I’m NOT A Hippy!

What a week it has been!

Been dealing with my daughters school, and them wanting to send her to a different school because the teacher can’t handle ONE high functioning autistic child. UGH!!!

Annnywho.

Back to my title.

Has anyone here seen Wanderlust?

With Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd?

Well, they are a couple living in a tiny high rise condo, and long story short they end up on a commune.

Now hear me out, I love the idea of this kind of community, and support…..

Buuuuuuuuuuuuut, I’m not some vegan, non-daily shower taking hippy who wants to share what I own with everyone else…… I love my technology, I love my showers, and I looooooooooove chicken.

So what if there were a way to get some like minded folks on board, purchase land, make natural homes (where everyone would pitch in to help….) and have our own community!

A garden that everyone took care of, the mothers could rotate with child care, the savyvy people who know about plumbing who know about plumbing and electrical could deal with that…

People would have normal jobs, live normal lives. Just live in an off grid, homesteading community!

What Would Make You HAPPY?

Hello everyone in internet land!
I’m very sorry I kind of fell off the map. I was busy with creationsbykyla, the new baby (oh yea, we had another baby!! Who’s now 6 months old.),  moving to Dallas, and quite honestly a bit of a “21’st century reality” depression.

We lived in an apartment….. it wasn’t huge, but all of us, and our crap fit in it just fine. All my crap I should say…..
We moved into a house that we are renting 2 rooms in with a close family friend.

We still have the hhr that we acquired after that wonderful 16 year old rear ended me right before Christmas, right after we just bought a BRAND NEW car(bad idea).
But, it’s under my MIL’s name because losing the car and the insurance paying it off immediately gave us bad credit. (I DON’T GET IT!!!!)-_-

So basically nothing but our kids, clothes, beds, and computer are really OURS.

And that really bummed me out to think about.

We looked into buying a house for a while.

Save a huge down payment, fix our credit, spend a butt load of money making the place “flow” (water, electric, gas etc…) if something breaks, we are paying for it, and if we have a bad few months,guess what? They’re going to take “OUR” house. You know, that thing we “own”…..Which that whole process would take about 5/6 years.

Then I saw this documentary on natural built houses. Cob, adobe, straw, earth for well under $10,000….. and that got me saying, “Well that’s awesome, but I wouldn’t want to live in a cave, have no electricity, no hot water, or poop in the ground. Thanks but no thanks.”

So I dropped the subject with myself and moved on.

But it stuck in my head pretty hard…. I want to grow my own food, I want to collect my own eggs, and watch my kids run around on our own land knowing they are safe and not going to run into the street,
or get nabbed up by some pedophile that lives 4 blocks away. (hypothetical, not real. Unless some A-Hole didn’t register with the city, or hasn’t been caught yet.)

In some very rural places, land is only $2,3,4 (and for the huge plots)5 thousand dollars. To OWN and do as you please with!!!

I’ve researched having water sources, and rain water tanks, solar energy, wind, and hydro. All of which will easily power lights for the night, heating water, and yes…. having a computer. But no TV. (I’ll get back to you and your scoffing in a minute.)

Our home would be more modern looking for my husbands sanity, and a touch of artistic whimsy for me.
(I wasn’t going to discuss with my husband much about it until more extensive research and drawing up a few plans. BUT my husband is actually on board! My “internet hogging, cell phone game loving, xbox/ps junkie, I need to go to walmart at 2am” husband said let’s do it!
He actually saw an earth house, half underground, half above ground hobbit house and said he wanted that…..I think we will go more modern with it, but glad to know he’s open!!)

Ok, so back to my enlightening moment.

What makes me happy in life? What will make me happy in the future?

Does a brand new car make me happy?
No! Payments, gas, having to fix it all the dang time because we are driving everywhere.
Not to mention the fear of wrecking because someone else was being careless. (Like what happened in 2011 for me!)

Does a new cell phone that is all the rage make me happy?
No. Once again, a very large $250 cell bill so I can be stuck on facebook, instead of spending time with my family (which yes I am guilty of sometimes. But that’s going to be one of the things going. You will mostly only see me post to connect people with my blog, and show off my kiddos.)

Do new clothes and accessories do the trick?
Hahahahahahaha no. I am not a fashionista, and I couldn’t give a crap about brands. If it fits, I like it. Why would you care SO MUCH about what other people think about your brands? Seriously.
I’d rather buy things for quality and durability. Not because people are going to look down on me if I don’t have it.
What would make me happy?
To see my children not stuck to a TV or electronic device all day. To see them out on the land, playing together, and learning how to care for the animals and garden. Getting their hands dirty.

To be self sufficient. Not to rely on anyone else to take care of MY family that WE chose to make.

To strengthen the family bond, actually all sit down for meals together, do chores together, and not letting them sit in their rooms all day stuck doing something that won’t benefit them.

To learn new skills, and hopefully master them.

To be able to answer the question, “What did you do today?” with a novel of things that don’t include spending half my day in a car running errands for most things I can make and do myself.

So, now that you all think I’ve gone crazy…. I’m planning on taking you guys through my journey into self sufficiency.

Ridding ourselves of the unnecessary, and downsizing. Finding land, and how we are going to save for it. Learning all about gardening and livestock. (Yes people that really know me, I am going to have to get the cajones to kill a chicken.) And am very much hoping to be able to take you through the process of building our home!

I’ll leave you with a few cool places I have found, and gave me inspiration.

http://voiceofnature.tumblr.com/post/39520076775/mass-oven-by-lehm-und-feuer

http://galacticpants.tumblr.com/page/21

http://everydaylifetogether.blogspot.com/search?q=cob+houses

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/ce/5f/fd/ce5ffd9773f041f93188c21407464df6.jpg

http://www.whitelinehotels.com/blog/eco-eloquence-olarro-lodge-loita-hills-masiff-kenya/#more-9954

http://www.ecodesign.co.nz/examples/44brownAdobe.htm

http://www.motherearthnews.com/multimedia/image-gallery.aspx?id=2147504510&seq=7#axzz2PQlyv2LM

Alright just a few. But seriously. Go search Cob House on Pinterest. And I dare you not to fall in love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDOX!!!

Today is my son’s first birthday!! He came 2 months early, and was in the NICU for a month and a half. Those were the worst nights of my life being without both my kids. Maddox, we love you so much and we are so proud of you already!

 

In other news, I am so busy it is ridiculous with Creations by Kyla!

Check it out for more updates!!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/545777435480708/

Made in AMERICA

Ok, apologies AGAIN for being MIA.

But I had been toying with the idea of going back to work. Did a couple interviews, did some babysitter budgeting…. Well, it is NOT worth it! We would only be bringing in an extra $400 which my husband can make in 2 days overtime. So to save myself the frustration and worry of leaving my children with someone else, I chose to start working from home.

But not these scam “Sit at home in your pjs and cold call these people who will talk so much crap to you and ruin your day” stay at home job.

I started doing custom painted items for people!

Dia De Los Muertos

Fleur de Lis before glaze

I didn’t get one of these finished, but here was during the process.

RAWR!!!

Custom coasters for an awesome customer!

More custom coasters

Love doing wine glasses!

Mention you saw this from my blog and you’ll get a discount!!!!

Here is a link to my Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/545777435480708/

And to my Etsy, https://www.etsy.com/listing/156158151/hand-painted-marilyn-monroe-wine-glass?ref=shop_home_active

 

Thank you for looking! And like I said, I take custom orders. It takes me a bit because some are hand painted. I also do print ones as well, which don’t take as much time. Check out what prints I have here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.547256901999428&type=1

 

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! We’re in the middle of a move, and filling orders, and my Son’s first birthday, and my daughter going to Dallas to spend a week with Lola, AND my Aunts coming to visit from Arizona…. AYE AYE AYE!!

 

Hallelujah, Goodbye Razor!!

Ok, so with summer technically starting today…. What better post than this??
I researched laser hair removal, WOW is it expensive and I’ve heard of complications. Knowing my luck, they’d happen to me -_-
I’ve gone to a high end salon & got a wax, she burned the HELL out of me! And I still had to pay $80 a leg.
And like alllllll ladies, I hate shaving. Especially when you have kids that won’t let you shower alone….
Then I heard bout at home sugar waxing. I had all ingredients, and the time. So why not? I found the perfect recipe, and I cannot tell you how happy I am with the results!
2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup water
Put it all in a pot, and set it on med/high. Stir constantly, wait for it to bubble then lower it to about medium.
It should be an amber color when its done(yellow brown).

 

 

Transfer to a glass jar, and let it cool enough to a heat you can handle.

For the strips I cut up 2 of my husbands white Hanes tshirts that had seen too many days.
Apply the wax with a knife or popsicle stick. I prefer the knife…
Apply against the grain, and make sure the hair is 1/4 of an inch or longer. Apply the strip and rub it against the grain, let it sit 20 seconds or more and RIP IT!

Sorry, but I had to share… hahaha

Honestly, it didn’t hurt that bad. (Mind y’all I have 7 tattoos, used to have 13 piercings, have had kidney stones, and popped 2 babies out so I have a high pain tolerance…)
So I got bold. I did my bikini area!!
I can proudly say it took 2 weeks for me to see any hair resurface, and even then it grew back so fine and barely visible. I have pretty dark hair…. And when I shave, it would literally grow back hours later!

My legs 2 weeks later!!!!

So ladies, sugar wax it! Sugar was $2.50, lemons are $1 for 4, and shirts were free. It’s worth it!!

I’m Here, and Alive!

Ok you guys, I’m very sorry I fell off the map. I haven’t been feeling myself as of lately, and I’m still trying to find me.

Here’s what has happened since the last time we spoke.

I beat BIOSHOCK Infinite, and it was mind blowingly awesome. Ken Levine, write a darn movie already!!!

Greg’s birthday was the same day his Great Grandma and a few family members were hurt, and lost their homes in the explosion in West.

Aubrey turned 4 on Cinco De Mayo! We went horse back riding, and learned she wasn’t as excited as we thought she’d be

Maddox had to have some xrays done on his head (which turned out to be fine!),  and learned my husband has a STRONG opinion about our doctor!

Learned that you can’t trust ANYONE renting out a house on Craigslist because they are a pastor doing mission work in a different country, and you have to be god fearing to rent from them and send your deposit + first/last months rent to them in said country?? Nooooo thank you!

Got some head shots done, and am finally going to get back into acting.  Learned that I need to smile more, no matter how much I hate how I look while doing so….

I have been couponing…. a lot. And am happy to move this summer so I have more space ^.^

Nothing too exciting has happened, but am looking forward to new adventures.

I joined a “Mommy” group through a Meet Up app I added…. You guys, I’m worried. My daughter has a speech delay, but no problem expressing how she feels.  She gets angry real easily because of this. I’m scared of what the other mothers may think…. We’re doing a pottery class next week, and I’m so nervous Aubrey will either act out, get angry with me or another child, or worse… throw a GIANT tantrum. Not enough mediation in the world to rid me of the stress I’m feeling right now.

We have started a “chore chart” with her to help her with her schedule before she starts school in August.  But mostly, to get her to poop on the potty. I also can’t really get her used to the whole underwear thing…. if anyone has ANY tips, it’d be greatly appreciated! She pees on the potty no sweat, just won’t wear underwear.

I promise to be on this thing more often. And the facebook of course. I’ll be at the Scarborough Fair this weekend with my Mama!!! So, expect a story about my skeptical husband, and crazy family to ensue 😉

 

Wheat Waffles

2 Days ago I went to Sprouts and fell in LOVE!! I bought 4 things of blueberries…… WHOOPS! I had just but a whole bag of frozen ones at HEB the day before, and pre-bagged to make my smoothies. So I made waffles today!!! And not traditional one’s either.

Also, I don’t know about y’all. But I’m not a syrup fan, so I also made coconut whipped cream to top mine. YUM!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

1 C Wheat Flour

1 C Oat Flour (or what I did, stick a cup of oats in my bullet and made my own ;P)

1 Tbs Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1/4 C Raw Honey

2 Tbs Applesauce

2 Eggs, Separated

1 1/2 C Almond Milk

1 tsp Vanilla ( I only added 1/2 tsp since my almond milk was unsweetened vanilla)

And some blueberries. ( I add mine as I put it in the waffle maker so they are distributed properly)

Add everything together but the egg whites, and blueberries. Mix it all with your mixer, and set aside. ( Get your waffle maker heated at this part)

Take those egg whites, make sure they aren’t in a plastic bowl. (I used glass.)

And mix em until they are reaaalllllllly fluffy. The mixer made this happen in like, 3 seconds.

Then fold into the mix, basically just spoon it in and stir slowly.

Add 1/2 cup of mix into each square, and throw on as many blueberries as you wish.

Now, I should have put the coconut whipped cream first since you need it to sit in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.

I would pre buy the coconut milk a day, or at least the night before you decide to make these. It helps to separate the cream from the milk.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

2 Cans of Coconut Milk

1 Tbs of Raw Honey, you can add 2 I just didn’t want it that sweet.

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Scoop out the top layer, which is hard and looks like frozen whipped cream. And leave the milk behind.

Add the honey and vanilla, mix until it looks like the real thing and stick in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it on your waffles!

As I’ve stated many a time, my daughter is picky AS HECK! Well, she ate 2!

Greg requested this every morning…. yea right! Maybet Sundays 😉

Except net Sunday…. BECAUSE WE’RE GOING TO KEMAH!!!!

My first time, sorry I’m a little excited 😉

Homemade Coasters

Sorry I haven’t been around as much you guys. Bioshock is consuming my time….. but I’m almost done, so more stuff to come soon!

I made these awesome coasters a few months ago and so far so good!

Here’s What You’ll Need:
4 plain white tiles, got them at Home Depot for $0.25 each

I chose 4 different patterns, so 4 sheets of scrapbook paper

4 Cork Backs, they come in a package of 6 for around$1.

Mod Podge, mine was homemade 50/50 water and Elmer’s glue

An exacto knife

Spray adhesive

Lay the tile on the paper, and trace out the size you’ll need with the exacto.

Yes, please be careful not to bleed all over your project if you slice your finger…… Like I did.

Put a decent layer of Mod Podge onto the tile, and lay the paper on. Smooth out any bubbles.

I cleaned up the edges a bit with my exacto.

Spray with a few layers of adhesive. Make sure you get the waterproof one.

And Tada!

Coasters!

Huge Question!

Does anyone out here in the nets have any first, or second hand knowledge on starting an animal shelter? Yes, I know it’s a lot of work, but it’s a serious question and  want serious answers. Dag Nabbit 😉

Don’t Send a Search Party, I’m just going to be playing BIOSHOCK INFINITE!

So as most of you may know…

TONIGHT IS THE MIDNIGHT RELEASE OF BIOSHOCK INFINITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My hubby and I have been waiting ever so patiently and after all the push backs, IT SHALL BE HERE!!!!!!!

Watching all the trailers these past few weeks, and interviews with Kevin Levine really make me even more excited.

One thing stood out to me, besides the fact that Elizabeth is going to be my favorite…. is that they spent movie money/time/effort.

http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/vnntdk/bioshock-infinite-beast-of-america-trailer

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/16/tech/gaming-gadgets/bioshock-creator-levine

He apparently had two people ready to quit after they got to the ending, because of religion I believe? Anyways, they were giving their resignation, and he sat down with them and asked every detail they weren’t happy with, and he took it into consideration. He was working with them, because he actually cared! They spent around $100,000,000.  Movie money like I said! Will They make that back? We’ll see. I know they have my $80….