all know what happens when you are sucking a blow pop and you come to the air pocket....

ouchie....

but because I had a heavy tongue on the candy....as the air pocket presented itself.....

it slid roughly against my tongue, causing it to cut, and start bleeding....it bled so much that I had to suck on two wet paper towels before it would quit pouring out....

Everyone laughed and asked me how it felt to be a lizard...and could I make both parts of my tongue twitch in separate directions....ha ha.

It hurt...

I went to CVS to grab some toilet paper, and I asked the pharmacist if i should put ambesol on it to help with the pain.

All the man did was laugh at me and called me silly (in his own pharmaceutical way) and told me that the tongue is the fastest healing part of the body and by the end of the night, it should just feel like a little cut...and by tomorrow it should be gone.

I didn't believe him...until I was trying to take the picture of it, and now you can barely see it....though I still feel it...and am sucking on sonic ice...


Jerks.

My Columbus Day Sick....

Julie, and her two girls came over today, to cheer me up with a yummy sandwhich from Dino's. (If you are in Arlington, you must try it.....to die for.) And for the afternoon, we sat around playing hair shop...and I was the beautician.... but I got all my tricks and knowledge from www.shedoeshair.blogspot.com

This is Jasmine, she is 5, and very very very cute for her age...she saw me doing Alyssa's hair, and begged Julie to let her me do her hair....

Alyssa's hair wasn't too fancy, she wasn't into it today, she just wanted two piggy ears, with a side split (meaning the part was caddycornered"


This is Shayla, Jason's neice. She is 8, and very tender headed, she is the one that kept saying "Jasmine, your hair is just not cute, it is 'da bomb"






And this is Alyssa a few days ago....another style I found at http://www.shedoeshair.blogspot.com/

I've done it again...I need some help.

Hey guess what….

I bet you can’t guess. For those of you, who know me, know that I tend to be a bit absent minded; especially in my current state (I am dog sick). But because of my absent-mindedness…I have lost my cell phone.

I am sure that it is in the same place I left it…but if it doesn’t show up, I am going to be in the market for a cheap mobile phone. Heavens know that I should not be allowed to have a fancy one like my blackberry, if all I am going to do is break it and lose it. (But if it is a cheap blackberry, I may be in luck!)

This is not the first time for me to loose an expensive electronic, a few years ago, I had got a Zen (MP3) player, and it was stolen, and now I have a Zune.

I have my Zune still, however, I am wanting some fancy accessories…you know, the kind that make me look all smart and technologically advanced. But with my history, I better purchase MP3 player accessories from the new website I found while looking for a replacement phone.

Well, maybe I shouldn’t even be allowed to buy MP3 accessories until I can keep up with a phone.

I will ask Jason…I am sure he is going to ground me for the Blackberry.

(Everyone pray that someone found it and is eager to promptly return it to me!)

I am still sick
My kitchen is still a mess
The laundry is piling up quick
Help! Put me out of my misery.

Death Becomes Me

Each breath labored

My chest that tries to rise and fall staggers with the weight of a thousand boulders

I need to cough and do

But to my dismay I can not cough out the stuff that sits between me and getting better.

Each cough hurts worse than the next

only complicated by the sore achey back that begs to never have to embrace a cough again.

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If you can't tell, I am sick. Jason has been sick for a while, and I got it this past weekend....and it is getting worse....or at least it feels like it. I am still functional 50% of the time. And the other 50% I want to sleep, I cough so hard it makes me sick, and I moan and complain.

My house is a huge mess....I clean a small part up and come back and it is back to where it was...how do stay at home people do it? Be sick and stay at hom and have to do their jobs?

I will have more posts later....I want to lay down. I just took a hot and steamy shower....I have arranged for someone to pick up the kids from school, time to close my eyes, maybe.