MY BUGGY AND ME....

Time is a crazy thing....sometimes you feel like the day can't end soon enough and then there are days like today when you wonder where the time went.

2 years ago we were blessed with a gift...

My little babygirl Kemorah Sky (a.k.a Buggy/ a.k.a Baby Taz) turns 2 today....I can't even believe it!  She has grown so much from that 9 lb. 11 oz baby I was literally dying to hold in my arms.  No seriously don't believe what they say about the more you have the easier childbirth (SUCH A LIE....lol)

Here is a bit of photo history timeline of Kemorah's 2 years...

Newborn w/ her fractured shoulder in a sling

Daddy about to give Bug her 1st full bath a 3 wks old...that child was huge from the beginning

Chillaxin

3 months old laughing with her big sis

Buggy Bug at 6mos

Learning the walker

Christmas 2010

OMG...her 1st teeth comin in very strange

Her 1st bday cake

A young activist...supporter her sister on Autism Walk Day..even rockin a team tee

Her 1st haircut in 2011 (omg that hair)

Her 1st trip to Chuck E. Cheese Summer 2011

Sept 2011

Christmas parade 2011

Christmas #2....my mother gave her a bag that was almost bigger than her!

The other day marking her potty dance celebration

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY NOW 2 YEAR OLD BUGGY!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

WHAT HAPPENED?????

Well as a 'lifestyle' blogger it is normal that we share our lives on our blog.  And this I do, I share decorating projects, birthday parties, family news, sad news, happy news.

Well a few weeks ago I shared a post with news we were expecting baby #6....also a video of my kids reaction.  All was good but unfortunately something went wrong.

Last week when I returned to the doctor for a follow up ultrasound to check on a small blood clot that was present 2 wks prior.   The baby's heartbeart was no longer present....doctor said the baby was measuring smaller which means somewhere in those 2 wks it stopped thriving.  I now have to wait for natural miscarriage or schedule surgery....what a decision!

I was shocked and saddened but kept my composure while in the office, because I still needed to get bloodwork.   The kicker was that I had to take a taxi cab to the doctor because I could not find my truck keys earlier that morning.   So I now had to stand outside and wait for a cab.

I walked outside and it was still a gloomy grey day outside, none the less I threw on my Jackie O shades and started to walk....I don't know why but I did.  It was my old neighborhood so didn't bother me.  I just walked and thought oh I'll go to the bank (???)  So I walked about 10 blocks balling my eyes out as I walked down the street.  I played back what I had done, did I overdue it.  What about those heavy boxes I lifted, whatever I could think to blame myself I did.   Then heard the doctors voice "you know you did nothing to make this happen right?" I never answered her.  So I continued in my thoughts and my self blame.

My phone alerts were going off, my daughter asked how the baby was...I text her the news.  My friend Liza texted me and I texted her the news....all as I walked, cried and texted.    Then my phone rang and it was my friend Liza...I didn't want to answer but thought it would be rude, but I was still crying out of control.  I answered, she spoke....I lost it.  I couldn't speak, she just kept speaking to me, she told me how sorry she was and that she understand.   And I know that she did, we have been down this road with each other before...I walked she talked, I asked her to hold a minute, tried to gain my composure and then we had a short conversation.

My phone rang again and it was my beautiful California girl Paulette, who I just recently become close to on facebook through 2 other fabulous ladies Barbara and Angela.    I couldn't go through the phone convo again especially since this would be the 1st time she ever heard my voice.  I felt horrible to let the call go, but I couldnt do it again.  I know think to myself how amazing that she took the time and reached out to me in my time of need.

I took my cab and came home, crawled into bed and laid there with tears streaming down my face for hours. My daughter came in and checked on me, brought me a drink...gave me a hug and a kiss but wouldnt look at me (she was taking it hard because the baby was due on her birthday)

While in the cab I posted to my personal facebook "the lord giveth and the lord taketh away" that is the one thing that stuck in my mind.  I wasnt angry....that's a lie, I was!  But not with God, I had given myself and said to him when I found out that I will follow whatever path he puts me on.  

Apparently my friends all read very well into that phrase...I started receiving texts, facebook notifications and posts on my wall.   My phone alert (which is the Godfather theme by the way) played all afternoon long as I lay in bed.  Not a very cheerful tune but kind of fitting for my mood.

I felt sorry for myself for hours, but then just thought to my self how blessed that I am.  I have an amazing husband who loves me, 5 beautiful healthy children who I love and adore, and Im going to fulfill my childhood dream of opening my own shop in less than a month.  I had to get up and feed the kids for dinner so I did.

So I rationalized that this baby was meant to be in heaven with God and our 2 other angels that are there as well.   I don't pretend to know the reason why this happened but I am going to just take it as a lesson of life.

So this is 'WHAT HAPPENED' now for those of you that were wondering by the comments from friends on both personal and Lucky 7 Design page.


A German philosopher once said:
That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger!


I have something to add to that, and in the sadness of this all..it is now a joke among friends.


That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger.........I'm now a Superhero! 




Thank you all so much for you love and support for me and for my family.  It is truly amazing the connections you can make and friendships created.

-MJ

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.......AGAIN!!!

This time it's for my son Alexander Patrick, today he turns 13.   Yes....that means I now have 2 official teenagers in the house in addition to the 3 younger rascals. lol

He would have a fit if I did a mushy post filled with old baby pictures of him, so what's a mom to do????

Big Brother

Cool Dude

Ladies Man

Okay I think my job is done, he will be thoroughly embarrassed by this, but he's not into my blog that much so he'll never know. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

- MJ

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...................

On this day 11 years ago, God blessed me with Adelina Maria.   She was the easiest of my 5 children to delivery and she hasn't been too bad to raise either.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NINI!!!!

On one of her 1st days of school 

Starting karate school

Her bday 3 yrs ago 

Mama was having some trouble on the skates. lol

At her cousin Jordyns pajama bday party

My little fashionista waiting for the school bus

Today on her 11th birthday!!!

LOVE YOU ADELINA!!!!

CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED....

I don't mean literally but my family has suffered a great loss.  My father passed away on Wednesday, so the holidays will not feel the same this year.   Services will be held the Monday after Christmas so I will off the blog for a bit to take care of my family.

David Joseph Belford III 

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David Joseph Belford, III

Toms River

David Joseph Belford III, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at his home. He was born in Elizabeth, NJ where he resided before moving to Toms River 10 years ago. He attended Sacred Heart High School and Delta State, Mississippi obtaining a Bachelor's Degree and for 37 years he was an educator and athletic coach for the Elizabeth Board of Education, before his retirement in 1999. He served in the United States Army and had been an Inductee in the Elizabeth Athletic Hall on April 26, 2007.

Surviving are his wife, Marie Dolores Belford of 20 years; his children, David J. Belford IV and his wife Kim of Marlboro, NJ, William S. Belford and his wife Kathleen of Lanoka Harbor, Melanie L. Joseph and her husband Brian of Sewaren, NJ, Brianna M. Belford of Toms River, NJ, John D. Pagliarulo of Jersey City, Patricia A. Pagliarulo of Bayonne, NJ and his 14 grandchildren.

Visiting will be Monday, 5-8pm at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home, 2482 Church Rd., Toms River. Funeral services will be Monday evening at the funeral home. Cremation will be Private. www.silverton memorial.com

Published in Asbury Park Press on December 22, 2011

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/app/obituary.aspx?n=david-joseph-belford&pid=155140113







God saw you were getting tired,
and a cure was not to be,
so he put his arms around you
and whispered, "Come to me"

With tearful eyes we watched you,
And saw you pass away,
Although we loved you dearly,
we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove
to us.
He only takes the best.




I wish you all a Happy Holiday with your family.   Life is short, make sure you spend time with your family and make peace and tell what you want to say.

- MJ

IT'S ALL IN THE NAME......

I've always been fascinated with names, letter, symbols and that they flow very well.  I spent weeks at a time going over my children's names before they were born.

Well your last name, you really can't choose........especially if your married!    You can choose not to take the name but that's kinda insulting and akward if you have children.

I must say Im quite happy with my final surname of JOSEPH.   I love my initials 'MJ' as most of you know. lol  My house is filled with J's or M's and I just love using letters in the decor of my home.

I wanted to share a little project I worked on Friday night.....technically 2 a.m. Saturday morning!  I do my best work when everyone is sleeping and Im under pressure (kinda like now...)  Actually my daughter's 1st bday party was the following morning and I needed to get my family name wall done.

The big letter 'J' from Home Goods I had blogged about before and it had been just hanging out there on the wall lonely as heck, until I brought home 'o' one day and they became friends.  But then I just had Jo hanging there on the wall and I had ideas of what I wanted to do but just haven't had the time.   I ran to A.C. Moore to get some supplies and picked up 'E' and 'P'.  So here is what I pulled together with what I had hanging around the house. I do pride myself on being an up-cycler, re-cycler Im just all about re-purposing and take any opportunity to prove it!  

Here is my proof.....

The crackle finish 'J' in original form

Lowercase 'o' cover is tv listing section of the newspaper

My daughter's old locker magnet board with a piece of toile pattern contact paper cut into a letter 'S'

Wooden capital 'E' spray painted black

White capital letter 'P' which I painted on a leopard pattern.

The letter 'H' is made obviously from a sewing tape measure

Here is the Joseph family name wall

This wall is in our hallway which just got a make-over and the other side is a photo wall that displays our favorite family & friends.

BY THE WAY....THE SPRING FLING HAS STARTED TODAY (see button top of my sidebar).

  My Blogging BFF Leighann from A Crafty Southern Chick is up today with her fabulous giveaway!   

As well as Ann from Increasingly Domestic

14 days of giveaways with 2 giveaways a day......who can resist that?????

Linking this post up to some fabulous parties this week:

  

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

RUSSO'S FANCY PASTRY

That was the name of a pasticceria in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900's.   My great-grandfather Nicola Russo was the proprietor of that establishment.

It's always made me very proud to know that someone in my family came to this country from Italy and found a way to be successful and find the American Dream they all strived to live.  I've had this photo for years hanging on my family wall in our hallway, but Ive decided if I have an Italian style kitchen then who better to showcase in my Cucina then my Nonno Nicola and Nonna Vincenza.

This is Nonna Vincenza in front of the shop.  

I love the window display...kind of special that I would then later become a window designer/visual merchandiser.

I haven't been able to find out anymore information on the shop other than this photo...my grandmother Anna (the daughter passed away in 1996).  I was close to her but I never took the time when I was younger to ask about the history behind it.

This is Nonno Nicola (love his thick mustache) and his family.  My Nonna Vincenza is seated beneath him.  I do not know who the other adults are.  The 2 young girls are my Nonna Anna's sister Rose and Mary.  

Now in 2011 I find myself looking more towards baking and my oldest daughter aspires to be a pastry chef and I really hope that she follows through on that.  It would be a continuation of our family history.

This leads me to my next project (one of many this year). Brining Nonno into the kitchen in my own way.

The hutch is stripped of all the Christmas ceramics and needs some touching up.

  My vision is to re-create the window of my Nonno's shop in my hutch using the vintage items I already have mixed with some modern day finds.

My items all displayed for selection...some tins, glass, silver and a vintage scale and some other baking items. 

The beginning structure work

Change the placement of Nonna Vincenza and put her on top in a vintage frame

My Home Goods apothecary jars filled with red candies in honor of the family name Russo and also for Valentine's Day.  Also little DIY apothecary filled with cookie cutters.

This is the final arrangement (i think...lol)  

Top shelf - glass jar with cookie cutters, vintage scale, tin recipe box

Middle shelf - dessert plates from Ebay and a real candycane

below are babyjars with milk chocolate morsels and vintage baking tins

My favorite cook books Cucina Amore, Small plates by Williams Sonoma

Here is Nonno Nicola and the family

Dessert cup with old MS cookie press discs

Glass vase with metal cookie cutter and an old whisk

Part of my vintage collection of baking items...these cups are from Sweden

FOOTNOTE:

Only  2 items were broken in this process....1 crystal candlestick and 1 dessert cup.  Thankfully no one was injured in the crashes and have not yet gotten glass in their feet!

Ciao a tutti!  

Linking up to the following fabulous parties:

  

just in case you forgot or dont' feel that this fits the party criteria...this is what the hutch look like originally

If this isnt a metamorphasis I dont know what is folks.  This is my Showcase piece in my kitchen and I treasure it.

It does have a tabletop and I have tablescaped it! LOL