Souveniors and Mementos

In an effort to simplify my life, I decided that I needed to get rid of thing I don't need or use.  As  I looked around I realized that despite my aversion to knick-knacks, I actually have quite a bit of them!
In my defense, most have a special memory attached to them that I am loath to part with.

Here are some of them:

This is used ballet slipper that I acquired at the gift shop of Texas Ballet Theatre after a performance I saw of The Nutcracker.  I was THAT kind of fan of ballet back then. :O)

This is a framed picture of the coast of Vera Cruz, Mexico my first trip (about 7years ago)

This is from that same trip but it was a bird-eye view of the rooftops of the town of Xalapa, Mexico.  It was a memorable trip!

This is a cute little trinket box my brother brought back from his trip to Costa Rica.  I thought it was very sweet that he thought to bring me something, and thoughtful that he got me a container of sorts.  I love to organize.  Now it houses all my hair clips. :)

This is a miniature dream-catcher I purchased at a gift shop inside the Miccossukee Reservation where I went with Kaynee and Misael one summer when I vacationed in Miami.  Really neat experience. Still have the video of the entire guided tour and the alligator show! 

 

This cute little dress has magnet on the back that helps me keep it on my fridge. My uncle Felipe brought it back for me from one of his trips to Mexico.  It's a miniature replica of the traditional dress of that region. 

This lovely cross was my fiance's wedding gift to me on our wedding day.  It has the date on it and a beautiful prayer...*tear* that was a magical day. ;o)

As you can imagine, we brought back a lot of souvenirs from our honeymoon (you don't get to visit Europe for free very often) but here are just a few.  This is a miniature of the Collasium in Rome. very impressive, but not as big as it seems in Gladiator. :)

Cute magnet version.  It was incredibly tall, taller than you imagined it from the outside.  And when you think about the time period in which it was built, it was a giant compared to everything else around!

This is a small bell with scenes from the quaint little town we spent the bulk of our time in: Siena in Tuscany, Italy.  It just so happened that the weekend we were there was an annual celebration of the founding of that town and there was booths everywhere in the town square all Saturday. (walking distance form our hotel) We bought this, among other things, there.

 

This is a miniature replica of a tradition Japanese temple/building.  Last summer, my husband and I visited the Botanical Gardens which has a Japanese gardens area within it and purchased this in the gift shop. My husband is into all things Japan. :) 

This interesting contraption is actually made by me! I made it out of cardboard, burlap, glue, newspaper and tan coffee filters.  A crafty activity that I made in a women's meeting last year. cute!

This is a really nice Texas Rangers cup we bought this summer on our first trip to the Ballpark as a married couple. :o) Go Rangers!!

So, you see that i simply can't part with ANY of this wonderful stuff!!  Which is most of my problem with cleaning out my closets and drawers - everything MEANS something or some place or some event! :o)
What do you think?
 

Random musings...

Been a while and I happen to have some free time to blog and so here I am.
Staring at a blank screen.  Having so much on my mind, but so little that I can say.

All I can say is that, God is the only constant. And that, somehow, in the end it will all be worth it. Somehow.

Now for some pics of a simpler time.

Me at about 1 or 2 years old in a pass port pic from my trip to Spain with my parents.

Me at about 4years old, Pre-K class pic. Don't let the angelic face fool you. :)

Me at 5years old in Kindergarten class pic. Drastic hair color change no?

Me in at about 8 years old. Second grade picture.  My mother insisted i show teeth, why i ask?!

Me at 9 years old, third grade. Turning point year for me and the toughest for my teacher!

My sweet baby brother in kindergarten (5years old).  So much tortured wisdom in his big blue eyes. Even then.

Childhood. It can be a rough time for many, but mine was pretty stable and sheltered. Full of love and safe fun with my family.  I hope to give my children even a sliver of that.