Mi Madre

Today is my mom's birthday! This post is for her.

She is a such a good hearted person with a will of fire. She raised me with lots of love and discipline. As I've grown into adulthood I grown to have a better understanding of who she is. For example, when she says she is going to do something, she does it. Starting 25 + years ago she left Venezuela in order to give me a better life, here in the US. Looking back I can't imagine having grown up anywhere else. My life would be very different if she had not made that decision.
My mom is a feminine yet bold woman always looking for ways to improve herself; hence taking on a new chapter of her life: going back to school. Even after years of an established career as a hotel manager, she felt she was ready for a new move. I'm proud to say that Kennesaw State University will be her new home as she completes her Masters.
I feel complete joy when I hear her on the phone describe the latest fundraiser or how she is learning how to use her graphing calculator. I could feel her gleam right through my speaker phone with pure happiness. That's something I look up to her for. She constantly seeks excitement in the little things. There are really, endless qualities I look up to her for, and I am glad to be her daughter and friend.  I love you mom!!!!

Never forget to keep that childlike sense of wonder

My Sister

I Love My Sister! She is 12 years my minor, just like me, and also nothing like me. We understand each other and our differences (sometimes).  We love each other unconditionally. 

I remember babysitting her as a baby when my mom had to go work. She was a kicker and a screamer. Not what you would call an easy and soft spoken child. Yet with the following years came maturity and the understanding of responsibility. Time flies. This fall she is entering the big leagues: high school. 

These are the years where you figure out a lot about yourself. What you hate and love.  What you are good and bad at. For some people it's a breeze. I have a feeling it'll be pretty good for her. Besides she is a very academic student, practices sports, has polite friends, and has a good family. 

Yep,  you heard me. I'm taking credit for some of that right there. Her imperfect blended family couldn't be any more perfect for her. Her hardworking sassy mom. Her spontaneous and comical biological father. Her grounded and reasonable "daddy". Her cranky, serious, yet motivational sister. Her dog Benji who lets her lay on his tummy. Her puppy Penny who cuddles with her in bed. A good roof over her head and lots of love all around. 

I don't know what is yet to come and where she will go with her life, but I do know where she can always come back to: 

familly

Session 1

I'm going through laser tattoo removal. Two days ago I went for my first session. I have nine more sessions to go though and need to wait six weeks in between each session. I guess that's not so long when I've already had the tattoo for nine years. 

I was 16 when I got this comedy and tragedy mask inked onto my left shoulder. I say I was in love with it for two full years. Then I was over it like last year's swim wear. It felt stupid to have it. Especially when I was over my acting fix and mature enough to know you shouldn't tattoo your hobbies onto your body. 

Everyone makes mistakes, more so when you are a teenager. I guess I should count my blessings. I could have tattooed the cast of Dawson's Creek across my back, phew. Growing up is a beautiful thing.

So the process only took a few minutes as I laid on my stomach wearing special goggles and gripping a stress ball. The technician said it would feel like a rubber band snapping my skin...but constant, kind of how a machine gun would shoot. Soothing words to hear, but I was mentally prepared. I wanted this off my body. Yes it hurt, a lot. More than when I got the tattoo to begin with. Expected. 

Now that the ink is broken up, my body will slowly get rid of it through my pores, bloodstream, and even urine. I asked the technician if I'd have black pee and Gatorade sweat. She just laughed and said, I had nothing to worry about.  I came home gauzed up but with the biggest smile on my face. 

Viva Mexico

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of visiting Mexico with Amber Events. 

Amber, her hubby Eric, and I ventured out a few hundred miles south of Los Angeles to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

 Most of the trip was work related, and rightfully so, as that is why we were there. 

We rented a local condo just blocks from the beach and had our share of amazing food, tequila, and good company... always.  

Each day began with walkthru meetings at the resort along with more set up details for the wedding. Rosewood Mayakoba was our home by day. The Rosewood has such wonderful kind staff, and we couldn't have put on a nicer event without all their help. 

After our days' work was completed, we would explore the local town. 5th Street was a hot spot for all tourists in the area. It was here that I was able to buy a luchador mask! It was on my to do list. I needed to buy one. 

I can go on and on with what an experience I had, but please, I don't want to bore you. Just take a look at the pictures, you'll get the gist. Just in case you couldn't tell, I had a blast.

A good for you breakfast

Every morning I wake up, and I'm already late. Rushing to take a shower, put on makeup, and deal with my hair. I look at the clock and I only have five minutes before I run out the door. I think to myself, " Ugh I hate not eating because I know I'll be stuck in traffic and starrrviiing later!!!" 

Setting up your breakfast the night before is such a great a idea. Every time I think ahead, I make better choices. Hard boiled eggs for example, is one of them. Even if I don't have time for a sit down meal, I can throw it in my purse and I know It'll hold my hunger down.

These cute eggs pictured below were decorated for me by dear Steve. He knows I love Lilo and Stitch and like expected, it put a smile on my face. This simple touch made me feel like a kid again as I danced out the door eating my yummy Lilo and Stitch eggs. 

I'm not saying you have to decorate your breakfast every morning to enjoy them, but to do this on occasion will brighten up your day. More so if you do it for your little ones. 

Remember the benefits of eating hard boiled eggs before you grab that donut at the office. They are inexpensive and high in protein. They increase good cholesterol levels, protect your memory function, and protect your eyes from degeneration. That's just to name a few.

Hurry, rush to your local market and buy some eggs!!!

Annonymous

I wish I could say I've traveled much. That I've been thru ruins and dangerous heights along with "Oh that reminds me of the time..." For me, it's not really like that. I've been to only a few places, but boy have they made an impact on me.

I came across this photo on  Pinterest (yes my new found addiction) a few nights ago, and not only did I repin it but I saved it to my desktop! I really liked this message. It rang true to my heart. 

I've grown to love Los Angeles, the almost seven years I've been here. It's fresh and fun with so much variety! I have people around me that I care about and I have the places I frequent. Yet I remember the excitement I felt being new in the city.  I would wander the streets just to find a new coffee shop or a place to buy furniture for my new home. I wouldn't get stopped by my grade school teacher at the market or a friend's ex having to explain my sloppy appearance or what I'm doing with my life.  I could talk to who I wanted and absorb my surroundings, alone. It was freeing!!!

All through high school, I would experience the same freedom wandering the streets of NYC. Manhattan was my home away from home. I'm aware that there is only a river of separation, but I felt so anonymous yet comforted by being surrounded by so many people. I would take time to people watch and wonder what everyone's story was. Where were they going? Why they walking so fast? Who they talking to?

Nowadays I'm the one to go out but I'm almost never alone. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is ever looking at me and wondering the same thing. 

Craig Baldwin

My kind of vino

Sometimes a good gift doesn't have to have a high price tag. Sometimes a good gift is the thought and creativity you put into it. This year I personalized some wine bottles for my loved ones for the holiday season. This was thoughtful and totally a DIY!  

I bought wine bottles from Bevmo. This specific brand had different colored tops for the variety of wine: Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot, etc... 

At home I took the original wine label off the front and back using goo be gone.

I created individual labels customized with images and interesting facts. Where they may live or the year we are in, might be special if you think it will become a keepsake.  I used photoshop, but any word or drawing program should work too.  Just make sure to input a photo or design that makes it personal to them. 

I printed this image on card stock and on a regular printer, but if you have a photo printer, even better! Using a paper cutter I cut the label to the dimensions on a standard wine label and used a can of adhesive spray glue to put the label on. Very simple and fun!