Images of some of the recent work I have done

Here are some of the works I have done most recently, I have more and those will come soon.

Holiday's

Happy Holiday's

 

 

The Holiday's are once again upon us. This is seriously my favorite time of the year, as soon as the end of September hits I begin to get giddy with excitement! The changing color of the leaves, and the air becoming crisp and soon that chilly breeze. The car's are filled with frost in the early morning and being able to see you breath in the air. All of these signs just warm me up inside, and also let me know that soon family will start making arrangements to see each other.

This year is extremely special to me, because I have my son Antoni to celebrate it with, my husband and I can start to create warm family memories! I am so excited to document every moment we get. Now this being said, I already started making crafts. Even though I am busy with other things, this time of the year with a little help from pinterest make me get crafty! Either way this being Antoni's first Thanksgiving I wanted to make him a special little outfit. A few weeks ago I began thinking, and came upon this idea, which I sort of twisted and made my own. I decided to make him a turkey onesie.

Materials:

1. Onesie
2. Fabric glue/ hot glue (the hot glue worked way better for me)
3. Felt (your color choice)
4. Eyes (I bought mine at a craft store, or you can simply make your own)
5. Scissors
6. Imagination

Directions:

1. I cut out all of my pieces, I needed a big circle, medium circular piece, larger triangle for beak, feathered pieces for the feathers, and then a gobbler piece (I am sure there is an appropriate term, I just do not know it.)
2. I began gluing my pieces onto the onsie the circles, triangle, and gobbler for face in the front. Then the feather on the bottom back. (Make sure you measure up how high on the back because you do not want the feather to be on baby's back, we want them on the cute little tooshy.
3. I glued eyes

 

 

Voila you have a turkey!

 

 

Now after this rant that I was on with crafting I decided to go ahead and try the canvas photo prints. The nice thing about being an artist is that I had all the materials already hear at home! So I got to work, I started digging through my art stuff, I had no idea I had so many unused stretched canvas's already yippee! I got all the materials which were:

 

1. Mod podge
2. Acrylic paint
3. Sponge brush
4. Craft brush, or any brush to paint with
5. Picture
6. Canvas
7. Plastic card (ex.debit card)
8. Paper towel

 

So I got started, let me say you should put a plastic bag or newspaper down first before you begin. So now I took my canvas and painted it, I chose brown so it could match nicely with the picture that I chose to test this with. Since I did this with an hour before having to go to church I got the blow dryer to help dry the paint faster. Works great just to let you, just make sure you don't keep in the same area for too long. Then pass it with the cool button pressed down so you can keep working. Next, once the paint was all dry I took the mod podge and covered the canvas area where my picture would go. I then carefully placed my picture in the center, you can use a picture as big as the canvas. Since this was just a test, the picture I had in hand was smaller than my actual canvas. Either way I placed the picture and then took my debit card and wrapped it with the paper towel and smoothed out the picture so there would be no air bubbles. After drying for about 10 min. I took the mod podge once again with the sponge brush and went over the entire thing, going in a horizontal motion once across the picture, so there would be an even stroke. If you do not do it this way the end result will look sloppy. That is all I had time for and I went off to church, when we got back it was all dry. I then decided I wanted to do something to the edges of where the picture and the canvas met, so I put a little of the brown paint and kind of fogged up the edges. I did like this way better.

My end result:



 





 

 This would look nice with black and white photographs as well, but I did not have any at hand. Or you could even try painting a pattern on the canvas and then putting your image, or even doing a collage. Sky's the limit with this, just have fun and be creative with it. These are great memorable gifts to give now for the Holiday's! My next project will be Gallery wrapped styled canvas photo prints, and a canvas transfer. Stay tuned for the next one's.

 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving all!

Till next time this is Damaris always keeping it true and real!

Decorating on a low budget!

Hello everyone, so today I just wanted to briefly talk about decorating and maximizing your bucks when on a low budget.

I like to describe my decorating style as vintage/industrial with a little bit of modern. I like things here and there and like to put it together and try it out!

So my husband and I are at this apartment, and well we can paint walls, but if we want to leave when our lease is up then we have to paint it back. So maybe no painting will happen, but that does not mean that I wont hang up art work. Either way I decided I should try and at least make this place look some what decent. A bunch of the furniture pieces I have were all hand me downs, or found at garage sales.

For example our huge couch we bought off a couple that was moving away.

Any who I like to play with shapes,sizes,textures and color and I love for a room to be well lit, can't stand to sit in a room and it feel gloomy. So I am going to post some pictures of my living room which I am still working on. I have an area rug that was given to us, that I need to clean and then put down, and I need to still hang up some art work, and pictures. Either way here is my working progress.

Angle one of living room: This was the best angle where I could get most of the living room.

Here I have what I believe was a laundry chest, I am as of now using it for a coffee table
Laundry chest: Garage sale: $10.00
Tray: Gift
Burlap curtain that I made, and am using for decoration for now: $7.00
Decoration balls: $7.00 for a bag of 10
Hurricane Glass Vase from Marshall's: $9.99
Ceramic art piece: I made it
Moss inside vase: left over from my wedding
Candle from Walmart: $5.00 

Two Trunks from a garage sale: $10.00
Fill able Lamp from Target: $15.00
Candle vase wire decor from Kirkland's: $7.00
Picture of my sister and I: Priceless
I am using an old picture frame as a tray

Accent pillows are a must!
Yellow pillows from Marshall's: 2 for $19.99
The beige pillow one that I had from college
Fill able Lamp + Shade from Target: $25.00
Art Piece from T.J. Maxx: $5.00
Side table: Gift

I plan on taking one of my trucks and adding some industrial looking wheels to it, to turn that into my coffee table. Either way so far for this look I have spent about $121.00 not counting the sofa.

I must say so far so good!

In celebration

Today marks the day my husband and I said our "I Do's"

So in celebration of this wonderful day I decided to blog about our love story, our love story is kind of a mess, but a good mess.

Ray and I met in June of 2009 in Holland Michigan, where we were at a youth convention.

We had mutual friends and that is how we met each other. I met him and honestly was not attracted, I even thought he was a little bit on the creepy side (poor dude). Everytime I would turn around that week, his face was like everywhere hahhaa, I crack up because he knows what I mean and those who know him, know his sense of humor. Either way we began to talk as friend and the last day when everyone was parting ways to go back home, he asked me for my phone number. My answer....

"NO I don't just give it out my phone number to guys" (ouch that kind of hurt him well to a guy's ego anyway). He then also told me that he and a bunch of friends were going to go out to eat that night if I wanted to come. I had told him I will see since I am with other people I can not just go. (Intimately I really wanted to go, because some good friends of mine were going to be there as well, and I would not be able to see them for a while, and also I kind of wanted to get to know this guy a little bit more.) I did not go, so I called up my friend and told her that we were not going to be able to go, and if she could tell Ray that I was sorry. Meanwhile I am thinking how I did want to get to know him more, and form a friendship with him. At this point I never intended to speak or see Ray again, or at least not until the next youth convention, and that is if he were to go. Ray was from Aurora, Illinois and me from Tennessee. When I got home that weekend I did something that I never thought I would do, because I am just not like that. I went onto myspace when that was the big social network, and looked him up. I sent him a friend request, and also messaged him my phone number. Side note, I was never the type of girl in high school to go up to guys and let them know I liked them, or even show the slightest bit of interest to the ones that I had crushes on. I am pretty sure the guys I had crushes on in high school never knew. Any way a little bit after I sent him my number I receive the phone call. I remember our first phone calls would last like 3 hours long. What could we possibly have talked about for that long?! Hahaha but let me say every time we spoke over the phone, the time felt like it flew by. So weeks went by and our long distance friendship got stronger and stronger. Then little by little I started to like this guy, mind you I had never had a boyfriend before this. "I have always had this idea that why would I get involved with someone that was not going to be there for the long run."(that is just me) So I started to like him, and I already knew that he kind of liked me, or he would have never asked me for my phone number. So in the month of July or September can not exactly remember I want to say more July because it was before the fall semester of college. That month I went to Illinois to go visit my good friends, and I told Ray that I was going to be over there, that maybe we could meet up. When I got there I was hanging out with my friends and then I get the call from him and see if we could meet up. So we did, we actually hung out a few times while I was there.

Then came the day, I was staying at my friends Shari's house that night and we decided we would go to Olive Garden and I asked Shari to go with me, because I felt weird going alone with Ray, I did not want it to feel awkward. So the three of us went. When we got back to her house more like her parents house. Ray tells me if he can talk to me that he wanted to tell me something, and I am like ok. Well time is ticking away and it is getting later and later, and he still has not told me what he was going to tell me. I tell him come on dude tell me, this is not my house I felt so embarrassed it was already like 1:00 a.m. So then finally he say's it. "I really like you and was wondering if we can try talking to each other more than just friends type of way." So I say in an awkward voice because I have never done this before and I was totally blushing at that moment "Yea I would like that, I like you too." So then he gets something out of his car and it is a gift that he already had gotten for me.

In October that year, I went back to Illinois, and Ray asked my parents if I could be his girlfriend and if they would give the approval for us to date (courtship). I thought that was like the sweetest thing ever. I then met his parents, and had dinner with them. It was nice so we were finally boyfriend and girlfriend. Let me just say the whole time this is going on, I had prayed and prayed about this relationship. God gave me all the thumbs up to go for it.

 Little did I know what was going to come next. In the year of 2011 in the month of February Ray decides that this long distance relationship was too much, and that he hated the fact that we could not be together like normal couples. So thing were ended right then. It was horrible because it was right before valentines day, and I was already planning something big for us to do. So then that did not work out. I was heart broken and was like why did this happen, if I knew he was the "One" we both had prayed and God had let us know that we were the one's for each other, we had received confirmation about our relationship. I am now like wait a min. why did Ray have to do this. Like I always say God has everything under control and He knows what he is doing. Ray still needed some growing up to do in the sense of the relationship, he still at the time did not know what he wanted. I kept on praying, because what God had for me no one could take away. In the month of June we once again met up, we actually had seen each other before that in I believe April. Either way this time Ray decided he wanted to talk to me privately he apologizes for everything that he did, and that he missed me. I then tell him, that if I am to go back into this relationship it has to be for real no more playing around. He definatley showed me he was for real when he surprised me in the month of September of 2011 and moved here to TN! One of the most memorable day's ever, and then in November...
He takes me to this overlook and dadadaaaa, I see him get on one knee, and he pulls out a little black box, and I hear the words...
"WILL YOU MARRY ME?"
This was more romantic then it sounds, but the post is getting long.
I was so giddy and excited truly such a wonderful moment in my life. Then on August 11,2012 Ray and I walked up in front of our family and friends and under the will of God and said our vows.
Every moment has been a blessing with this man. Yes we have our arguments, and there are day's where I would sometimes like to give up, but then I remember in the Good and bad till death do us part a vow we did to God and to ourselves. Then at the end of the day, it is always worth fighting for when you are with the one you love. My love is you Ray Efrain Nino.
You have totally been worth the wait.

 When we first met

Our Engagement

Our wedding

 

  Honey Moon

1 Year Anniversay



Post pregnancy weight loss journey, it's crazy!

So lately I have been like "oh my gosh how will I loose all this weight that I gained during my pregnancy?!" I gained about 26lbs. during this pregnancy, and before that with my first pregnancy I had also gained a bit of weight that I did not loose entirely before getting pregnant again. Any who let's just say a total weight gain of like 35lb. Now during my pregnancy I tried to be a fit pregnant mama but it was not always easy. I did work with kids so that helped and I would try and do some exercises with them all the time, but even I know that was not enough. The doctors and nurses say that I did good with the whole weight issue but to me i feel so not comfortable.  Before my six week appointment with the Doc. I actually started walking and having some light paced jogs, "I know, I know I should not have done that." Well needless to say the doctor told me I was fine at my check up. I'm sorry I just really wanted to start walking again and let me say it felt so good. Either way a few weeks ago, I tried on a pair of my favorite jeans and they would barely even go up! Uck it was like the worst feeling for me, because prior to all of this I had worked so hard to loose weight and I did loose it, but yea it took work. So now having this feeling of man my clothes don't fit, and I honestly don't want to use that as an excuse to buy new clothes.  So back to the part where I have been working out, I have started working out again. I try to walk at least 3/4 times a week and then I do some ab work and some weights. Yesterday July 31,2014 I tried those same pair of skinny jeans again, they went all the way up and buttoned. Now I still have a huge muffin top and would never wear these pants in public yet, no one needs their eyes tortured by that scene. However it made me so happy that they buttoned, where as before they would not even go passed my thighs! "Yippee" I literally came out of my room to the living room and started dancing and jumping up in down in front of my husband, he just looked at me like (go back to the room and stop acting so dumb (sarcastic voice)). I don't know about other ladies out there but this was a huge deal to me, it made me very proud of myself. I don't think men understand this concept. Now I am not trying to loose weight so I can be skinny, I am doing this to get back to my healthy weight and be fit and in shape. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin again. I am slowly getting there and it feels wonderful. Once I can I will post some before and after pictures. I already started taking them. If anyone who reads this wants to give me your opinion or some secrets on weight loss or good exercises please feel free to share with me.

Yours truly,
DREAL keeping it real

What you expect, is not always the outcome

What I am about to write will maybe be a surprise to many. When I titled this what you expect is not always the outcome is because so many times in life we go through situations that we thought would play out differently. Back last year in the month of May 2013 my husband and I found out that I was pregnant. During that time my sister was getting married in Cancun, Mexico. So off I went to Mexico to share a special day with her and the family. Either way while there I started feeling some very sharp pains, they were excruciating. These pains would come and go, I had no idea what they could be. When I got back home I had my 8 week appointment, we were going to be looking for the heartbeat of my baby. Once at the doctors office she started looking and could not hear anything, since I was not sure on my last menstrual cycle date, she told me come back in two weeks. So I did, I went back again in two weeks and this time my oldest sister went with me, since my husband had to work. The doctor started to listen for the heart beat and nothing...
She then did an ultrasound and nothing. (Silence grew louder and louder in the room) I already knew what words were coming next as my eyes started to fill with water. I look at my sister as her eyes fill up with tears as well. Then the doctor says"I am sorry, I will give you some time" and she walked out of the room. All I remember at that point is God you know best and my child will be with you in Heaven. My sister turns and tells me "your baby is now in heaven." Honestly this was one of the most difficult things after my mom's breast cancer that I have had to face. I did not want to talk to anyone. When I got home I spoke with my husband and we both just sat in silence for a while. He was so supportive given the fact that he to was in pain about the situation. We prayed and asked God for enlightenment and support during this time. I prayed and prayed stronger than ever before, and wanted to just feel the love of God. As a testimony to share in my prayers that were in moments where I was alone and at the latest of nights, I just asked "God please I just need a hug from you" I knew God heard every one of my prayers, however it took months before He answered my prayer. As time passed Ray and I were able to try to get pregnant again, so in the month of October I found out I was pregnant,  I was already at least 6 weeks.
we had our first appointment everything went well. And every other appointment from there on out just got better. Then in the month of November God answers my prayer at a women's church retreat. I was being prayed for when God uses one of the ministers to pray for me and uses the minister to talk to me and say, "you have been asking for a hug and you have been humble and have come to me, here is your hug." Honestly I have never had an experience like that in all my life. As a believer it was such a huge spiritual boost for me. I knew then and there, that no matter what can be going on as long as I put everything in the Lord's hands He will provide. The sadness that I had felt about the loss of my first child suddenly became as a positive situation in my life. True it was hard to know that I lost a child, but this situation resulted in me getting closer to God. He then blessed me and my husband with another pregnancy and a wonderful one at that.  My son Ray Antoni was born
June 2,2014 he has been such a blessing and has brought us so much happiness. I do from time to time think of my baby that I lost and remember how God was in front of that situation from the beginning. Then all I can do is give Him thanks!

The day our son was born, was such a miracle and blessing to our lives. I just held him so close as soon as he came. A little about my labor, i was in labor for 20 hours and pushed for 2 1/2 hours and naturally had our son. One of the best and proudest days ever in my life. I saw my husband shed some tears for the very first time. Happy tears i must add and we were all just rejoiced with this gift from God.

Everyday is a special day with my little one, and now I get to enjoy him all the time since I now get to be a stay at home mom!

Moving

This has been a long time waiting, it has been forever since I last blogged. 

To begin with life always has its ups and downs and I have not blogged for numerous reasons.

1. Time

2.  Laziness

3. Lack of Internet

4. Computer is broken

These are just a few reasons...

Recently my husband and I have forgone many transitional stages in our almost two years of marriage. We have moved just a total of 4 times in one year, has been seriously stressful and tiring. We now have finally another apartment and will be here for a year. 

Now I will share with you all, how all this started. During the month of September my husband and I were in the process of looking for a home, we started the whole process. Well we were then told that it was not going to be possible for us to buy a home yet (I was very frustrated and sad about this at the time) We had moved in with my sister from our previous apartment since our lease was up, and we were only going to be there a couple of months, since we were planning on purchasing. Either way that fell through, so now we were stuck at my sisters house and in the looks for another rental property.

when we then find out that we are PREGNANT! Yes pregnant I was thrilled about it and so was Ray. Yet the thought of not having our own home made me sad again. Well my husband trying to be there for me and make me happy was looking all over to find a place for us to move into. Across the street from my sisters house was a tiny little three bedroom home which needed a whole whole lot of work. However my husband being so determined on us leaving asked the owner if we could rent it out. The owner said yes, well before we could even move in, the place had to be painted, cleaned out, and fixed. My husband did just that mind you the month is now February when he is fixing it. It was cold and the heat was not on yet and he would work till midnight. By this time I am already 5 months pregnant and of coarse my hormones are out of whack, I am an emotional wreck! 

Here are a few picks of the before and after:

We worked hard to get this place somewhat in livable conditions. Well as the months started passing by, it started getting warmer outside and I started to notice little things here and there. An example of this was every time i would come home from work there would be wasps inside the house. Where they came from I have no idea. Now another thing was there were constantly bugs constantly bugs coming. I got so sick of, and told Ray that we could not stay here especially with a baby on the way it just is not going to happen.

so by the month of May again we start looking for another place, when we found where we are at right now. The crazy part is that i was set to be due June 14th. We were to move in June 4th this was crazy! Either way we said "ok let's do it."

Surprise Surprise, I had my Antoni June 2nd he came about two weeks early. My husband basically moved everything that week of our baby being born. It was so stressful. That i will talk about another time though. I now just want to say that I am so thankful to God that we have a place to live and is way better than the place we were at before. I would also like to say if there are grammatical and spelling errors I am sorry, I wrote this post through my phone. I still have no computer.