You've Lost that Blogging Feeln'!

OMG! Does anyone have a cure for the creative blues? It's been 1 month that I either can't find inspiration, to craft, to write, or draw. I'm in the creative funk...
We have finally moved into a new lil' house in the OC, I put my studio together in our garage. It looks so tantalizing! I sit in my studio, organizing, putting stuff away, shuffling things back & forth...&.....nada!
I've visited the shop that is housing my Vintage Bruja line of handmade goodies, &...unfortunately, the adorable lil' store in Norco, Ca is getting no foot traffic what~so~ever!
So...what do u do for the creative blues? I can hear Dory from Nemo telling me, "just keep swimming, swimming...." and I'm treading, treading!
Well....hopefully, I can get it together & make some things happen!

Wish me luck...bruja!

since u've been gone!

I have been virtually & physically so inundated with moving, working, kids, practice, etc. etc.
I have to first start by apologizing for not keeping u all posted on what life's gifts has offered me! so, with that said, know that I am trying to get all my ducks in a row, so that I can bring u all the updates on what has been transpiring since my last post.
thank god, first and foremost that no deaths need to be reported, family is healthy, & spirits are finally gettn' higher with smiles to follow.
For a minute there, I didn't think that with all of our lives changing & altering happenings or shall I say altering moments... I couldn't help anyone see the silver lining. But, check back here in a few days, or subscribe to this blog feed, and soon I will be able to chronicle our transition from the wine business we once had, to losing all our life dreams, aspirations & still coming out on top, family & spiritual possessions in tact.
chapter by chapter, of my willingness & determination to persevere over all the obstacles we've had to endure as a family, & not allowing any worldly "wants" look like "needs".
See u soon, I promise!

Generics, bioequivalence, daw2…oh my!

A lot of scientific words that can throw anyone off, or just plainly lose interest. right? Well, that's why I had to blog about this, because most people out there don't know what the hell their dealing with, when it comes to healthcare, insurance, and/or their own health period. To often, I see pharmacist look as if they have saved the patient's day, when it comes to the patients' pocket book. But seriously, does it have to be at the risk of the patient suffering a "what could be" a life threatening side effect?

I mean, pharmaceutical companies need to pay for scientific research & data that shows that the results for the medication / molecule are duplicateable in various patient populations, over and over, and over again, and again…u get the picture! And trust me, the labor, it's not cheap here in the states and abroad to conduct these studies. So, with that said, companies pay for this R&D {research & development}, plus, the chance to bring it to market and make money from this R&D that cost them an arm & a leg to help that patient population that is suffering from that chronic illness for the next 10years. Why 10 years? Because that's how long the pharma company has paid to patent that medication and be the sole proprietor of that medication, and no one else can make and develop that medication, until then. Ok. So, after a product has been around for 10 years…the generic "vultures" come out to see how successful the distribution of that medication is, and if all the cards align, and it makes great business sense…that company will begin to pay for the rights to manufacture that product. That's how you, the patient, end up with the option to pay for a "branded" or "generic".

"branded" ~medication means that, that medication is being manufactured by one company. So, it's the same as, coka~cola manufactures "coke". So every time you drink a coke, you as a consumer, know what you're going to get every single time you pop the top.

"generic"~ medication means, that "any ol'company" knows what ingredients goes into coke, except the ratio of syrup and sugar may be a bit different . In the soda there might be more of one over the other but…it's still close enough to consider it comparable to coke, however, their label is "kola". And because they didn't have to spend as much money on advertising, and can ride on the coat tails of cokes master marketing…even if they get 5% of the coke's pie, they would have made enough money to continue putting generic "kola" on the shelf.

bioequivalence~ so, "mass production co" wants to produce a "coke-like" soft drink. All "mass production co" has to do is come up with a formula that shows that it is within a certain threshold of the original "coke", in order for them to go into mass market and begin to distribution. So, biologically, it looks like it's same molecule and scientifically the molecule shows that it can be equivalent…not equal, but equivalent {which means it's just close enough but not exactly like}. And to be real honest, psyche, cardiology and any medication having to do with balancing hormones & preventing pregnancies, should not be substituted at any differential in cost! Seriously! These are some hardcore meds.

So, let's just say your dr puts you on birth control pills, at each pill having 20mg of estrogen {EE}. If you stay on the "branded", you know every time you go to pick up your prescription, it will always be manufactured by the same company and have the same amount of hormone in each pill for every pack. Same colors, same logo, etc., etc.

Now, you go to pick up your prescription, and the pharmacist says, the medication just went generic, and if you want a lower co-pay or price, the generic is just the same minus the cost. Would you like to pay less and take the generic? So I questioned the pharmacist and said, the medication isn't the same, mr. pharmacist, it's bioequivalent. Right? He said, oh! I can see you've done your research.

Bottom line, the pharmacist knows that a generic drug is not the same as a branded drug. With a generic, u never know the dosage. If the dr prescribes a 35mg pill, there's a chance that next month, the generic has changed, and so has the manufacturer. Also, you could be getting 45mg or 25mcg, instead of 35mcg, which is what you need, not what your pocketbook wants!.

Remember, the companies that manufacture generics only need to prove bioequivalence not {p value= <.05} that the medication is 35mg 95% of the time it's dispensed, which is what a "branded" pill has to prove.

And the next time the pharmacist asks, would you like to switch to a generic? say no! and don't allow them to over write the dr orders with " DAW2".

i think i can, i think i can...

ride the train up north again. it was so conveinient with the kids.

fullerton, ca

once amtrak get wifi, this is going to be the best way to travel with kids.

where else can u pop! popcorn listen to music from your iphone, play on the ds while traveling a long distance. not a long distance by air standards, but long enough that a car ride with these two monsters, would surely be a nightmare! "mom, he's touching me", "mom, she's laughing at me", "mom, he's looking at me"! yah...nope! can't see it happening again!

plus, u don't have to stop at a rest area to use the "funky"restrooms either. the restrooms are right there, nice and clean. and if you forgot to pack snacks, the cafe is just below or 2 carts away! it was fabulous.

the only downfall, is...the constant stops. which make the trip a bit longer than by car. and, along with those constant stops...you pick up the most interesting people! some you wish customs could screen before getting onto the train. but...it takes all kinds to make the world go round. so, in oder to make lemonade out of lemons...i made the weirdos a learning experience. "see kids what happens when you don't make the right choices in life..." or, "that's what u get when you don't go to college..." it made for great conversations. especially, after we pick up 2 street crawlers that sat behind us, knowing the kids were in the seats playing games, etc.! anyway, they sit behind us and they just bombed us with f~bombs, to explain why his baby's momma.....blah!blah!...f~bomb!..., blah!

so what did i do? thanked god for the speaker on my iphone and blasted imelda's johnny got boom boom from the pandora app to tune and flush out their filthy mouths. that might have been how the, "see what happens when u don't go to college..." conversation made its' debut!

all in all, we had a great time up north. ps~ i'm luvn' the pics off the iphone!

bubbles, bubbles, mermaid tails...

...and me always causing trouble.

well, what can i say, miss kim caldwell pulled it off again! another fantastice artistic affaire, that will go down in the books as one of my favorie pass times. darn! and i never take enough pictures! arrgh.

IT'S A SICK LOVE~FEST
Seriously, I love every detail that kim puts into her events. I mean, it’s amazing that she does it all, not just for the love of crafting but for the love of an artistic community of women. She makes these events look and feel like an art spa. Everything from the venue, the decorations, down to the napkin ring holders, are carefully planned and executed by kim { & her mistress’}.

{mistress val~ one of my table partner}

Every one of her sponsors, and the women just attending the event, make it possible for this under the sea adventure to set sail into the night without any waves.
I am so glad I am in so cal, to pack up my car, drive to the event and come right back home with a mountain of luv’n gifts to remember all of these beautiful mermaids by.

EMOTIONAL HEAD TRIP
It’s nice to hear, all these women laughing and enjoying our laugh, because it allows you to take time and enjoy each others company. plus, you get to meet new women from all over, every newbie is just taking in all the eye candy, and trying not to feel overwhelmed or intimidated by everything surrounding them like all the new faces, new names, and definitely very different personalities. then you think wow! I read her blog? Should I start a blog? What do I write about? oh look! she seems so sweet. is she approachable? I read her blog and now look, there she is…I don’t know her but I love her blog~ories. I laugh with that one girl, and she know that other girl. I read that other girls blog, too. She’s funny too! But I’m afraid to talk to her because she’s going to think I’m a stalker? Wow! Look at the center pieces, these are so beautiful, I could never create like this! What did I get myself into…shit! Jenny doh just said hi to me! …omg, that was the editor for my fav magazine, and know she’s like right here. What do I say? That napkin ring would look so good at my house. Can I take it? How embarrassing. Wait! Kim’s giving stuff away too! I love raffles. I hope she calls my name?

THERE'S A LIGHT AHEAD
I mean…the list goes on and on with shit going through your head of meeting, exceeding, or living up to your own personal expectations. plus nerves, chills, and then you get the warm embraces!

BURP!
aaaah! there is this sigh of relief, you pack up your bags, and realize how is all that shit going to fit in the duffle bag I brought! Because let me tell you, my girl mariasella doesn’t pack light and luv’s to shop, shop, shop. our car drives away every venue with a “burp”!

once it’s all over, you get home, you take out the stuff to show your family all your accomplishments {or lack thereof}, and it feels like it’s just never going to end! However, give yourself about a week to get over the spa high of the calming smell of glue because then there is this sense of beauty that manifests from these events…and that’s when you’ve been bitten by the

“caldw-ug”

see you nextyear at "the moulin rouge"

bowl of cherries...

was empty?

yup...we went to a cherry festival in beaumont, ca...and they barely had cherries.

mary engelbreit would have been so disappointed. look!

not one of the 5 local farmers was represented at this years cherry festival. i thought that was so sad. especially with all the development that's happening. u would think that lone rangers would have been there to represent the dying breed. right?

well i guess their marketing director forgot to make sure if your going to advertise cherry festival....maybe the local growers should represent at the event or maybe the event should be held at a cherry farm so we could actually pick the cherries.

that's why i get paid the big bucks. {toot! toot!}

up...up...and away...

in san fran.

this is how we brought in the summer! memorial weekend landed us up north!

whimsical twinkles filled the air...

castle in the air

berkley, ca

it really was one of the most spectacular rooms of inspiration and imagination. my son was going nuts about embellishments. he was just looking at everything with such interest. it was great!



they have the best selection of dresden i have ever seen. and, u can order online. it's a paperlovers dream. glass glitter was everywhere.

a definite must see if your up north. wow!

needlepoint and needlework enthusiasts...

we decided to visit the lacis museum of lace and textiles while visiting berkley, ca. this place was just vintage eye candy galore!!! talk about vintage costumes from the 1920's. i mean, it was just such a cute little blast to the past. i love visiting shops like this.

not only can u see how threads were used, but u can actually purchase vintage trims, beads and take a vintage class.

this pic is soooo my mom love it!

my,my,my...time flies

when your busy!
my daughter, it just feels like yesterday she was just going to middle school. now...she's off to high school. it's amazing how much i appreciate all the time i've soent with her. i don't feel as if i have missed a moment watching her and her friends grow up through the years.

now, it was time to make a break, and get her education focused and on the right track. so, instead of going to a high school with her friends, we thought that it would be better to send her to private school for her high school years! we needed to get her education back in focus, so that when college nears...it's not going to be about the friendships...it's going to be about her future. and of course that is a hard decision to make, but...since we have lost all of our material possessions because of bad investments, why not focus our efforts on investing in her education. afterall, our odds are better when we bet on the success of our childrens future instead of more financial wealth, right?

1..2..3..

yeeee! i'm smittened with lavender!

the lavender festival is getting more and more amazing.

it is now in it's 6th year! can u believe that? it feels like just the other day, we went to the 1 annual lavender fest. it was so small. just a handful of vendors. a few tents were demonstrating earthy and organic ways of gardening and living.

now,...well, i was just so blown away with excitement! it was just a great relaxing outdoors event with just some amazing lavender infused foods. they had the cutest menus and the best little concerts. it really makes for a great day out. plus...it was just lavender aromatherapy everywhere.

123 farms really does a great job of putting this event together.

i am looking forward to next year...already!

a tail towards a bright future...

while up north, we decided to take advantage of a great opportunity and decided to take the kids to visit a college campus and see what college life is like. it was very inspiring, i think. we walked the lawrence science center and... look... at the view. wow!as we walked the campus...we were surprised by the local friendly rodents. they casually visit and like to try to sneak a treat!

speaking of tails...

tail of the yak! this store is incredible

this store was visually amazing!!! it was such a treasure to see how they put this store together. these pictures don't even touch what's online. however, they don't have a website but...us bloggers love to share.

happy father's day...

{here's looking at u kid! }

i have to admit, being a father these days has alot to be comended. it really takes a good man to be an awesome father! and as sad as it may be, there aren't many good dads out there, these days.

so, that is why on father's day, we have to celebrate the real men! the men that man up to their responsibilities all year around. not, the men that get visitation once a year. my definition of a real man...is, a man that is not afraid to say he fears the lord! he's a man that can say he's wrong when he's wrong, and when he's right...he allows you to still be the winner!

a man that can man up for another mans shortfalls...wow! now that's a man! be a 'daddy' and handle another man's responsibilities with an unconditinal heart. that is my hus~man!

he's a real man!
I love that he truly is my son's hero,
and my daughters prince charming!

there are high expectation for our daughter's suitor to fit dads shoes, let me tell you! daddy has been princess' first look at how she should be treated and respected! and, he's done that really well. i think he exceeded his own expectations.

both victor, and i come from broken homes,

and raised by really strong women. so, being a father took alot of prayer, reading "how to be a father" books, and just straight out "down on one knee" humbleness, in order to be a man in his house with plenty of harmony!

that's my husband, victor

{or like savannah would say"bee~tus"}.

so, on this day i celebrate his story of fatherhood! it hasn't been an easy road raising these 2 beautiful children, especially a tween to teen. but by the looks of things...god has blessed us in the past, present and will continue to in the future!

so, as for the road ahead...both these men in my life have been powerful leaders & celebrated on this special day:

happy father's day, bubuth!

and last, but not least... happy father's day to the two women that did it without real men here on earth, but guided by a real man, the lord, in heaven!

i love u, mom

& thank u for a great husband, mona. he misses you!