My family Tree

I grew up in a Spanish heritage near the Mexican border in Texas. We did a lot of the Spanish customs in my family. My father was a jack of all trades, Rancher, Builder, Farmer,  in the Navy as most of my family served in the military as well. One of my uncles while in Spain traced our heritage all the way to Spain. Since I was taller then most Hispanic girls around me and lighter skin I thought it was because of my Spanish links.I can understand the Spanish language just a bit. I can keep up with my tias (aunts) in conversation but answer them back in English. The language was something I did not pick up I think it was due to the fact I was raised in Calif as a child and in school we were not allowed to speak Spanish in school or we would get spanked. My parents encouraged us to speak English even at home. I think it was a mistake but it was a choice they made, and we as we got older never embraced the language again.  Pity. My two older sisters picked it up a lot better my second eldest was even able to speak it a lot, but she was not raised in Calif which I think was the reason.

On my mother side she was a good at cooking, she had the magic skill of cooking when there was no food in the house she kept us well fed. When someone was feeling bad she fed us, any trouble going on with our life she fed us. There was always something in her foods that made us feel better. Anyone that tasted her food wanted to be her friend, their was something magical about her food. My mother used to tell me story's of how the women of my home town would go to her mother my grandmothers house for advice she would read their cards, offer them herbal remedies. Although she did say it I am pretty sure my grandmother and her mother before her were la curandera which is healers in Spanish. There was always a special energy when me and my sisters got together. Some special skill that each of us possessed I like to think it came from my grand mothers side.

A few years ago I did my DNA testing with ancestry. It came back 60 percent Native American and 30 percent Spanish. The rest large part of Portugal, some Jewish, African, and even Ireland and England Wales. I was shocked that I had more Native American then Spanish. Intrigued with the Native American part I wanted to see if we actually had any Newer Indian in us. I say newer cuz if your native American dna from these tests most likely you came from Aztecs and Mayans at a certain point. There is no dna results that will verify this only certain Indian tribes. My daughter had some Andean in her which means close to Mayans. Its fascinating to see how far my family has migrated. I am still researching my family tree to see if there was any Apache in us. There was a last Apache chief who was here in Texas that migrated to New Mexico area he had our last name so I am trying to see if I can link him to us.

Ancestry is also always updating as they get more areas more accurate and as more of my family joins. I am hoping the Indian tribes will share their dna with us some day but I doubt it. There is too much at stake with the Casino revenues.

I have found many new cousins while doing ancestry and with these cousins come photos from long ago. Great Grand parents pictures I had no idea existed still. I cried every time I got a pic of a new ancestry. Its like finding a lost family member. I have helped cousins who were adopted find their real parents, I have embraced the ones who havent found their parents but they are happy to have found us. Family. I have heard new stories about our family that was fascinating. Like how an uncle and cousin were extras on the set of the movie with John Wayne The Alamo. They were Mexican soldiers. I heard another story of how an aunts husband was best friend with Cortez, there is a story/legend about the famous chase.

I am still researching. Its been a lot of fun. I hope to find more information as I continue to dig and hope that new cousins reach out to me to see how they were raised. I am a proud Texan, even though I was born and raised as a child in Calif middle school I was raised mostly here along with my family and cousins in a very small town sw of San Antonio.  Where everyone knew your name, where you lived, who were your siblings. LOL yah that sort of town but I wouldnt have had it any other way.I lived many years on a ranch. My father first worked out in the hill country along with my cousin and uncles on ranches before a lot of them joined the service. They were cowboys, they were Vaquero. https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/campfire-stories/vaqueros 

My Tio Juan Musquiz above

This was my dad Eddie Musquez he was a rancher for many years as well, also a truck driver and was a Seabee in the Navy. This pic was in Concan Texas. L.O. Carter ranch. He was foreman there and I was raised many years here as well. I also helped when I can bring in the animals they had, angora goats and cattle.

This picture was taken filming The Alamo with John Wayne this is my cousins Roque and Oscar Ortiz. Roque is the one with the hat. I got this pic from my cousin Ophelia Ortiz Joes daughter. 

 

Another neat story was from my Ortiz side was the husband of my great aunt Enriqueta Ortiz she was married to Juan Mosqueda he was friends and neighbors with in the picture the famous Gregorio Cotez. he was also the God father of their child Frances Mosqueda. Cortez was a Mexican folk legend.
Cortez History Click Here they even made a short video of him as well. Short movie of him. More history of him. More history of him click here.

Above very proud of my nephew Justin who is an Train Engineer, he also served in the Marines. 

My nephew AJ is very blessed with musical skills he can play many instruments. My father also played the guitar as well as AJ father as well.

More to come...

 

Dorm room list from a mom

Dorm Checklist

Electronics/Video games:

______ Laptop with cords

______ Mouse

______ Mouse Pad

______ Tablet with cord and pen

______ TV (Flat screen)

______ TV remote

______ Coaxial cable

______ Switch with cords

______ Games/cords/Game Machine

______ Headphones

______ Movies(My daughters dorm had cable plus she had netflix and prime didnt need movies

______ Surge protector power strip

______ Air filter plus new filter (Good for allergys or white noise)

______ Lantern (Small we got ours from Walmart incase of a black out)

______ Flashlight

______ Cell phone cords

______ Desk lap

______ Clip-on fan

______ Rechargeable Batteries with the kit to charge it

Clothing:

______ T-Shirts 

______ Long sleeves/sweater for colder months

______ Tank tops for cooler months

______ Nice blouses/dress shirts for awards, church, dates.

______ Dress pants

______ Pants

______ Warmups for working out being comfy

______ Shorts

______ Skirts (girls)

______ Leggings (Long and short) (girls)

______ Pajamas (top and bottom) (2)

______ Bra’s(girls)

______ Underwear

______ Swimsuit (Most schools have a pool)

______ Dresses (Girls)

______ Rain jacket (A must)

______ Jackets

______ Dress jacket

______ Vests

______ Socks

______ Sneakers

______ Boots (Include rain-boots)-This was a must at my daughers college.

______ Dress shoes

______ Costumes for events they have on campus

______ Jewerly (Be careful with expesive stuff)

______ slippers (bathroom slippers if sharing bathroom)
______ Cold weather -Thermals-Gloves, hats, scarfs.

Remember Trips home can switch out clothes via semester, but always have a jacket especially where my daughter was at days were hot in desert but at night it was chilly.

Bedroom:

______ Comforter

______ Pillow

______ Pillow cases

______ Mattress protector

______ Mattress topper

______ Flat sheet (2) (Can make do with only one)

______ Fitted sheet (2) (Can make do with only one)

______ Throw blanket

______ Electric blanket (If easily cold or roomate keeps it cooler in room)

______ Bed/Back Rest pillow (sitting on bed make it more comfortable

______ Decorative pillows ( My daughter had a sofa, so she thru a throw over it and some pillows because it was very uncomfortable.

______ Chair cushion desk chair

______ Bed bands to hold down sheets

Kitchen:

______ Microwavable plates 2 (My daughter had a kitchen but had to use bathroom sink to wash dishes. Some perfer to just use throw away plates.

______ Microwavable bowls 2

______ Microwavable casserole dish

______ Microwavable soup bowl

______ Mini crockpot(daughter liked to make her own meals otherwise not necessary.

______ Microwavable raman bowl

______ Microwavable potato dish

______ Chip bag clips

______ Can opener (A must)

______ Paper plates to put in fast food

______ Paper towel holder

______ Microwavable spatter cover

______ Microwavable egg cooker

______ Forks 2

______ Spoons 2

______ Knifes One cutting, one larger

______ Small cutting board

______ Small mixing bowl(great for popcorn

______ Mugs

______ Water filter-Even with this water filter was horrible so daughter went with water bottles instead.

______ Water bottles
______ Zip lock bags, containers small to put in leftovers

Bathroom:

______ Shower tote

______ Towels at least 3

______ Small towels 2

______ Hand towels

______ Toothbrush holder

______ Shower flip flops

______ First aid kit Diff Bandaids, stuff to clean small wound, wraps for sprains, thermometer

______ Make-up (Girls)

______ Make-up remover (Girls)

______ Toothpaste

______ Toothbrush

______ Floss

______ Mouthwash

______ Hair brush

______ Hair ties

______ Hairband

______ Razors

______ Nail clippers

______ Tweezers

______ Cotton swaps

______ Small mirror (Daughter roomate hogged the bathroom even though the bathroom had separate shower sink she would still hog both so the mirror came in handy.

______ Deodorant

______ Shampoo

______ Conditioner

______ Lotion

______ Hand soap
______ Laundry bag. 

______ Toilet paper(Lots! It expensive where my daughter was at to buy it)
_____ Detergent The pods work best. We didnt take bleach made daughter not have any white clothes so she didnt have to separate. It was hard to get a washer dryer to wash clothes. One or two loads once a week worked out good.

Sick Box:

The nurse was great on campus even went to my daughters dorm when sick, but its good to have a sick box cuz unless they take vitamins and have a good immune system they will get sick at least once I guarantee it.

______ Soup (Fav soups for days they are sick Microwaveable our the best)

______ Crackers (Single packs) Otherwise they get stale.

______ Stuff olives with garlic (We liked these garlic is great for colds)

______ 7-Up or Ginger Ale

______ Tissues (Three boxes at least)

______ Cough drops

______ NyQuil

______ DayQuil

______ Pepto-Bismol

______ Eye drops

______ Garlic tablets (We love these when people are sick around you works better then airborne I think.

______ Vaporizer

______ Sunscreen

______ After sun/Aloe-vera

______ Cold eye mask for migranes

______ Ibuprofen

______ Heat pad

______ Melatonin (Sleep Aid)

______ Asprin

______Vitamins

______Cold meds for sore throat
______ Tooth ache meds
______ Stye Eye meds
______ Lip sore meds
______ gadorade 
______ Allergy med daughter didnt need it in the desert not much allergy but we put some Allergy incase of a scorpian sting.
_____ Airborne (Daughter liked the gummie bear one

Laundry:

______ Stain stick

______ Laundry bag

______ Dryer sheets

______ Detergent packs

______ Wrinkles sprays

______ Lint roller

______

______

______

______

Decorations:

______ Curtain

______ Rod for curtain

______ Removable hooks for curtain

______ Removable stick-on wall art

______ Table mats

______ Posters

______ Rug

______

______

______

______

______

Cleaning:

______ Duster

______ Dish soap

______ Clorox wipes

______ All-propose cleaner

______ Paper towels
______ Liquid drano (We found out this came in handy)
______ Lysol spray to spray and clean the mattress along with wipes

______ Trash bags (The ones that smell pretty worked great)

______ Small vacuum(Roomate may have one already if you can reach them.

Miscellaneous:

______ Poster strips

______ Back scratcher

______ Small trashcan Liners we liked the ones that had scent

______ Books for fun

______ Hand sanitizer

______ Sparkling drinks (non-alcohol)

______ Ramon

______ Snacks

______ Medication

______ Reusable bag

______ Small sewing kit

______ Dry erase board

______ Umbrella

______ Hand fan

______ Playing cards

______ Clip-on car air freshener

______ Locks for foot locker (Even though they may have own room, sometimes they have to share for a bit if over booked. In daughters case she was not an A room so the B and C had to share for a few weeks till they got everyone situated.

Storage:

______ Hanging shelf

______ 3-Drawer cart

______ Over-The-Chair shelf

______ Over-the-door shoe shelf

______ Magnetic hooks (Sometime only fridges will need it

______ Jumbo hooks

______ Over-the-door hooks

______ Medium removable hooks (Commandos)

______ Large removable hooks (Commandos)

______ Hangers for closet

______ Little containers to organize desk

______ Coat tree came in handy that can be taken apart. Ordered from Amazon.

______ We used a collaspable wagon it came in handy kept in car or closet

______We used Paper collapsable storage containers you can find at Office supply store. You can mark on them to use again and use again. They have handlers on it to lift.

School:

______ Notebook (For each class)

______ Binder (For each class)

______ Mechanical pencils

______ Eraser (Refill for mechanical)

______ Lead (Refill for mechanical)

______ Erasers

______ Rulers

______ Books (For class)

______ Book covers

______ Grid paper

______ Scissors

______ Tape

______ Stapler

______ Staples

______ Calculator

______ Color pencils

______ Sketchbook

______ Flash drive

______ School bag

______ Laptop bag

______ Pencil sharpener

______ Pencil case

______ Sharpies

______ Pens

______ Inking pens

______ Blenders

______ Compass

______ Calendars

______ Small printer but they do have printer to use at library. Daughter didnt really need one.

Favorate snacks and food

Popcorn
crackers
Dips/Chips
apple sauce
Peanut butter
Cookies
 Fruit cup
Spam singles
Salt/Pepper/Sugar

Romi
Vienna sausage
Microwaveable soups/macroni and cheee/Rice/Pasta
Fast breakfast-granola bars, Breakfast carnation drink, ceral, Oatmeal packs,
Puddings
Cheese sticks
Nuts
Micro cakes diff flavors
Daughter liked cans of corn and greenbeans just to snack on cuz the cafeteria made things to spicy

A Sugar Free Life Style.

This is to keep track of my new toxin free way of eating.

This is a combo of Sugar free diet, Intermittent diet. and what they call Paleo and Keto diet. Mostly meats, fats, veggies and some fruit. No processed foods! No calorie counting. Chewing slowly, Drinking lots of Alkaline water. Eating between the hours of 10am and 7pm only.

My name is Samantha and I am a sugaroholic, a lot of people have no idea they are sugar addicted I didnt. First week your off of it if you go cold turkey like I did the first time, you get flu like symptoms from the withdrawals its that bad, you get the shakes, headaches, your body feels like crap, you sweat and you will do almost anything for some sugar, you dream about it, you will want it so bad a lot cant make it the first week without cheating a bit. Just one more piece they say it can't hurt, can't be rude need to eat some birthday cake. All processed foods are made with sugar even milk. If you can't go one day, without some kind of sugar without thinking I can't wait till tomorrow to get my soda, coffee with sugar etc..you are sugaroholic.

Since I was a kid my father wanted something sweet way into the night after dinner, ice cream with peaches, sugar cereal bowl what ever my mom could make, I grew up I had to have dessert at night. It came to a point in my life where if I didnt have something with sugar on it, my body would start to shake my face would feel dumb, almost a paralyzed state of not being able to move a bit in my facial features felt like I was having a stroke, I asked the doctor about it, maybe I was having a heart stroke? Nope...diabetic? since it runs in my family, nope that wasn't it. Found out after being off sugar after two weeks it was just my body going thru withdrawals wanting more sugar. Always felt better for a bit after having some sugar substance, then it would happen again a vicious circle. My knees were going out on me cuz of my weight, if I kept on the weight I would eventually need knee surgery I just knew it they ached so bad in the cold weather.. Not being able to do things with my family like walk fast in my daughters campus to keep up with everyone was embarrassing to me. Not being able to ride a bike with my son was disappointing, I used to love riding bikes. I love to swim but I am just to tired. Worried that I might not fit in an airline seat, worried if I fell down could you get back up without help. Feeling young but your body feeling so old. Yah that was me.

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Prior two weeks b4 I started, I started to cut down on sugars never ate any past noon especially the desserts, tried a few days not eating after 7pm went on and off with that very hard to do. Doing this slowly this time, tried sugar free diet for a whole month once but got off of it after the month challenge was gone. Felt good during that time, hope to feel that way again.

July 11th Start date with no sugar all day, no process foods. Meats, Veggies only, No calorie counting-July 11-13th Have pretty bad headaches start drinking more water 8oz-6. My suggestion if your going to start this make sure to have a few days off a week would be better, do it on the weekend your going to feel like crap and can barely move if your a sugaroholic like I was :(Felt hungry a lot ate lots of boiled eggs.

July 14th Headaches lifted also a kind of haze that I seemed to be in

July 15th the sugar cravings are pretty bad, its all I can think about but on the up side fruit have become my new best friend in moderation of course but the taste is intensify now. Try to keep busy so I wont be thinking of sweets, also had a dream of a straw berry milkshake that I was drinking it lol

Would also like to add the first week of no sugar I had massive hair loss when taking a shower, after the second week it stopped, I think my body just went into shock. 

July 19th Nine days being sugar free I woke up feeling GREAT!!!! started my exercises 1 mile every other day walking. I am doing this every other day because the last time I tried to walk a mile every day I got heel spurs and I was down for weeks in a cast. As I lose more weight I will increase my exercise.

July 20th started the 7/10am Intermittent fasting diet where you only eat from 10am to 7pm  most people do 11am-7pm but I find I need to go places do things and I cant wait around till 11am to eat so 10am is working good good link to it. This is easier in the morning then at night. I am used to snacking at night so this has been really hard on me. http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2013/05/17/intermittent-fasting-diet.aspx 

Also this is about the time July 20th and 21st that the nightmares started. Two nights of nighmares was wearing me out when I awoke. Luckily after those first two start up days I have been nightmare free.

July 22nd-23rd the hunger pains at night and noise associated with it have started in my stomach. Hubby said and from what I read its my stomach breaking up the food. Need to read more on it, will link up later. Ok its later...its just what he said its not that I am hungry its just digesting food, did more research said to try to drink some mint/peppermint tea to stop the noise or water..I tried just water didnt help but tried the tea yes it does help!!! Stock up on Mint tea. :)

July 24th Marks two weeks sugar free and four days on the Intermittent fasting diet. Lost only 4 lbs but that is about 2 lbs a week so its ok, feel less bloated. Morning and afternoons are better then the evening times, it would help if I could get to bed early but sometimes that is not the case when your a mom and have an elderly father that sleeps all day but is up most the night. It was suggested last night that I find a button pants try it on and go by how I lose that outfit will be on me as time goes by rather then always go by the scale.  Still doing my mile walking I have skipped a few days depending on how I  feel and how much walking I have done that day. Good video on how our fat cells work and why not to go by the scale. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF3rmi4DJAw&feature=youtu.be  

July 31 Marks three weeks sugar free one of the easiest weeks yet, the mint tea helps at night with the hunger sound pains, its getting easier not to eat so late at night brushing my teeth helps, my period came as usual for my age that is, but I still lost some weight during this time which I thought was weird being bloated, I had at least two nightmares this week and one where I was getting frustrated with a woman at Baskin robbins for not getting my order right lol. The weight was falling off every day till the last two days. I have lost a total of 10 lbs. Still getting sugar cravings but its just like a memory now. The thought of eating greasy foods like french fries or hamburger with buns makes me ill. I can't eat a big breakfast anymore its either a small breakfast or my protein shake can't have both at the same time so yes I have noticed the amount of food I eat is getting smaller and smaller now. I still have the mentality that 7pm is coming I better eat what I can!!!! its hard to fight that and if I over eat I get sick to my stomach. Exercise is every other day I walk a mile so far its been good on my feet, plus I try to park places far off and I try to do a lot more walking on the farm, on the days I dont do my exercise are usually the days I have to haul six buckets of water to refill my chickens water bins I keep in there. In all a good week. I got one more week left to break my no sugar free record. "Crosses fingers"

Aug 7 Marks four weeks sugar free, portion size is smaller not because I made it like that its because I can't eat as much anymore and I am not forcing it. Sugar Cravings are not that bad, but I am still craving a bit but I think I am at the point where I could control myself if I had once piece of chocolate without going over board but I havent as yet. I only lost one pound during the whole week, I am constipated I have taken natural laxatives but it does not seem to be working much, exercise is the same I might need to step it up but I was really hoping to get the pounds off my feet to be able to exercise more, my feet have been swollen for months now and adding pressure to it exercising hurts. Its frustrating to lose so much then flexing on that one pound all week, they tell me I shouldn't get on the scale but if I dont I feel  I am not motivated enough. I feel it in my clothes I am wearing that everything is fitting better, I feel better over all. Night times I still hard but in all its been a good month. So total of 11 pounds in a month. 

Aug 15 Marks five weeks sugar free, I have actually been weighing myself one day b4 the day I am suppose to be weighing myself I goofed. So correcting myself to weigh in every Tue now. Weight is...to follow......2 lb more this week total of 13 pounds.  The last following weeks I have been learning how to eat smart at fast foods and restaurants. Burgers the thought of eating one from McD's or Wendys just gross me out, but from a good burger joint its ok, I just omit the french fries and soda, I stick to BQ places without the sauce or sides, Subway is another place to have a good 6 inch tuna sandwich on wheat bread. Plus I always if I do have fast food with any carbs like the hamburger bun to have it during lunch time this way I can burn it off the rest of the day. I ate for the first time since I started this at a restaurant breakfast at Jims Restaurant I was thinking the right thing to do was order an omelet but I really didnt want to eat their caged eggs, what I really wanted was a pancake so I ordered one pancake and one bacon which theirs tasted gross the bacon so never doing that again, and unsweetened tea. I am still doing well at stop eating at 7pm. I drink my smooth move tea at night so I can be regular in the morning, so far so good finally not feeling so bloated. I have been having trouble with not having much strength now. I can't lift the 50 lb bags of feed anymore, feeling tired, but I think thats cuz of lack of sleep but started taking B12 to help with energy levels we will see if it helps.. 

Aug 22 Sorry forgot to write. No change in weight. Still doing pretty good. Just still really tired and sleepy all the time. Still trying to adjust to all this.

Aug 29

Notes:

Buying Fresh fruits, veggies and pasture raised meats is expensive, however once you stop buying processed foods you will find out you will be able to afford this better now.  I found out this last week when I realized I actually had money left over b4 the next payday in my grocery acct.


Links:

People been asking me about benefits of Alkaline water I get mine in San Antonio off of Bandera. I find it feels great on my skin I use a small container after taking a shower on my face, I never drink it after 9pm cuz yah it gives me energy and will keep me awake.  http://www.med-health.net/Alkaline-Water-Benefits.html

Zaycon Meats: Chicken, Turkey, Quail meats and eggs we get from our own farm, but some things like my yummy bacon and hamburger I try to get from Zaycon I order in bulk for myself or sometimes with friends, its fresh from the farmer to me, Zaycon is a pick up service in a refrigerated truck that meets at diff places and diff times. Check to see if they have one near you. https://zayconfresh.com/refer/zf231090

Recipe Links:

Salmon with butter, lime juice, honey, cilantro sauce. I also put in shrimp with it as well. Bought four pieces of Salmon at our Local HEB for $16 also if you dont like cilantro try parsley or something else. http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a52015/honey-cilantro-lime-salmon-recipe/ 

Tuna patties: I added cheese with mine. http://blog.paleohacks.com/tuna-patties/#

Green beans, Zaycon bacon and Parmesan cheese- Fresh green beans boil them 10min take out put in cold water for a few seconds put in dish, cook bacon a bit I cut mine up, put on top of green beans, you can put salt pepper, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese or any cheese. Bake 350 for about 15-20min depending on your stove if you put on regular cheese just make sure it wont burn.

 

Peach or any other fruit dessert. 

1 large Diced peach, put in microwave bowl with 1 tablespoon of honey, pinch of cinnamon, pinch of salt, 1 tsp almond flour. Put in microwave 1 min or if you dont like microwave I guess you can cook it till its softens on stove top..Crumble top you mix in bowl separate, 1/2 cup of almond flour or coconut flour, 1/4 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, pinch of nutmeg, 2 tb milk, I use raw milk, 3 tablespoons of butter (not margarine) cut up, put this on top of the peaches, I mix a bit up with it but mostly use the top for a top crust crumble....Bake at least 20min 350 Makes enough for two to share.

Coconut Cookies: I am going to try next time to use only 1/2 sweetener or maybe use honey instead. It was sooo good but a tad too sweet with 3/4 cup of sweetener. I used Agave/Stevia sweetener found at HEB next time going to try raw honey.

Recipe: https://lowcarbyum.com/basic-coconut-flour-cookies/
  

Recipes I want to try:

https://beautyandthefoodie.com/2-minute-chocolate-peanut-butter-mini-cake-low-carb/

https://lowcarbyum.com/jicama-fries/