Friday, June 13, 2014

Sometimes people just need to be listened to

This morning I had a Customer coming to my shop for the second time. I did a pretty nice embroidery for one of his projects restoring classic cars before, so, I was curious to know if his customer had liked my work.
So I asked him: - How about the last Project I had embroidered for you last time. Was your customer satisfied?
Yes he loved the embroidery. He said. But that Customer is giving me a hard time to pay me for my work because I took too long to finish his the restoration of his car.  He went on and on about the project, why he had not met the deadline, his kids got sick, he is one man working person on his shop, his wife got sick, his kid, then, the mother in law etc. The customer wouldn't stop talking about the hard time he was having, I was just listening to him and thinking to myself, “holly crap, I have so much work to get done for today… I wonder if there is ever an end to his talking” 
Well I haven’t been feeling great myself, I have been working sick to get my orders done and lots of things going on. I thought to myself, maybe it is OK to listen to him and get some break from work.
After he was done telling me about his life and how disappointed he was with that last customer, I couldn't help myself, when I realized I had already told in clear and unbroken English “WHAT A SON OF A BITCH!!!!”  As soon as I finished that phrase, I was so ashamed of myself! The customer busted into laughing so hard and I went along with him. After I almost peed in my pants and coughed like crazy from our laughing, he said “OMG I love the way you cuss”!!!
What the customer told me before he left the door is what made me feel so good:
He looked at me and said: “Thanks for listening to me Zee… I needed to vent so bad, plus the good laughing we had, I feel so much “lighter” Have a great day!
I could have gotten a lot done during the time I listened to him but, boy, I feel as good as he felt when he left. If you think that there is nothing that you can do to make a difference in the world without spending your “bread and butter”, Here is a good way to do it! Listen to somebody who just need to vent! But don't cuss, it is not very nice LOL
WELL, but if you do have a few “Bucks” that you could use to help your community, how about making a $10.00 donation to this MDA Jailbird? :))))

I thought it was a funny story to share with you my dear friends!
Blessings to all
Zee

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Please help me help as many kids as I can - I'm an MDA Jailbird!

It's been a while since I have posted. Life has been hectic. So many things to get done and so little time. Lots of  My 1st birthday dress have been shipped, lots of embroidered done and lots of community service.
Seems like the more I pray, the more ghosts I see! LOL
The other day I got a phone call, the person told me that I was among one of the most wanted in our County and that I was going to jail. It took me a while to find the strength to ask what the heck was that about.
The reason I was going to jail, it was because I have a BIG HEART :)
Yes, I really have a big heart. Literally speaking!  Three years ago, after a visit to the Prompt Care, I was told that my Mitral Valve was damaged and I had to have it replaced by a mechanical one. The doctor said that my heart worked so hard to compensate for the damaged valve so, my heart increased in size.  Yep, I can tell I have a huge heart LOL
Ok, back to my Jail call,  it was  for a good cause,  I was an MDA Jailbird to help hundreds of kids, adults and their families. Now, I have to ask for donations... Believe me, I think it would be easier to  get somebody to bail me out of a real jail than it's been to get them to donate something to the MDA. It's not easy. I beg and beg and beg and beg!
Sometimes I wonder: Wouldn't that be such a nice surprise  if I woke up in the morning and my inbox  was full of email from the MDA telling me all this people who pitched in ??? That surely would make my day :)
If you are reading this blog, it doesn't need to be much, $5 here, $10 there, at the end it makes a lot of difference.
Please, be thankful that you have a healthy child and don't need help. Open your heart and let together make a difference in the world we live at.
Thank you so much for reading this. The donation is tax deductible and all you have to do to donate secure and direct to the MDA website, please click here.
I'm proud to tell you that I'm going "behind bars" to help in the fight against muscle disease. I'm joining other community leaders to help raise critical funds for MDA, and I need your help to reach my bail!
The Sangamon County, IL 2014 Lock Uptakes place on 06/18/2014, but I'm raising my bail before I go to jail! All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation today. Your support will help families living in our community with muscle disease, and help guarantee that I get out of jail. I will be sure to add you to my list of contributors.
Please support me in this important goal by visiting my fundraising page and making a contribution. Your tax-deductible donation makes a difference to the hundreds of kids, adults and their families who live right here in our local community.
Thanks in advance for your help. Don't hesitate to call or email me with questions.
Thanks,
Zileide Giddings
To make a donation online now, please visit my personal page.

Date-Time-Sponsor-Logo.jpg

Monday, April 28, 2014

Blessings, Blessings, and more Blessings during the weekend and at Midwest Pilot Convention in IOWA


I had a wonderful weekend with my friends and sisters in Pilot this weekend in Coralville, IOWA at the Pilot  Midwest Convention.

It was a very special occasion for me because we had most of our Pilot Club of West central Illinois  Members attending, except for Diane Grimble one of our newest one who was going to join us but had a last minute emergency. Her sister had an stroke and  Diane's plan had to be changed. We missed Diane but she was present in our prayers and heart all the time. I haven't been able to get a hold of Diane yet, to check on her sister's health but, we all know that she has been taken care by the Best of the Best Doctors in the entire world, this Doctor is our Lord. He is our Shepherd Shaw we not want.
My heart is always filled with joy when I attend the Pilot Midwest or the Pilot International Convention because I enjoy hugging each one of the Pilot Members.  I enjoy seeing the smile on their face, and the desire to be a better human being.

As I had warned our First Timers Members before our trip that they were going to meet the best group of people this weekend. The group of people who has always a smile on their face, the group of people who will always be ready to give you a hug. This Convention has gotten the desire in my heart to increase our membership stronger and I am pretty sure that the more member the better we will be able to do more in our community. 

This morning, I feel a little bit tired but, my wonderful husband just called me inviting to go out for lunch since he can tell I look tired LOL
Chantel, Brian and Isabella
I want to say a special "Thank you" to my husband who has taken care of our daughter and dog so that I could make it to the Convention. Without his help, I couldn't do anything.  He is my wonderful husband, Best Friend, and my helper recruiting New Members to our Pilot Club.

Last Friday, while we drove to IOWA there was the Dance with Dads and daughter going on. My husband not only took our daughter to the dance but, also took one of our daughter's best friend who doesn't have a daddy. He acted as the Daddy for the two of them. My Hat is off to my wonderful husband for this beautiful act of love.
 What a lucky woman I am. No money in this world could buy all the things that I appreciate the most in this life, my wonderful little family and friends.
Sometimes I stop everything I am doing and ask myself: "How in the world did I get so luck?" I don't  have the answer for that question but if our Lord thinks that it is something that I deserve, I will always say "THANK YOU LORD" for all the blessings in my life. 

Thank you my friends and sisters in Pilot and hope to see each one of you soon.
If you are reading this post and have no idea who Pilot International is about. Please, ask me and I will be so glad to tell you a little bit of what Mission is about.

Blessings
Zee Giddings

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Sometimes, the answer for something we are looking for is exactly where we don't expect it to be.

 This morning, while getting ready for my shower, I wanted to get all my hair in a pony tail so that I wouldn't get them wet but, I couldn't find an elastic band. I looked in my drawers, I looked everywhere. I was in a hurry, so, I took the first thing I thought it could work, the elastic band bracelet that Isabella made for me and somehow I got my hair tied up. 
On my way to the shower, I looked and saw the plant that I have in the bedroom, I remembered that I had not watered  it for a while, but I was late, I thought I could do it later, too many things to get done in  the morning, plus today I have to get a First Birthday Dress Shipped before my trip to the Pilot International Midwest Convention tomorrow. 
when I was in the shower box I thought, if I don't water it now, I will probably forget and it will die like many other plants that I have had. So, I got out and poured a cup of water on my pretty plant, suddenly I noticed that the elastic band that I was looking for to get my hair up, was right there on  top of the dirt  LOL. I smiled and said : Thank you dear plant! if I had not stopped to water you, I wouldn't have found what I was looking for :).
Just a simple gesture that taught me an important life lesson.

Sometimes when we are really busy and thinking we cant stop for a minute to do something we should, we miss the opportunity to find what we really need.

I am totally guilty here for not taking a time to message a friend to say "Hi", reply emails but, I have learned something today. Maybe if we  made a time for  talking to a friend, the answer to some of our problems, must come right out of their mouth. Sometimes, just a good laughing will release endorphin and will give you the feeling that, everything is going to be all right!! :)
Have you stopped to "water your plants" today? :)
Have a precious day :)
Blessings to all!
Zee Giddings
www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Talking about my friend Lisa Pierce

Lisa calculating the key finders price
I am supposed to write something about my friend Lisa Pierce who is the President of the Non Profit Organization we belong to, Pilot International. 
Oh my.. What can I say about my friend Lisa Pierce? Me and my "broke English" :)
Lisa introduced me to this amazing organization where the main goal is to promote awareness for brain-safe practices, injury prevention and mindful behavior through our various BrainMinders programs...
Garage sale 2013
I would like to start this saying that Lisa is the most unselfish person I have ever known. She is passionate about the organization, she is a fighter trying to keep our club going and she inspires me in so many different ways. Being a mother, wife and Business woman has always kept Lisa really busy but, no matter what, she will always find a time to grab her box full of Pilots booklets, printed emails,information, etc, and come to the meetings full of ideas, She always find a time to focus on growing our chapter. Lisa is the one who always knows what to do when we are facing some difficult times, she stands by us the members in whatever we do and she is always there whenever we need her. From the moment I met Lisa, I knew she was special.What I couldn't have known is that she would become one of my best and truest friend. Someone who is reliable, humble, honest and happy. Well, she can be pretty grumpy sometimes, specially in the mornings LOL.
Garage sale at Midwest Convention 2012
 We all love Lisa no matter what. She has been doing an awesome as the President of our chapter and keeping our members together. She is always cheerful when she comes to the meetings and if I could give Lisa Pierce an Award, it would be the best one that a friend in Pilot could ever get.
We all love you my friend and I am so lucky that you put up with all my craZEEnes and is always there whenever we need you!
God bless and always be with you
You friend and sister in Pilot
Zee Giddings

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Happy Easter to each and everyone of you :) Blessings to all!

I have been not posting lately, so many things going on at the same time. I have been trying to juggle between my family, that is the most important thing in this world to me, my First Birthday embroidered dress, Embroidea Custom Embroidery and re doing  My First Birthday Dress Website. It's turning out good and I am very satisfied. Other than that, I had a short visit to the ER with abdomen cramps and it turned out I have diverticulitis. What the heck!?!??! LOL that is a name that I cant even pronounce ! Yeah, once somebody told me that after the 40s, we start going down the hill LOL. That is too funny but, boy isn't it true? LOL
I am not complaining, as long as I am alive and able to do my work of Art and take care of my family, I am thankful for each and every day I get to be in this beautiful world. :)
Today I wanted to share something I found to be very cute coming from our eight years old daughter Isabella.
I have this thing with me, I have always had it and I got it from my father. I have a "look" for everything that sometimes I don't even have to say a word, I look at my husband or one of my kids and they know exactly what I don't need to say LOL It's a very good thing though because sometimes we are in public places where I don't want to yell at my daughter, all I have to do is look at her and she will know what I mean.
Today, at lunch time, I cooked Isabella fries for lunch, what she calls "Brazilian fries" I cut the potatoes a little thicker and fry them, for some reason Isabella thinks that my fries are the best!
Today at lunch time, she told me : "Mom, you make the best fries EVER!" I said "Thank you Isabella, do you know the difference in between my fries and the McDonald one?

Working on my first birthday dresses
"What is it mom?" Mine has a special ingredient, I call it love. Everything we make with love, tastes much better, looks better and feels better!
She said: "You will have to teach me how to do this because someday I will make this fries to my kids"
Yeah, I said: "You can tell them that your mom "used" to cook you great fries" I used the verb in the past.
She gave  me "the look" The one that there is no need for words but, she completed: "NO mom, I will tell them that my mom COOKS the best fries" 
Ok, I said, that works... I knew eaxctly what she meant...
I am so proud of our eight years old daughter... Actually I am proud of all my kids. They all turned out to be wonderful human beings. Thank you Lord.
Tonight we are having a "family night", we are all going to the movies to watch "Rio2" We loved the first one :))) Yeah there is nothing to do with the fact that we are Brazilians!! LOL
OK,  this turned out to be a long posting LOL. I just wanted to say "Hi" and wish you all a VERY HAPPY EASTER!
Enjoy as much time as you can with your family, they are the ones who loves us no matter what!
God bless and be with you all!
Zee
My First Birthday Dress

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Being important to her family, is the most important thing about Isabella :)

Good morning to you who stopped to read this post it’s a rainy day but to me it's a beautiful day no matter what. God has given me this day as a gift and I plan on not disappointing Him. 
My entire life I have been trying to teach my kids how important they are to our family, I have been trying to not only tell them but showing with actions how important they are to us. Having a family where both Mom and Dad are the best friend to each other, above being husband and wife. Having in our house a great environment with lots of respect, compassion, laughing and being thankful for everything we accomplish, don't letting any negativity be part of our daily life no matter what we are going through. I always questioned myself if we were being successful about trying to pass that message to our kids. I never wanted to ask them but I wanted them to show us if we were doing the right thing. The only clue I had was a day when Isabella told me that she wanted to marry a guy just like her daddy and I, as always trying to be funny, asked her "Oh you want to marry a guy like your daddy because he is so handsome? Her answer really surprised me, she said "No mom, I want to marry a guy just like my daddy because he loves you more than anything" WOW...

The other, Isabella showed up after school with this book that was donated by the school, I even didn't know that they had been working on that project. What made my heart sing with joy, when I read my daughter's page about what was the most important thing about her. I thought to myself, "Thank you Lord" I have been doing things right. Our 8 years old daughter has got it!
Have a precious day!
Zee
 www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com

Monday, March 24, 2014

I always do what I love the most first, yeah and you know, I love my Little Birthday Dresses

Today has been a long day, not long enough that I could go out and enjoy some sun and watch the birds playing in the backyard… It has been long enough to finish a deadline and feel proud of myself. A customer had brought some basketball jersey over to be embroidered and there was no rush until yesterday, (Sunday) I got a text message that said “Lions Jersey ETA?”  I tried not to freak out because there was a lot to be done. He asked me if I could have them done for today since the team would have a game on Tuesday and wanted them to wear the Jerseys, I didn’t think about it and said “Yes, I will get them done”
I woke up early, got my daughter ready to go to school, no matter how busy I am I will always do that because it feels my heart with joy the time I spend with her. After Isabella left to school, I had to get the First Birthday Dress that had been sold last Saturday ready to be shipped. Steamed it, bagged it, packed it nicely in one of my “keepsake box”, a box where I ship my little dresses and expect the moms to keep it after their birthday party is over together with the birthday cards. I gave my last look at the cute little dress, tried to picture the beautiful soon to be a year old baby girl that would be wearing it, said a prayer in my heart, closed the box, placed it in another envelope to avoid the box from getting dirt during transportation, printed the mail label, cleaned my table and then I was ready to face those Jerseys uniforms. I always do what I love the most first, yeah and you know, I love my Little Birthday Dresses… I wish I could work only with them, but, as a Customer once told me, “Your little dresses don’t pay the bills” such an insensitive human being…
At 1 o’clock, I got another text message, “by any chance, are the jerseys ready yet?” “Nope, not yet, I will let you know when I am done with them” No, not pressure at all LOL. I don’t get mad at my customers, I love them no matter what. I only wish I had six hands to get everything done whenever they want them done.  At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, I finally got them all done, what a relief. I can’t explain you, the feeling in my heart when I looked at them all steamed and ready to be delivered… I am so proud of my work. I know that I am good at what I do because I do everything with love. If one of my customers place an order to be a gift, when they come back, they will get it all nicely packed in a gift box :) Yeah, I like to see them smiling when they look at it… It’s my pleasure :)

Right now I feel tired, even tried to take a nap to relax a little bit but, I just couldn't, billions of thoughts comes to my mind when I lay in bed to get some rest… All the stuff I need to get done in order to have my website selling more dresses and then be able to work only with them… Oh what a day it will be when that time comes :) I know it will, I can feel it, I can almost touch my dream :)
One of my first birthday dress
Oh I know what you just thought ;) this lady is a dreamer. Yep, I am a dreamer and as John Lennon said” I am not the only one” 
Well, I better finish my post and join my family in the TV room. In the room, it’s what I have the most precious in this life, My Family…
You have a great night and always believe in the beauty of your dreams… Yes, you know ho said that…
God bless and be with each one of us… AMEN!
Zee


Thursday, March 20, 2014

The Lord is my sheperd; I shall not want.


Zee and her precious  First Birthday Dresses
Today is the first day of spring. What a blessing! It feels so good to have the ducks back in the swimming pool, listen to the birds singing, soon everything will come back to life and our eyes will see all the green and colorful flowers again :) Praise our Lord for the beautiful miracle of His creation!
We just came back home from Isabella's School, they were having the Book Fair and a springtime recital. Isabella did good as always, she has a good voice for speaking and singing in public. As we were watching the kids doing their best I was observing my daughter and thanking God for have given me the power to bring a wonderful life to this world. I never thought I could ever give birth to a child. I was already a mother of Charles (28) and Tamy (22) my kids that I have adopted. I was already all done with having kids, but then, I got re married to my wonderful husband was a bachelor, had no kids of his own and I got myself wondering how he would miss being a father. God with His mercy, gave us a beautiful daughter who is now 8 years old and on second grade, our beautiful Isabella..
Watching her singing made me so proud and my heart was crying with so much joy. I told my husband: Look at our daughter, isn't she beautiful? “Yes" he said She is beautiful.
I had an amazing day at work and with my family. I can feel like I am so close to have my dream come true, I feel like I can almost touch it! What a lucky person I am and very blessed as well. When I was very young, almost four years old, my parents took me to the church and I was able to say in front of the entire church, the Psalm 23. I will never forget the words that I have written in my heart, it was just like our Lord was telling me to always think about those words whenever I feel like I need Him. This is how it has been my entire life. The day of my open heart surgery, while they were getting me hooked up to the IV, I was saying in my heart “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. I knew everything would be ok because He has a plan for me in this earth.
Every day, when I first wake up I feel so thankful for never forgetting those precious words and for the miracle of spending another day in this earth with the ones that I love. Today also I have shipped two of My First Birthday Dresses http://www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com/ and have been working on some beautiful other ones. You all have a precious night and whenever you feel like you are alone, remember of Psalm of david.
Zee Giddings 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death; I will fear no evil: for thou
art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies: thou anointest
my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life; and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord for ever.
                                 Psalm 23


Monday, March 17, 2014

Life is this beautiful undefined miracle...

Hi there :)
It's Monday morning, the sun is shinning and I feel thankful because I was able to wake up for one more day.
Some people who has been battling cancer or any terminal disease might think that their lives is almost over and forget to live it  as they were supposed to, focusing instead on finding the cure for their illness. Don't let the fact that you have been dealing with a terrible disease stop you from living your life. It doesn't really matter if I have heart conditions, if you have cancer, the other person has AIDS, the other carries the genes that will make him sick one day or another.
Don't let the fact that you live with a disease fool you. I am pretty sure that not even for a minute, it crossed the mind of all those passengers who disappeared on the flight 370, I imagine that none of them thought that they might had seen their loved ones for the last time once they left their homes. Sad huh? Life is this beautiful undefined  miracle...
I believe that we all came to this world with an expiration date. We don't know when our is going to be, we wont leave here until we have accomplished the plan that God has for each one of us. For this reason, don't forget to Live your life like your were supposed to. Love, laugh, be thankful and forgive always.
Yesterday, when I talked to my family from Brazil, I got the news that one of our relative who was only 20 years old passed away last week. He was coming back from college when he was hit by a truck and died instantly. A totally healthy 20 years old young man who was the father of a small child ...
Let's think about this, let's stop worrying and live life like there would not be tomorrow.
What is your plan for the this day? I have planning on spending sometime working on my beautiful little birthday dresses among all the other embroidery work that I have to get done. Embroidery is my passion, any kind of embroidery but working with my first birthday dresses is what I love the most :) like a customer who was mad at me because she got me working on the dresses instead doing her embroidery, once she told me,  "the birthday dresses don't pay your bill" no they don't, if they did, I would be only embroidering the first birthday dresses full time. They are my hobby and it makes me forget about everything while I am working on them :)
Let's try to do something that makes us happy today ;) Let's smile no matter what, let's live today because it is a precious gift that we got when we first woke up, the gift of life.
Have a precious day my friends. God bless and be with you today and always...
Zee Giddings
http://www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com/First-Birthday-Dress-s/1814.htm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=1814&show=120&page=1

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Embroidering birthday dresses, Doing Custom Embroidery, selling Girl Scout cookies and being a mommy, life is good!

One of the birthday dresses I did today
Here it's me again to let you know I am still hanging around :)
Oh boy it has been crazy on Zee's little corner of the world. among Family, Embroidea Custom Embroidery , My First Birthday Dress, Pilot International, the Non Profit Organization I belong to and friends I  have been juggling  back and fourth. Sometimes I have no clue if I am going or coming LOL. No I am not complaining just thinking out loud :)
Zee has been embroidering a lot of  Birthday dresses lately and lots and  lots of Custom embroidery work. I think my Customers have decided to test me the  two last weeks. First the National Guard soldiers with some custom order for gift and yes it was to reproduce a flag so that they could  give as a gift to their fellows who are retiring. That was a challenge, I worked on the for a while but when I was finally done, I was so proud of myself...  at the end it is all worth of the hard work. Seeing the satisfaction on my Customer's face. Now, tonight I am working on a Golf bag. http://www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com/Silver-and-Pink-Polyester-Princess-Birthday-dress-p/d202.htm and this is how my life has been going LOL.

Trying to hoop the golf bag
When the Customer called me I told him it was impossible to embroider on a golf bag, I suggested patches but, he said no, he wanted me to go ahead and try it. Oh dear Lord, my hands and finger are so sore but it has coming along so well. What a challenge. I work for a while on the bag and then take a break to embroider a birthday dress
I guess that all this work is what keeps me going. Juliana took a picture of me on top of the table trying to hoop one of the flaps of the bag.. We struggle and laugh at the same time because  you cant imagine what Zee goes through to have all the beautiful embroidery work done :)
Also, other then all those work, I have been trying to get the word about My First Birthday Dress website out there. Oh boy... That is another challenge. I think I need a vacation LOL
My work  and the competirors
Did I tell you guys also that I have been helping my daughter Isabella who is a brownie to sell Girls Scout Cookies. We had a goal to sell 100 boxes and so far we have sold almost 300! Yep, I want to teach my kids that we have to always shoot to the moon, the worst that could happen is to lend among the stars as the old saying :)
Well, I better hurry and finish working on my golf bag and will  be back soon. BTW Would you like to buy some delicious Girl Scout cookies ? ;-) LOL
Enjoy life and smile no matter what.
Life is a beautiful thing.
 
God Bless
Zee


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Oh Zee, you are such a darn lucky person! ;)

Isabella had to wear yellow "summerish" to school today
Hi there kids :)
I am on my 4th day on antibiotic to get rid of this Pneumonia. Although I am still coughing like there won't be tomorrow, I am so happy and thankful that I am ALIVE! :) I feel like singing with Sheryl Crow:
 
I'm gonna soak up the sun
I'm gonna tell everyone
To lighten up
I'm gonna tell 'em that
I've got no one to blame
For every time I feel lame
I'm looking up

I'm gonna soak up the sun
While it's still free
I'm gonna soak up the sun
Before it goes out on me

Some days ago I told I'd choose Snow over storms because they scare the "angel" out of me but  do you know what?  Let the storms come cause I am so loving this sun!!!
 
I will tell you kids, and this time you cant say I am rubbing in, I don't look and feel really great but  LIFE IS SO AMAZING!!! No matter what we are going through, if we were lucky enough to wake up to this day, we MUST be thankful :))
I am not going to be stubborn and start working like I always do, but this day, I am going to do stuff that I enjoy doing like going for lunch with my husband  to Gateway to India, my favorite Indian Restaurant and have some of my "delicioussssssssssssssssssssssss sweet balls" yeah most of you call them Gulab Jamun  but I have my own name for them LOL
Ohhhhhhhhh another good reason to be happy! Last night I was told by a friend I haven't seen in over a decade that in August of 2015 I will have two of my friends from Brazil visiting with me!!! How cool is that???? Oh Zee, you are such a darn lucky person! ;)
 
Today I will also take some picture of the birthday dresses for My First Birthday Dress website. I really want my website looking cute :)) I want to have a lot of  summer dress uploaded soon, dresses like this http://www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com/Yellow-floral-1st-Birthday-Embroidered-Dress-p/d03.htm and many more :)
I want my little princesses first birthday babies to have the best outfit for their birthday party EVER!!! Yeah... I love my little dresses :)
I hope you all kids enjoy this BEAUTIFUL amazing day and SMILE no matter what because life is good!!!!
Blessings
Zee :)

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Thank you Lord for bringing me to a country where everything is possible... Even a meal that taste like the one our own mom makes....

Today, I woke up missing my family in Brazil so bad..
You know when we are sick, yeah, pneumonia here. Our body aches, our nose is raw inside from so much blowing, our head feels like is going to explode, what comes to our mind? Yeah family... Our mom's soup, all that good stuff that a human being needs...
Unfortunately, I am far away from those good remedies, I have to be happy with what I have. You know what? We have to make the best of every situation... Nobody can have everything, right?
I was craving that warm soup, some health stuff to make me feel better. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am all against the big buck store. I am always trying to help the local business and keeping on my side of the fence. Protecting the small business in town.
I don't have pretty and fancy words to describe what I am feeling right now. Sure, I am a crazy Brazilian who speaks some broke English. It's a good thing that maybe a half dozen of people are reading this post right now. Otherwise I would be making a GREAT free commercial for Olive Garden LOL.
My husband has always been there for everything I need, last night the poor thing even tried to make me noodles soup. The noodles were hard and it didn't taste that great but I had it all because he did his best with what we had... I could feel that he put some loving into it. Even threw a lot of Parmesan cheese to give some taste.. (shhhhhh dont tell him that) :)
It feels weird because the last time I felt like having a bowl of soup this bad, it was when I got out of the hospital after having my open heart surgery. On our way back home from the hospital, for some reason, I was dreaming that I would get home and be surprised. I was hoping that my Mother-In-Law would have  her wonderful chicken noodles soup waiting for me... Too bad, I wasn't very lucky, maybe she wasn't feeling like it... oh well, the dreaming part was good though LOL. Although I had a big cut in my chest,  I had the energy to go straight to the kitchen and cook a big pot of chicken soup for all of us but, this time, only having pneumonia, it took all my energy away, I feel so weak and couldn't imagine myself cooking... 
SO...I had the best idea ever. I asked my husband if he could go to Olive Garden, and get us some soup and salad to go.
OMG... I cant even try to tell you how wonderful it was. Boy, with $21.14 (as you see on the picture) we had the best meal I could have ever asked for on a cold and gloomy day.
I wish I had had this same idea three years ago when I had my open heart surgery...
They put together a meal I will never forget. Their delicious zuppa toscana (my favorite from their menu) some marvelous bread sticks, enough Parmesan cheese, salad looking impeccable delicious, some chicken meatballs and of course I cant forget to mention my chocolate mints. :)
That was all that I needed today...
Today, my hat is off to you Olive Garden, I know, you guys don't need my commercial but I had to be thankful for the most delicious soup I could had have had.
If you were just visiting my website www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com and somehow landed to this page, you must be asking yourself, what the heck has Olive Garden Soup have to do with first birthday dresses????
Sorry if I have disappointed you, this is not all about business. This is about opening my heart and let my fingers type what comes to my mind. It;s all about being thankful. Maybe some day you might be feeling like a healthy and homemade taste meal and you might recall that it came in handy for me today.
Looking at this picture I would say; Mr. Olive Garden people :) thank you so much for making me feel like I was at home today! You guys ROCK!!!
Thank you Lord for bringing me to a country where everything is possible... Even a meal that taste like the one our own mom makes....
Blessings
Zee

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Nope Zee is not just a cold...it's a bad case of pneumonia

Last night was horrible... I literally cried out loud.
I was feeling so helpless... I couldn't sleep because of the cough, fever and the pain in my chest from all the coughing. This morning, I couldn't wait for the Prompt care to open so that I could go see a doctor. I was feeling and looking terrible. My hair was a mess, but I put a hat on and drove to the Prompt Care. Thank Lord there were not so many people there and I didn't have to wait for so long.
I have been worried about my heart beat rate that has been high this week, so I mentioned to the doctor and she explained me that it has been like that because I have been running a fever. She prescribed me a strong dosage of antibiotic, some breathing treatment  and I am sure life will be back to normal soon.
Sometimes God uses different ways to show us how loved we are...
My daughter Isabella was in the bedroom with me earlier. She told me that she couldn't sleep last night either because she was worried about me downstairs  sick. I told her that she should not worry about me because I was going to be fine. She looked at me with the her beautiful little face and said: "but mommy, I have never seen you crying before"
I had no clue she could hear me from upstairs... I never thought my little piece of me was so caring....
How about Squeakers, our fur baby?! She wouldn't leave for nothing in this world... I love my babies so much...
I hope tonight won't be so bad... I don't want to scare the ones I love...
Thank you Lord. For allowing me to realize that I needed to go see a doctor...
Thank you for being in my life always...
Life is amazing....
Zee

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentines Day from the First Birthday Dress lady :)

It's Valentines Day. I have just finished embroidering a last minute Valentines gift.
Oh well, it made me happy to be able to help that lady to have her gift, as she said "just perfect"
How has been your Valentines Day? Mine has been really good. I was able to get some work done, even if I haven't been feeling that great.
 Isabella, our eight years old girl comes from school with a cold and three days later she is all good to go but mommy, oh boy it hangs with me for a while.
I am so glad it is just a cold though... It will run it's course and I will be feeling great again :)
Nothing special happening in my corner of the world, daddy took Isabella to the mall to help her Girl Scout Troop sell cookies and seems like they have been doing pretty well.
Tamy, our oldest daughter who is  twenty two, drove to Saint Louis for the weekend. Oh boy with all this snow on the ground it really worries me... I guess that is what we all mommies are for, to sit, worry and pray for our children.
No, we aren't doing anything special for Valentines Day. All I feel like doing is getting under a blanket and cuddling on the couch with our fur baby :)
Dear Lord, please bring our Springtime back, I need to see some green, I need to get out of the house a get some sun, plant my vegetables in my garden. I really need that dear Lord.
I am not the kind who asks too much, I am more like thanking for what I can get but, I am done with this cold weather now...
We have been changing everything here in the  Studio. Now, our living room became the office, our dinning room became the room where we keep the first birthday dresses to be embroidered and all the embroidered done and my embroidery room has more space now.
I have been trying hard to figure it out how to drive traffic to my website. I have been researching, reading, watching videos, etc. There are so many things to be learned and so little time.
I wish I could wake up one day with the answer to my questions... So many ideas but not quite sure to to make them work.
Meanwhile, I will keep on working..
I wish you all a Happy Valentines Day! Enjoy some time with the ones you love, today is all we have gotten, let make it count.
Take care kids...
Blessings
Zee

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

“At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets.”

Steve Maraboli...I don't know too much about this author but, I sure appreciate his words of wisdom..
Once in a while, I have the pleasure of meeting some special people in my life through my work. I like talking to the elderly people because I am eager to learn and they always have something to teach me.
Today, this  new Customer who brought a sweatshirt over to be embroidered with a Crappie fish, came to pick up his embroidery. I will tell you, sometimes we look at people and  we see only the outside, that is one of our biggest mistake. I am one of those kind of business person who, if somebody wants something embroidered really bad but I assume they cant afford it, I always price it above what it is supposed to be. I think, oh well, it is only a sweatshirt and it is not a repeated work. It wont hurt me to put a smile on people's face :).
So, this Customer came to pick up his sweatshirt and he LOVED It. He was amazed how it turned out, so he gets his checkbook and asks me  how much do I owe you? He seemed to be a very humble man, I wanted him to keep on smiling, so I gave him a price that I wouldn't lose any money but, I wouldn't be making any extra for my work. Oh well, it was just a sweatshirt...
The elderly man looked at me and said: "ARE YOU SURE?" I smiled back and said, yes I am sure. He told  me: -"Oh no I will give you this much" What he paid me, was double of the price I gave him. That was the lesson I have learned for the day. It doesn't matter if a customer is rich, poor, if  I do the best I can, he/she will know how to appreciate my work and will pay me what it is worth . To me, that is the most important part of my payment, the Customer satisfaction. 
Every time a customer comes over to pick up their embroidery, it doesn't matter how long I have been doing the work to them, they always make me smile with kind words. That is my reward... 
I  guess that my husband might find it interesting when I leave the house and I know that a customer will come to pick up  embroidery. When I come back I always ask "Did the customer like it?" Even if he tells me yes the customer told me that he/she liked it a lot. No, I am not happy I have to ask "could you tell that he was really happy with the result?"  I keep on asking questions until I am satisfied. It's really different when somebody tell us that they like  something because they are kind  and when they tell us that they like it because they are satisfied. Body language, nobody can hide anything from Zee :)
I wont lie to you. It might have had a couple times when I asked the customer if they were happy, they said yes they were but, deep inside I could tell that they were not telling me the truth. After they left my place,  my day didn't turn out so good. I kept on questioning myself what could I have done different and it killed me inside. So, I have already told myself that if I notice that a customer doesn't seem very happy with my work. I will be straight forward. I will tell them I don't feel like they are satisfied. I hope this wont happen again but if it does, I will avoid some sleepiness night to myself :)
Yes Mr Steve Maraboli, “At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets.” 
Have a precious evening you all! :)
Zee Giddings

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Babe is Cold outside....

How is everyone today? Keeping warm?
Babe it's cold outside. I have been "finking" how Mike is doing lately... LOL
Although I have been fighting this horrible flu, cold, whatever it is called what I have, I feel so thankful that I am still in this world :)
Although I haven't slept well for a couple days now, I am so thankful for having Squeakers, our little fur baby to keep me company sitting on the recliner downstairs :) How can you not love this tiny Satellite Ears? :) I can tell by the way she looks at me that if she could talk, she would say "What the heck are the both of us doing here, while daddy is on that big bed all by himself?" LOL If she could say that We would laugh our butts off ! No, our little fur baby keeps on my lap and give me kisses in between her naps LOL.
You know how it is like when we have a cold, as soon as we lay down in bed, our nose clogs up, the cough gets worse and we feel terrible, instead, I'd rather spend the night on the recliner and "finking" LOL That is what I know how to do the best!!!
I know there might be a lot of you guys with this cold or whatever it is out there. Keep your cool :))) It's just a virus that has to run it's course. Soon we will be feeling wonderful again and sooner than we think it will be Spring!!!! Woooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo Life will be all colorful and amazing beautiful. Let's not forget that we go through the winter so that we can appreciate it better when Spring time comes :)
You all kids keep safe out there and as Elton John sings, don't let the sun go down on you!!! ;)))
Have a wonderful day!!! Let's keep our hearts warm :)))

Blessings
Zee

www.myfirstbirthdaydress.com