Happy New Year!

i had the best new year's eve countdown that i've had in years. hands down.

surrounded by my most favorite people in the world, my family, we shouted 10, 9, 8...and then we cheered together as we watched the ball drop in times square. it was snowy outside the cabin, our champagne flutes were full and everyone was in good spirits.

it was the perfect end to a wonderful year and start to an even better one.

Bret Michaels

i could barely pull myself off of the elliptical at the gym today. you see, after stepping on, i realized that the tv right in front of me was airing the bret michals "behind the music."

now, i loved loved loved poison back in the day but realized as i was watching, that i actually knew very little about the band. for instance, did you know that they're from a small town in pennsylvania called mechanicsburg? or that all but c.c. deville are original members? or even that slash actually auditioned for c.c.'s spot in the band?

so good.

Santa Baby

mike and i celebrated a little belated christmas and decided to open our presents tonight rather than hauling them all the way to virginia.

well, santa gave me a travel book to belize and folded neatly inside was a voucher for round trip airfare in march! i have been wanting to go to belize since i read some article about it years ago and we're finally going.

it wasn't a total surprise but it was still a really awesome christmas present and my honey gets extra points for wrapping it so uniquely.

Puppy Love

i woke up and went straight oc to pick up my puppy this morning! six days away from her was really difficult and i missed her so much - kind of scary to imagine how i'm going to be with a kid, huh?

i had grand expectations of our reunion and i just knew she'd be as excited to see me as i was to see her. she was happy but imagine my surprise when she ran straight into my mom's arms and not mine!

wtf?

before i got too disappointed i remembered that her new found loyalty was just a result of how well taken care of she was while we were gone. how lucky we are to have such great dogsitters - even if lola kinda loves them more than us!

Southern Charm

after breakfast, mike and i decided to take one of ellen's dogs for a little power walk around the golf course. their community is so peaceful and we barely ran into anyone along our stroll.

we did meet a man who was walking his dog as well. we exchanged pleasantries - a "good morning" here and there - but then he just kept talking. he asked where we were from and then commenced to tell us how his son lives in southern california as well. how he was visiting him and how much he liked it "out there."

as we walked away, mike and i couldn't help but comment on how rare it is to have a conversation of that length (a whole three minutes) with a stranger in la. it just doesn't happen.

southern charm, what can i tell ya.

Colonial Williamsburg

mike and i spent an hour or so tooling around colonial williamsburg this morning. it's really incredible to see how people lived "back in the day." it makes you appreciate all of the small things that we take for granted in our lives - hot water, good food, private bathrooms, heat and a/c.

it was a good life lesson on maintaining perspective - one that i usually only get after a visit to the orphanage. but it's been a while since i've been down there so i suppose it was long overdue.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

growing up, my mom always used to start off christmas morning by hugging me and whispering, "happy birthday, jesus." in fact, we'd say it together.

this morning, when my eyes popped open, i couldn't help but reach over to mike and repeat our tradition. it felt good to know that hours later, my mama would be doing the same thing back in california.

And Then Came the Tears

maybe i'm not all grown up after all.

a quick phone call to my mom and dad and sure enough, the water works started. i've heard the first christmas away from home is a toughy and i can attest that it certainly is. the reality that "life goes on" is never easy and knowing that those you love and are clinking glasses and sharing hugs thousands of miles away is a tough pill to swallow.

fortunately, minutes after hanging up the phone i was greeted with hugs, laughter and a full glass of wine by my second family. change is hard but it doesn't have to be "bad."

in fact, my first christmas eve in williamsburg is quite lovely!

Welcome to Williamsburg

after a painless red eye flight from la to newark and newark to richmond, we arrived in virginia safe and sound this morning. it's beautiful here and i thought for sure my blog posting would have something to do with the endless trees, rolling rivers and vast lakes.

that was until ellen got teary-eyed in the car on the way home from the airport. she was so happy to have her baby boy home for christmas, she couldn't help but get emotional. i'm so grateful that i could play a small part in making that dream come true for her.

Tearless Fairwell

my mom came by to pick up lola today and we had to say goodbye for the holiday. i thought surely i'd start crying during or after her visit but i held it together.

i guess i'm becoming a big girl after all.

Bring your Puppy to Work Day

lola came to work with me today. i had to visit some sponsors at our local assisted living facilities and thought who better to cheer up the residents and staff than my sweet puppy?

and she did.

i have to say, there's something about animals that instantly brings a smile to people's faces (unless you're one of those weird people who dislikes animals altogether and to you i say, so sorry). i seriously think all offices should be dog friendly. i know the typical argument is that they're a distraction but seriously, once the novelty wears off, they'd just be a great morale booster everyday. plus, i know i'd willingly work later if lola was with me.

someday, when i rule the world (or run my own company), my employee handbook will look very different than most.

Nap Time

i took a really great nap this afternoon. it was one of those unexpected, wake up in a pool of your own drool kind.

simply the best!

Date Night

every year, mike and i have a holiday date night. it started when we were dating because we used to spend christmas with our respective families. now that we're together for the big day we still like to have one night all to ourselves before we celebrate with the whole crew.

we went to see the new christmas carol movie. we have a little tradition where we try to see the play every year but this year decided to mix it up a bit. afterward, we went to our favorite hole in the wall sushi restaurant for dinner and then home for a glass of wine.

it was the perfect kickoff to christmas week!

Boats, Lights, Lamb Chops?

my dad's birthday is on sunday. being a holiday baby, he's always a little apathetic when it comes to his birthday. this year though, he seemed to have a great celebration.

tonight, my mom surprised him with a little party at the balboa bay club. she invited only their nearest and dearest friends. we had a great suite overlooking the bay with a perfect view of the annual holiday boat parade. the appetizers were delicious and company even better.

i love my family.

Staff Appreciation

holiday work parties are always interesting. back in the day when i worked at fox, they were lavish to say the least...one of the many benefits of working for a movie studio. it's different in non-profit and in some ways, so much better.

this morning, our boss hosted us to a staff appreciation breakfast at the daily grill. we had the restaurant to ourselves; the food was good and the company better. best part is, he did exactly what a boss is supposed to do at a holiday celebration. he got up, said a few words about the year and how hard everyone's worked, wished us a happy holiday and sat down to enjoy the celebration.

Accounting 101

i have officially had all of the accounting i can take for one lifetime! i took my final tonight and between you and me, i think i killed it. there may be a future for me in finance but we'll never know because the the topic kind of bores me to tears (don't tell my husband).

still, i feel very accomplished that i learned something new! yay me!

Talkin' the Talk

i got to talk about one of my most favorite topics in the world tonight...orphans!

i went to a charity event where friends of el faro was the benefactor and spent the whole evening telling interested people about the 120 children holding my heart over the border.

being around people who just "get it" fires me up like nothing else in the world. tonight was one of those nights where i left inspired and confident that we are indeed, changing the world.

slowly but surely.

A Case of the Mondays

for the first time in five months, i spent a monday night with my honey! he's officially done with school...for three weeks!

we didn't do anything special and to be totally honest, i had a "case of the mondays" but it was still nice to have him around.

Oh, Christmas Tree...

i've had all of these strange "you know you're officially an adult when" moments since i turned 30, or maybe it was since we got married, i'm not sure. either way, today was another one.

we "invested" in a fake tree. as tempting as it was to go to the christmas tree lot and pick out a fresh one, we determined that it was just more "rational" to go the fake route - it's environmentally-friendly, "economical" and easier. Not to mention, we won't have to worry about lola eating it, cleaning up a mess or the risk of fire.

i love our tree and i really am happy that we made this decision. still, hearing the words "invested," "rational" and "economical" come out of my mouth during a conversation scares me...just a little.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

mike was out tonight so i took advantage of my "alone" time and started decorating the house for christmas. even though we're going to be out of town this year, we had to decorate.

it's our first house after all!

even better, i had company the whole time. my sister chatted away in my bluetooth for nearly three hours. we so rarely have uninterrupted time to catch up anymore...we have to get creative.

so, between the two of us, we downed a bottle of wine and had some overdue sister bonding. and...my house got decorated at the same time! talk about a good saturday night.

Work from Home

i love working from home. i don't think i could do it everyday but once a week (maybe twice) is absolutely perfect.

i know a lot of people complain about being unproductive at home but not me. i actually get more done and work longer hours when i'm not commuting two hours a day. even more so, i'm mastering the art of multi-tasking. there's nothing better than sending out a proposal while the laundry is drying, dinner is cooking and the dishwasher is running.

my biggest obstacle...managing to type with one hand since lola insists on posting up right on my lap - all day long.

See Jane Laugh

at a research reception this afternoon i met a delightful woman named jane.

she had hollywood starlet style, red-rimmed eyeglasses on and her hair was freshly styled. she wore a house dress and pink and white ankle socks and she spoke with a southern accent.

jane has dementia and lives in an assisted living facility.

she is such a socialite - greeting everyone who walked through the door and even asking our speaker some questions. she took an instant liking to me and me to her.

i think i'll have to go back and visit jane again sometime soon.

Mountains to Climb

i received some really great advice today. and by great advice, i mean a poignant, thought-provoking suggestion that came at the moment i needed it most.

i frequently get caught up in the noise between my ears (notice i said "noise" not "voices") and lose sight of reality. every once in a while, it's absolutely vital that someone help me see things from a different perspective.

best of all, it came from my pop.

he really is one smart old man!

Tamalada

i went to a fundraiser at lunch for latino health access - a local health services agency. it was a tamalada - a traditional party where families get together and make a plethora of tamales for the upcoming holidays.

i didn't actually partake in the preparation however i did my best to support the consumption of homemade tamales. they had chicken, rajas and veggie and they were all fabulous! so much so, that i ordered 2.5 dozen to go - one for my mom, one for my sis and a half for us.

mike's response when i got home tonight, "you only brought home six?"

god, i love my husband!

A Room with a View

i'm one of those lucky people who has an office at work. i'm even luckier because i have a wall of windows in my office and i actually sit facing one of them.

typically, this gift is sort of bittersweet. you see, so cal weather being what it is, i usually find myself gazing pathetically at the sunny day wishing i was anywhere but here. today though, i get a first row seat at the rain pouring down outside! it's beautiful, necessary and such a great kick off to the holiday season.

at least that's what i keep telling myself every time i think about how it's going to take me two hours to get home from work this evening.

Light it Up

we were out walking the dog last week when we came across a family who transitioned out their malibu lights with red and green bulbs for the holidays. as we passed, i commented on what a cute and creative idea they had.

wouldn't you know that mike scoured the racks at home depot, target and walmart today trying to find the right bulbs or lenses to recreate the look in our front yard? he struck out but being the big brain he is, he discovered that he could doctor heat resistant plastic cups just as easily.

he brought me outside this evening to show me the finished product and my oh my, if our landscaping isn't shrouded in a haze of red!

Isn't She Lovely?

my dear friend is nearly eight months pregnant. i swear, it was just yesterday that she told me she was expecting and here she is with a baby bump for the whole world to see.

i watched in awe as she opened presents at her baby shower this morning the whole time thinking, isn't she lovely? i don't know if i buy into that whole pregnant woman's glow thing but she certainly has something going on.

i think i'll chalk it up to...happiness.

Baby Stuff

who says buying gifts for a baby boy isn't fun? sure, the stores don't offer aisles and aisles of dresses, bonnets, ribbons and mary janes but what does exist is pretty darn adorable.

there are outfits printed with every theme imaginable - dinosaurs, race cars, jungle animals, trucks, stripes, polka dots and teddy bears. and don't even get me started on the shoes - sneaks, moccasins, sandals...oh my.

i even came across the most adorable newborn christmas suit for a little guy. as i turned it around in my hand, i realized that the baby in question isn't expected to arrive until january 22nd. clearly, this suit would be a tad bit too small for his first christmas - a year later.

so, i'd really appreciate it if someone out there would start trying for a baby boy in the next few months. keep me posted so i can run back and snatch up this red velvet number before it's gone.

Man Chiu

we have an art program at the alzheimer's association called memories in the making. it's specifically geared towards individuals with alzheimer's or dementia and it's proven to be incredibly successful over the years.

our facilitators offer no assistance other than helping put paint on the brush. what happens on the paper is completely up to the artist. we've had families view their loved ones' work and comment on the similarities to occurrences or locations from the past. the crazy thing is, often times, the artist is no longer speaking at all so the fact that these memories still exist in their subconscious minds is pretty breathtaking.

every december, we host a holiday open house where we unveil the new year's collection. every once in a while, we are graced by the presence of one of our artists. tonight, man chiu - a local celebrity around the association - joined us for the party. he spent the evening flashing his toothless grin to all of our guests. he waved, took pictures with his paintings, signed autographs and soaked up the limelight.

his son explained that he loved painting (in his previous life) but worked so hard, he never had the time to focus on it. well, here he is painting his heart out and receiving more recognition and praise than he ever could've imagined. i'd bet my life he never wanted or expected to be a part of an alzheimer's art program but isn't that the way life goes?

god really does work in mysterious ways.

The Big O

i love seasonal treats - from flavored coffees at starbucks to specialty bagels at panera. half the time, i don't even end up liking it after i've bought it. i think it's more the idea of a "limited time" something or other that i love so dearly.

today, it's peppermint oreos.

i don't know the last time i had an oreo cookie yet i managed to scarf down three in about thirty seconds this afternoon.

yummy.

Chicy Rice

my friends spent thanksgiving in ghana eating "chicy rice" (spicy chicken and jollof rice). more importantly, they're getting to know and preparing to bring home their newly adopted son.

i've been receiving updates over the course of their travels and feel so included in their journey - it's almost like i stowed away in their suitcase. "mom" has been writing the most honest, heart-warming/breaking and vivid descriptions of their experience. there are moments when i find myself laughing and then crying but throughout each, i'm cheering for them and feeling proud to have this family in my life.

they have the courage to march to the beat of their own drummer, to throw caution to the wind and say to hell with what everyone thinks. sure, they've taken risks over the years and they've made choices that others may not agree with but one thing has remained certain - they've never doubted themselves or their family.

they look around their dinner table every night and say, "thank you god." pretty amazing considering most of us sit there and think, "i want more...(money, clothing, cars, toys)."

8 Bridesmaids Down. 2 to Go.

got the call tonight that my girlfriend is engaged to her long time boyfriend! i love engagement stories especially when they fit my friend's personalities so well. he did it in the most fitting location for her ever - florence - and from what i heard, he was dead on with the ring selection.

i especially love it when the guy picks out the ring by himself - if he gets it right! it's so romantical and just shows how well he knows his future bride.

okay...i'll get off my lovey dovey soap box now before you puke a little in your mouth.

First Holiday Movie of the Season

and the winner is...the santa claus.

not my favorite but it was cute and definitely got us into the christmas spirit!

Crispins

we were planning to head back to la today after a long weekend with the family in dana point but my mom convinced us to stay. she wooed us with promises of a free dinner at a new restaurant in town and of course, we couldn't refuse.

the restaurant wasn't exactly what we expected - and that's putting it lightly. it was really more like a denny's or ihop but without the familiar name. under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be too big a deal but it was saturday night and we were expecting to walk into a dinner club or steakhouse.

accepting our fate, i searched high and low but there was no rooty tooty fresh and fruity or moons over my hammy on the menu. in fact, there were no breakfast items anywhere so actually, it's only similarity to denny's and ihop was in the ambiance.

we laughed our way through dinner and all the way back to the house. oh well...you gotta give it to chocolate for wanting to try something new!

Riding Along in my Automobile

went for a car ride with my pop today. when i was a kid, we used to go to the car wash together every saturday. at least it felt like every saturday. we'd get breakfast next door (was it at mcdonald's?) while we waited for his car to dry. i really enjoyed our weekly outing together.

nowadays, it's rare that we're ever alone. usually, my mom and/or mike are around to keep us company (and reduce the likelihood of an argument ensuing) during our visits. but today, we went for a ride - just the two of us. we weren't gone long - just to starbucks and back - but it was a really nice change of pace.

Thankful Girl

so many reasons to be thankful this year:

lazy mornings
80 degree weather
blue moon
starbucks runs
lola
bella
sis bustling around the kitchen
claim jumper pies
firepits
sunset over the ocean
mom and dad kissing
sitting between my niece and nephew
football on tv
watching my husband woo my grammy
dad doing dishes
background music
sharing secrets with my godson
a beautiful and bountiful table
memories of my grandpa
safe travels
falling asleep sandwiched between my two loves

Ants in my Pants

school at 6p on thanksgiving eve absolutely sucks! only 1/3 of the class was in attendance and our teacher had little sympathy for our plight...he kept us there the full three hours.

still, as i fidgeted in my seat pretending to care about ledgers and journals, i reached around and gave myself an imaginary pat on the back for not ditching.

as far as i'm concerned i've earned an extra helping of stuffing and mashed potatoes tomorrow night.

HFD

at my ripe old age of 30, i've diagnosed myself with hfd (hyper-focused disorder) and before you go google it, i'll warn you...i coined the term myself.

unlike add (which my husband suffers from), those with hfd cannot possibly pull themselves away from a project until it's absolutely complete. whether i'm cleaning the bathroom or going down my to-do list at work, once i've started i'm a lost cause.

you may think this sounds an awful lot like ocd and it is. still, i prefer hfd because it sounds so much more productive and healthy and a lot less neurotic.

man...i knew i should have gone to med school!

Doctor, Doctor

lola had her last vaccination tonight which means no more vet visits until she gets spayed in february. i do love our vet and her entire staff though so while i'm way over the $20 here and $30 there, the thought of not seeing them for a few months is kind of bittersweet.

and not just for me.

lola may be the only animal the world who enjoys going to see the doctor. her cute butt wiggle guarantees her tons of attention - i mean, literally, we had three nurses in the room to administer one rabies shot. she also gets all sorts of treats - i think she'd stand on the metal table and let them poke her in the hiney all day long if they kept feeding her wet food - you know, to distract her from the pain.

not only that, i've carried on my mom's tradition of treating me to a milkshake after every doctor's (and dentist, what?) appointment. lola and i always swing by petco on the way home for a little "perfect patient present."

she's so deserving!

I Heart My Girlfriends

we had a 524 rosecrans reunion this morning complete with mimosas, sunshine and an ocean view!

karen and kimmie were both in town so jen drove up from oc and we all had a nice long leisurely brunch. the only missing component was steph but she was there in spirit.

i've always felt very blessed to have so many great girlfriends and today was one of those days where it was incredibly apparent. we all play a distinct role in the group and the absence of just one of us is so noticeable. we laugh, wax philosophical, tease each other and work through tough decisions together.

best of all, every time our visits come to an end i wish for more time. now that's the sign of real, true, lifelong friendship.

All in a Day's Work

we had the most productive saturday!

woke up at 630a which is unheard of for me.
worked out
showered
went to lunch
picked up supplies at home depot
cleaned the house
repainted the fireplace screen
hung draperies
walked the dogs
bought a baby shower gift
met with a consultant about new windows
arranged fresh flowers in a vase
did laundry
wrapped a birthday present

and, by 945 pm we were pulling into the airport - huge hot pink sign billowing out of the sunroof - to welcome kimmie home.

what a saturday!

Nighty Night

i was so pooped after an incredibly long short week that i fell asleep on the couch tonight. falling asleep mid-movie on a friday night is kinda par for the course in our household but this week was different.

i was sleeping so soundly that mike actually had to wake me up three times before he finally half-carried me downstairs to bed. funniest part is, we were watching borat.

who falls asleep during borat??

Birthday Months

what a week it's been for birthdays. first mike's. then ellen's. and now my mamacita's. clearly, i get along well with scorpios, wouldn't you say?

my mom has a birthday thing. ever since i was a kid she made a really, really big deal out of birthdays. all of ours but especially her own! in fact, in our family, we celebrate the entire birthday month!

don't believe me?

well, since the first of november, my dad has made her breakfast in bed, showered her with gifts, and taken her to vegas. those are just the things i remember...i'm sure there's been more. she's certainly spoiled but she's as good a giver as she is a receiver and she's always the first to make our birthdays extra special too.

just one of the many traditions passed down to me from my beautiful mama.

happy birthday!

So Many Puppies

woke up to two puppies in my bed today! as they showered me with kissies, i wondered if there's any better way to start a day.

then, i looked over at mike.

by the time i opened my eyes, he'd already walked bella, picked up lola's poop and made coffee for me.

poor guy, i don't think i've ever seen him so happy to go to work!

Aunties

i'm blessed to have some incredible women in my life. my mama has surrounded herself with these beautiful, wise and absolutely hilarious ladies - my aunties.

weeks before my wedding, they took it upon themselves to throw me a second bachelorette party - done their way. they fed me tons of food, took me to see mamma mia, made me wear an afro, passed me a flask in the theater, poured white russians down my throat and plugged in the karaoke machine.

without any big celebrations on the horizon, we get together for dinner at least once a quarter. every time we're sitting around the kitchen counter sharing stories, i wonder why we don't do it more often.

i suspect it's due to my crazy schedule.

looks like i have my first new year's resolution - make more time for the people who matter most - family!

Happy Birthday

30 years ago my honey was born and i consider his birthday as much a celebration for me as it is for him.

i just count my lucky stars that greg and ellen decided to get frisky way back when and then did such an incredible job of raising their son. by the time he got to me he was nearly perfect and he just gets better every year!

happy birthday, mike!

The Counter

a restaurant that encourages it's patrons to build their own burgers.

enough said.

HGTV

my parents and i worked for nine hours straight today. we were remodeling mike's office as his birthday gift - a brain child of mine that i forced upon my incredibly supportive parents.

they showed up bright and early, unloaded the air conductor, set up the saw horses, plugged in the nail gun and table saw and we got to work. we repainted, hung new baseboards and a chair rail, built a valence and hung draperies. this was all before the new furniture arrived at 430p. after that, we finished off the details, accessorized, vacuumed, hung pictures and waited patiently for him to get home. seems like a simple job but let me tell you...there's so much more to it.

it was a labor of love and the only thing that came close to seeing the surprised look on mike's face as he walked through the door was my grateful heart for having two of the most incredible parents in the world.

Kazu Sushi

mike's birthday weekend officially began tonight with one of the best dinner's of our lives. i took him to kazu sushi up in studio city. it's known for being one of the most legitimate sushi restaurants outside of tokyo. just down the street from the popular katsu-ya, it's small, unassuming and absolutely amazing!

we ordered the okasame or chef's choice and were served course upon course of the freshest, most buttery goodness imaginable. everything from toro to hamachi belly to oysters and uni. the best part is, we had the whole restaurant to ourselves so it was like a private sushi tasting with kazu himself!

mike was very happy!

Fat Bottomed Girls

heard a great song on the radio this morning...one i haven't heard in forever and it successfully got my energy up for a big day ahead!

"Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin' world go round"

gotta love a little queen first thing in the morning!

For Just a Moment

i made a friend on the first day of my class back in august named lori. accounting doesn't really lend itself to "group projects" so i haven't talked to many other people since.

lori was out tonight so i sat down next to a nice girl in the front row - about 10 years younger than me. her name is catherine.

making new friends is fun even when you know that once the one reason that brought you together ends, you'll likely never talk to each other again. catherine was sweet and interesting and interested and she made an otherwise, very dry class enjoyable.

9-0

like most busy people, we're rarely free on the weeknights so we've gotten really good at recording our favorite shows and watching them at odd hours - before bed and on the weekends. it's become such a routine, i don't even know which nights shows actually air anymore.

i was supposed to work late tonight but ended up sneaking out at around 730p which meant i arrived home just in time to watch 90210 (guilty pleasure) at its usual time. even better? mike's the one who flipped to the channel right as the "duh duh duh dunt" intro started. he claimed "there was nothing else on" and he criticized every aspect of the show for a solid hour but i know he was secretly into it too.

Decisions, Decisions

i struggle with too many choices and so it seems, the more important the decision, the more indecisive i am. at times like this, i frequently turn to mike or my mom to help me but usually, they force me to get through it on my own.

frustrated with their "lack of support" at the time, i'm always grateful in the end - especially, when i look back and realize i made the right (responsible, wise, thoughtful) decision.

today was one of those days. phew.

Taco Bell?

mike and i are definitely mexican food snobs. in fact, we abhor americanized mexican food. tacos made with flour tortillas and topped with shredded lettuce actually make us angry. just give us a taco stand - carne asada (yes, mystery meat) tacos with cilantro, onions and lots of hot sauce and we're happy. and don't even get mike started on the time he was served an entire chicken in a bag. the guy was so happy he didn't even mind picking off the few random feathers that made the journey.

i told you...we're snobs.

that's why we laughed hysterically when we asked our taxi driver to direct us to the best taco stand in town. when i clarified that i wanted him to send us to the place he goes for dinner and not where he'd typically send american tourists he said, "taco bell? ah, come on!" with the most genuine spanish accent you've ever heard.

you kinda had to be there but it really did make our day!

Shout

i love weddings. i always have.

i used to sit in the audience and imagine what my wedding would be like someday. now, i sit and remember how special that moment was for mike and me and feel so grateful that i get to witness two people i love experience those same emotions.

rob and denisse had a beautiful ceremony incorporating her mexican heritage and his obsession with the movie, "wedding crashers." the reception was intimate and the tequila flowed freely.

in fact, the tequila may have flowed a little too freely because my night ended when i tripped and fell on a cactus. this was clearly not the sunshine of my day but seeing the joy in the bride and groom's faces when they learned that the their wedding was a hit - complete with hilarity - made the pain so worthwhile. plus, my embarrassment subsided when i found out that the brother of the bride ended up taking his pants off and dancing around the after-party.

what can i say? mexican weddings.

Cabo Wabo

mike and i are on a plane for one reason or another at least every two months however it feels more frequent. my parents often comment on how much traveling we do. while our trips are rarely long enough, they're always well worth it because we're usually heading off to visit out of town family and friends or to attend a destination wedding. every once in a while, we even take a trip that's just for the two of us.

one of my favorite things in life is getting in the car/cab and heading to the airport. just the anticipation of travel, the excitement of arriving at our destination and the eagerness to get out of town for a bit makes even the earliest of mornings bearable.

Staycation

nothing beats a vacation far, far away from reality. you know, somewhere at least two hours away by plane, with sandy beaches, palm trees, fruity drinks and the smell of the ocean and suntan lotion.

still, there is something nice about being in town but not being at work. catching up on errands, cleaning house, doing laundry...just living life without task lists, bosses and email. i can't lie though...i may have plugged in a couple of times throughout the day.

ah, the beauty of having vpn on your home computer!

Ah, Perspective

heard some great advice today:

life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

it couldn't have come at a better time because i was certainly feeling like a victim at work today.

Presies

part of mike's birthday present arrived today. i was so excited that i did a little dance around my office with no one looking.

i love birthdays and i love gifts.

in fact, i even like giving more than receiving. who woulda thought?

Toast

we were a "toaster" family growing up.

in fact, i never really knew the difference between a toaster and a toaster oven until i met my friend, julie, in college. after spending some time at her parents' house, i learned the magical way a toaster oven melts cheese on bread - anyway you cut it, a toaster just can't do that.

so, when it came to registering for wedding gifts, a lovely, stainless steel, cheese-melting beauty made our list. i don't use it regularly but when i do i'm never disappointed!

A Day of Rest

woke up, walked the dog, showered and prepared to spend the day catching up on life - running errands. so many errands.

as i was reaching for my purse i realized that i was still absolutely exhausted from yesterday's memory walk. mike suggested i take the day off and just relax.

so i did.

i curled up in bed with my puppy and my dad's book and edited the day away. i scratched out words, circled others, added sentences, etc. by the end of the afternoon, red ink was everywhere - on my hands, forehead and even the pillowcase.

it was a cozy, relaxing and oddly productive sunday. hallelujah

Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet

mike and i often reflect on how much we miss city life. san francisco is one of the best cities in the world filled with great restaurants, eclectic shops, nightlife, culture and many of our friends.

it doesn't hurt that we also fell in-love there. anyway you cut it, it'll remain a very special place for us and sometimes the nostalgia gets to be too much - that's when we know we're long overdue for a visit.

still, we both agree that we traded up. we have a great house in a great neighborhood only a mile from the ocean.

and it's all ours.

i think the reality really hit home when the doorbell rang and we were greeted by our very first trick or treaters tonight!

The Great Pumpkin

when i was a kid, i believed in the great pumpkin in addition to santa, the easter bunny, tooth fairy and every other make believe holiday legend. granted, i was very gullible but in my defense, my parents did everything possible to insure my little imagination went wild.

my dad would actually go to the pumpkin patch and pre-purchase a pumpkin for me. he'd write my name on the bottom and hide it in the midst of the the other 300 pumpkins. when i'd arrive, i'd search high and low to find my very special pumpkin brought to me by the great pumpkin.

as an adult, i still get a kick out of going to the pumpkin patch - even though it's much cheaper to buy a pumpkin at the grocery store. i no longer expect to find my name on the bottom of my special pumpkin but i can't wait to carry on the tradition with my child someday.

My Little Monster

lola got another shot this evening. she only has one more to go - the big rabies vaccination. she was such a good girl that i decided to treat her with a trip to petco afterward. while there, we checked out the halloween sale rack and i just couldn't resist the temptation to dress my puppy up for halloween.

clearly, from this picture it's obvious that i tricked her into treating me for a laugh. she's miserable but such a good sport!

It's a Bird, It's a Plane...

i was driving through my neighborhood on my way home from class tonight when i saw a figure coming towards me in the dark. it was moving quite rapidly on so i just assumed it was the usual...a very fast girl jogging by herself, ipod blaring at 10 at night

(why do girls do this, by the way?)

imagine my surprise when the figure neared and i discovered that it was actually a gorilla on a skateboard.

yes, you heard me right. a guy (or gal) in a full, head to toe gorilla suit (mask and all) went speeding past me. my only regret is that it happened so fast i didn't have time to snap a picture.

ah...i love halloween!

Lights Out

our house has become the location of choice for mike's study group. i don't mind actually because even though we don't see each other all night, it's nice having him home. plus, we certainly have the space.

tonight, his group met to prepare their final communications presentation next week. i decided to do my homework and study for my accounting test downstairs while they took over the dining room upstairs. all was going well when out of the blue, we found ourselves sitting in the dark.

turns out, the wind had blown the grid on our block.

after some fumbling around in the dark, we were able to find enough candles to keep us all in business and within a half hour the lights came back on.

no harm, no foul.

the most hilarious part of it all though...coming upstairs at the end of their meeting to see four grown men sitting around a table, laptops open, candy wrappers a plenty, lights blaring and 15 tea lights still lit in the middle of the table.

why they didn't blow out the candles when the lights came on i'll never know.

Parking Fairy

as i was walking to my car on my way out of the gym tonight, there was a line of cars waiting for a parking spot - ah, mondays. the first car in line was a guy driving a jeep and unfortunately for him, he was parked right in front of my car. i pointed to my parking spot with a "so sorry" smile and his smile back had "just my luck" written all over it.

imagine how surprised we both were when the car behind him scootched out and went on its merry way allowing my guy to back up just enough to snag my parking spot.

I don't know what jeep guy did in his past life to deserve this kind of luck but the parking fairies were surely riding in his passenger seat today.

Recovery

woke up feeling miserable. hangovers will do that to you, i guess.

still, halloween is the best holiday around and it's worth every ounce of pain.

i can't lie though...i'm pretty happy that i only torture myself like this on rare occasions these days.

Partying with Mom, Dad and Hef

there are so many reasons why being such great friends with your parents is absolutely awesome.

1. talking to them about anything and everything under the sun
2. getting real-life advice from the two people you admire most
3. being able to pull the plug on said advice when it gets out of control
4. doing favors for each other
5. having more fun at a family dinner than any "night out"

i never thought that partying together at the playboy mansion would make that list but sure enough, it has. i can't believe my parents are hot enough to blend in yet classy enough to act their age in such an environment.

i really am lucky!

Surreal

surreal: marked by the intense irrationality of a dream

in my house on a friday night. husband and puppy nearby. favorite music playing in the background. sitting at a desk that once belonged to my nonna, reading a book written by my dad about his life, containing all sorts of stories about my mom and sis that i never knew.

surreal.

Undercover

i ran a super top secret errand today and it went off without a hitch.

phew!

Trash Day

in our household, we don't have the stereotypical chores based on our gender. believe it or not, i actually married a man who helps with laundry and washes dishes...and they even come out clean afterward.

i know, right!?

he doesn't do bathrooms though. cleaning toilets is where he draws the line. but i don't really mind so it all works out.

the "manly" chores that mike insists on calling his own are mowing the lawn and taking out the trash and trust me, i let him. still, i like to surprise him every so often and bring the trash in for him since i get home from class first on wednesdays.

tonight was one of those nights.

Evening Stroll

i spent the whole day looking forward to taking our sweet lola for a walk this evening.

does that make my life very small?

i don't think so but even if it does, i don't really care. she's new to the leash and she's been doing so good! her spindly legs can only take her 7 pound belly so far so our "walk" is really a three block stroll but she loves it. and added bonus...she's absolutely exhausted afterward!

maybe i have a bit of a hidden agenda as well.

you see, tuesdays are tough. even though we're both home, we're usually preoccupied most of the night with homework and lately, dad's book. so, walking the dog is really an excuse for mike and i to have a short and sweet, 15 minute mid-week date.

i'll take it!

Sports Fan

growing up, my dad decided that if i wasn't going to play sports, i was sure going to "know" sports and i couldn't be more grateful. from an early age, i was taught the art of sports lingo. i was quizzed regularly on the mascots of every nfl team and i was told that i bleed dodger blue.

those skills have only grown as i've aged. i hate sounding like a "girl" so i've made a point of listening to sports radio and learning all i can about "my" teams. there's nothing like a loving a team so much that their win can literally brighten your week and their loss can break your heart (i know that all too well with this month's performances by the dodgers and cal bears).

i don't know many households that have espn on tv 24/7 (especially when the wife isn't complaining) but ours does. more than that, i love the look i get from my husband when the topic of baseball or football comes up and i hold my own in a room full of guys. i know that in that moment, he truly believes that he married the sexiest woman alive.

It's a Beautiful Day

beautiful sunday.

tired girl.

but so thankful for a task list that doesn't feel too taxing - visit baby, complete halloween costume, eat lunch, work on dad's book, play with puppy, makeout with husband, do homework, watch dodger game (or first half until i had to turn it off in disgust), cook dinner, upload pictures.

Memory Walk

what a day. there were so many wonderful things going on in this 24-hour period i swear, they could fill up a year's worth of this blog.

but, for the sake of space, i'll just make a list.

2a - woken up to the loudest yet most adorable snoring. lola was sound asleep on her back half on her bed and half on the floor.

4a - alarm goes off - time to head to cal state fullerton.

430a - on a desperate hunt for coffee. gas station #1 turns me away. circle k across the street welcomes me with 6 freshly brewed pots all calling my name.

515a - shivering in the dark on a metal folding chair with the early morning dew still fresh. waiting patiently for my sponsors to arrive and praying that they don't flake on me.

7a - breathing a sigh of relief because they didn't.

730a - registration opens. so many faces, all still weary from the early morning wake up call, begin to arrive.
8a - three cups of coffee later, in desperate need of a bathroom break. as i enter i run into an unfamiliar walker. i say, "good morning! thank you for joining us today!" she replies, "no honey, thank you for giving us a reason to be here - all together." she leaves. i get choked up and forget that i've been up for four hours already.

10a - walk countdown begins. families head to the start line. i secretly thank god for the chance to sit down for a whole 10 minutes. i decide to get out of myself for a minute and notice all of the bibs on everyone's shirts - they say, "walking in honor of my mom, my best friend" and "walking in memory of my nana. i miss her." i actually cry a little and decide to instead, thank god for the chance to call this "my job." how i am blessed.

11a - 3,500 walkers approach the finish line hot and thirsty but very excited to be a part of something so big.

1130p - overhear the band playing an eagles song in the background. smile because it reminds me of my wedding day.

12p - closing ceremonies. let the breakdown begin.

1215p - chef from el cholo worries that i hadn't eaten all day and brings me six tamales wrapped in a napkin to share with my husband. i have an overwhelming urge to hug him.

1p - wrap up complete. air-conditioned car is like heaven on earth.
2p - driving home with lola asleep on my lap feeling very fortunate to be so inspired - and very tired.

245p - open the door to folded laundry, scented candles, freshly made bed and vacuumed house - my husband is my hero.

3p - enter shower - good thing because i stink! as i dry off, mike returns home with a burrito and horchata to feed his hungry wife (someone stole my tamales during clean-up. it was the low point of the day).

315p - nap

7p - sitting on the balcony, glass of wine in hand and lola on my lap. watching as mike cooks dinner and enjoying an evening chat with my honey.

10p - turn on pirates of the carribean in bed.
1001p - embark upon the best night's sleep i've had in a long time.

T-Minus 24 Hours

waking up the day before memory walk is like waking up on moving day. there's a sense of excitement and dread all going on at the same time because you know the next 48 hours are going to be some of the longest you've had all year. i don't think anyone really knows what goes into a charity walk or race until they plan one - i know i didn't until last year. it's six months of work, hours upon hours of manual labor in 90 degree weather and about 1,000 moving pieces.

with only a half a dozen staff to create an event to raise a half million dollars, we are incredibly reliant on volunteers. in fact, since i started working in non-profit, all of my assistants have come in the form of volunteers or interns. as you can imagine, you never know what you're gonna get and by the end of your time together, you've become quite close.

today, i was assigned a volunteer who brought her mom along for the day. her mom was diagnosed with alzheimer's two years ago and since then, her daughter has been her primary caregiver. she was recently laid off from her job at wamu and has started selling avon to supplement her unemployment income. her mom requires constant entertainment (very typical of ad) but with her recent change of employment, her daughter has been forced to cut back on the time they spend dining out. unfortunately, her mom has picked up on the fact and recently asked her if "she's running out of money."

the daughter is a young, beautiful woman who is so committed to caring for her mom, she's put her needs completely on the backburner. you can tell because throughout every conversation, she's constantly looking over her shoulder to make sure her mom is in the same place she left her five minutes before. they stayed with me all day and i joked that for a volunteer, she did my job better than i do. as 6p rolled around, we said our goodbyes and i thanked her profusely for all of her hard work. a few minutes later, i noticed her mom was standing by herself near the parking lot. i ran over and she explained to me in spanish that her daughter went to get the car but she wasn't back yet. she was visibly worried so i put my arm around her and we stood together. minutes later a minivan came veering around the corner. her daughter jumped out, brows furried, out of breath. she helped her mom in the car and simply turned around and with a smile said, "thank you, nicole."

i so desperately wanted to yell to her, "why are you thanking me? i haven't done anything. thank YOU for being such a wonderful daughter. thank YOU for finding the time to volunteer despite your very full and exhausting life. thank YOU for reminding me why i do what i do and thank YOU for being such an inspiration."

instead, i just nodded and smiled back. i watched them pull away and turned around to get back to work. it was a long and exhausting day but one of the best i've had in a long time.

You Gotta Believe

i worked from home today and left our house in redondo beach at 4p to make it to game 1 of the dodgers/phillies national league championship series. i had to swing by downtown on my way to the stadium to pick mike up from work and new the odds were slim that we'd be there at 5p for the first pitch.

still, i had no idea what was in store for us. we didn't walk into the game until the middle of the 4th inning at 730p. no exaggeration - it took 3 1/2 hours to get into the parking lot!

i was crabby, frustrated, guilty (for wasting two of my dad's playoff tickets) and annoyed yet the minute i sat in that hard yellow seat, my irritation melted away. the dodgers lost. we had to hike up a dirt hill to get back to the car (which was parked in a remote lot behind the "think blue" sign) and i really should've been working that night but there's no place like dodger stadium. standing between my husband and my mom and dad singing "take me out to the ballgame" at the top of my lungs is really one of my favorite experiences in the world and i'm so blessed that i get to do it really regularly!

There's Always One

my pet peeve in the classroom is the person who insists on asking 20 questions when the rest of the class is ready to move on to the next subject. i don't know if it's that they're a little slow on the uptake or if they just want to instructor to know that they're paying attention (i suspect the latter) but there's always one.

as luck would have it, i actually have two of these students in my class. every time i see one of their hands shoot up, i breathe an internal sigh of frustration. but tonight, i forced myself to see them differently.

i realized that they're both probably 40-45 years-old. i doubt either are taking this community college accounting course for a grade but instead, to advance their careers. they never miss a class and it's obvious by their determination to understand that they're really invested in the art of learning this subject.

don't get me wrong, they still annoy me from time to time but at least i have a new sense of respect for their reason for being there!

The Art of Costume Shopping

as i strolled up and down the aisles of the costume superstore for the 22nd time tonight, i was overcome with a sense of frustration. i realized that i really hate the pre-made and very expensive bag costumes. they're generic, kinda cheesy and very over-priced for what's included. even worse, the bag only contains the nuts and bolts of the costume. in order to actually look like the girl in the picture, you have to spend another $50 on accessories - tights, boots, weapons, hats...you know the drill.

my poor and very patient husband continued to make suggestion after suggestion only to receive an emphatic "no way!" or "are you serious?" - reserved for the especially slutty selections. in midst of our unsuccessful shopping adventure, i couldn't help but wonder why i'm the only woman in the store unwilling to find peace with my selection.

then i thought of my mom. my beautiful mom always had the most amazing costumes. when it came to halloween, she truly lived by the motto of "go big or go home" and it always paid off. she's won more than her share of costume contests over the years and it's because she never settled for what was in the bag.

i suppose the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.

Fully Stocked

i consider myself a "european" grocery shopper which is really just my way of making an excuse for the fact that i'm physically incapable of stocking the pantry with more than a day's worth of meals. still, i've been making a real effort to learn the art of grocery shopping because i think i'll not only save money but time if i learn how to avoid going to the market every single day.

it's all about baby steps.

so, for the past few weeks, i've been grocery shopping on sundays (along with every other person over 30 in america) and planning a week's worth of menus. better than that, i've been buying all of the ingredients to make wholesome and delicious lunches - and actually preparing them the night before.

i don't know who this woman is but when she opened her well-stocked pantry tonight, she felt very mature and all grown up!

#1 Auntie (for a minute)

cooper's 3rd birthday party was this afternoon. it was a sunday sundae party and it was a blast.

selfishly, i was most excited because, for possibly the first time ever, i gave the best present of the bunch. i have no idea why but he went for my box first and after opening it, all bets were off. he was completely distracted and we had to take a temporary recess from the present opening portion of the event.

i can't lie. i was a little flattered!

Can You Ever Have Too Much Arugula?

i took mike to a cute little sidewalk cafe that i discovered for lunch today. it's this adorable little french spot with a great cheese bar and all sorts of delicious eats. the exact place a guy would NEVER want to eat at. what was i thinking? fortunately, he was a good sport.

now, don't get me wrong. he harassed me all day for feeding him plates of food covered in arugula - and in his defense...there was a lot of arugula goin' on. i was constantly reminded that it's the perfect restaurant for "a group of girls to go after a bachelorette party" (clearly, he knows nothing about what happens at my friends' bachelorette parties).

rest assured, all is good in the world though.

i redeemed myself by taking him to a taco stand i've been wanting to try for dinner that night. we've been on a hunt for legit mexican food in the south bay - not an easy thing to do when nearly everyone who lives there is white and wealthy. but, we found it. it's a walk up stand with cheap tables in the back. we dined between a kid on his skateboard and a homeless man and had some of the best tacos we've had since we were last in tijuana.

my husband was so happy he almost forgot the arugula incident.

Black Tie Preferred

we went to the mexican american opportunity foundation's aztec awards tonight because mike's company was the title sponsor. the invitation clearly stated that it was a "black tie preferred" event although when we arrived, we learned that we were among the minority who actually took that request seriously.

most everyone else wore a suit and cocktail dress. oops.

i imagine that most people would be a little intimidated being totally overdressed - we showed up in a black tux and evening gown - but not us. fortunately, mike's confidence prevailed and me? i was just so excited to get all dressed up for an event that wasn't in any way related to "my" organizations that i couldn't care less that people were looking at us!

overall, the gala was pretty boring but it was at the biltmore and we did swing our black tie wearing selves into the hotel lounge for two over-priced cocktails and a half hour of live jazz music at the end which made up for it.

oh, and the kicker? we saw a young girl who looked EXACTLY like the female version of the long-haired kid from dazed and confused. i mean, it was one of the most amazing doppelganger sitings i've had in my life!

Dodgers vs Cards

anyone who knows me knows that my dad is possibly the biggest dodger fan alive. it started with his childhood in brooklyn and has only grown over the years. i have been going to games since i was in my mom's belly (or so i've been told) and as a family, we've shared some incredible memories and witnessed some awesome moments - not the least of which was kirk gibson's homerun in the '88 world series - yes, we stayed to the bitter end.

thank god.

so, you can imagine my sadness when i learned that i had conflicts for both of the two nlds playoff games guaranteed to take place at home this year! mike, on the other hand, was able to sneak out of work early and go to the game today with my parents. as jealous as i was (sitting in my office, typing away at the computer), i was also so excited to see that although he's a cubs fan at heart, he's embraced the family tradition and our agreement to root for each other's teams as long as they're not playing each other.

i also said a little prayer of thanks that i was blessed to marry a man who gets along with my family so well - even better than i do sometimes!

95%

my score on my first test in years.

i love school!

and apparently, i love accounting! who would've known?

Bella Jade Ferris

my friend had a baby yesterday! she's a doll and as i told him, "not at all creepy-looking like most newborns."

crass? maybe
but true? totally!

congratulations, james and krystal! i'm so happy for you guys and can't wait to meet sweet bella this weekend!

Ladies Night

lola and i had a really nice evening to ourselves.

mike was at class so we went for a walk around the block...literally (her legs are still very short), made mac and cheese and played around for a bit while the golden girls cackled in the background. then, she sat peacefully on my lap while i did my homework, studied for my test on wednesday and talked on the phone to my friend who recently moved to florida.

before we knew it, it was 1030p and mike was walking through the door. all in all, it was a productive and satisfying monday night for the girls.

Snuggle Up

it's been so hot this summer and we don't have an air-conditioner where we live. there's something about houses at the beach, none of them seem to have it. i think the thought is that there's always a steady ocean breeze to keep you cool. i get that if you live on the strand however the breeze doesn't always make it a mile inland.

we typically sleep with a sheet, coverlet and a down comforter. in the summer, we keep the comforter folded neatly at the foot of the bed until mike thrashes around in his sleep and it falls onto the floor. for the first time in months...actually, for the first time since we moved into our house in june, i pulled the comforter up to cover me in the middle of the night.

it was nice to be all cozy and warm under the blankets!

The Sweetest Thing

we barbecued at jen and casey's tonight for the cal/usc game. despite the despicable showing by my bears, it was a really great night amongst friends.

i sat back at one point and just took it all in.

i'm so happy for my best friend and the amazing life she and her husband have built for themselves. their house is awesome. their new yard is welcoming. their pooch is a total lover. he seems perfectly natural behind the grill and she's the consummate hostess insuring everyone's glasses are full.

seeing it all work out for someone you love is a really good feeling.

Dance, Dance Revolution

we started our friday evening with martinis and cigars on the patio. it was the first time we both felt healthy in a while so i think we were celebrating a little. we barbecued burgers and asparagus, matched them with tater tots and wine and watched the dodgers game .

it was truly glorious evening.

we may have had a little more wine than planned or maybe it was the martini to start the night off but we ended up dancing around the dining room with lola and singing "the gambler" at the top of our lungs.

ah, nothing like a good song and good company!

The Reviews Are In

i had my annual performance evaluation today. i'm lucky because i've never had a "bad" review. i always walk out knowing that there are areas that i need to improve but fortunately, my managers have always been constructive in their advice.

which makes me reflect...i suppose i never did have a review at fox sports bay area. i was there a year and a half and never had an "official" review. thank God for that...michael mcright was anything but "constructive" or "supportive."

today was good...i'm growing professionally and even receiving a title change in acknowledgement of that progress. not bad in a tough economy.

Will This Day Ever End?

today was one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong. my normal 45 minute - 1 hour commute to work took over 2 hours and was filled accident after accident. the drive home was no better and sandwiched between were a slew full of frustrating meetings.

i tried really hard to focus on all that i'm grateful for and not the inconveniences, delays and irritations. as i passed fire engine after ambulance after police car and listened to way more am radio than any person should in one day, i reminded myself of how blessed i am to be safe and sound and not the victim of one of these horrible accidents/earthquakes/tsunamis.

unfortunately, i still gave in and lost it at one point - sending mike a desperate text and snapping at my mom on the phone for leaving me on hold too long (sorry, guys). even so, i'm proud of myself for trying not to "sweat the small stuff" and keeping my cool for as long as i did.

to top it off, i still managed to fall into bed with a smile on my face.

May I Be Excused

with practice, i'm going to pat myself on the back and say that i've become a pretty good cook. still, every once in a while, i try a new recipe and it just well...it flops.

tonight was one of those nights.

it wasn't just "not great," it was straight up bad.

still, my husband gulped it down with a smile on his face and even "pretended" to get mad that i threw out the leftovers. i know that i married a human trash compactor but i like to tell myself that it's more than that. i believe he loves me so much that anything i cook for him tastes like a little slice of heaven even if, in my heart, i know that he forced his way through that meal as an exercise in solidarity (and to save himself from my impending breakdown).

And Babies Make Four

as i was leaving the gym tonight i saw a man struggling to get through the front door. he was pushing/pulling/lugging a side by side stroller with two toddlers strapped inside. he was holding the door with one foot while navigating his extra-wide load and juggling his gym bag in one arm.

every time i see a mom or dad going through those daily tasks that are now 20x more time consuming and difficult, i gain such respect for parenthood. i know. i know. children are an awesome gift and don't get me wrong, i definitely hope to have some one day.

still, as i jumped forward to hold the door open and received a smile of gratitude from this dad who simply wanted to get a workout in, i realized that today is not that day. i have about all i want to handle with my new puppy. i want to be the best mom possible and i know that to do it right, i have to be completely selfless.

as for now, i still like going to the gym empty-handed without a care in the world.

Study Hall

there's a sense of pride in watching someone you love work really hard - even when they feel like complete crap. one of the many things i respect about my husband is his commitment and drive. he committed to this mba program in august and since then, he has proven that nothing will stand in the way of his success - even a hacking cough, fever, overly-committed wife and 9-week old puppy running amok.

it's days like this - as he locked himself in the office preparing for his econ midterm on monday - that i know there's nothing i can do to support him but give him peace, quiet and ample food - to keep him energized of course.

and so i did - or tried my best to anyway.

Play Date Gone Awry

it was a big day for lola. she had her first outing - lunch with kim and james in manhattan beach - and her first play date - with bella.

unfortunately, the play date didn't go quite as well as we'd hoped. as it turns out, our little lola boo is a bit of bully. she doesn't know her own strength and while they weigh the same, she's a tad bit heftier than bella boo. bella, on the other hand, is definitely more of a timid pooch. 

in fact, she was scared to death. 

but in the spirit of finding the positive in it all, i have to say that we're really happy our lola is comfortable around other dogs and people too. now, we just have to work on some obedience issues and she'll be golden.

it was hard to get a shot of the two of them together since bella was running at full speed and lola was doing her best to tackle her so instead, we have the after shots. 

here is bella - so over it all

and lola - pooped from the chase

And Then There Was Rest

mike and i are both sick now. he's convinced i contracted swine flu and then shared it with him.

sorry, honey.

still, after a really busy couple of months for both of us: school, fundraisers, work, lola, chicago, birthday, anniversary, wedding, house, etc. it feels pretty good to take a break. 

even if it's forced.

we ate chicken soup, napped, watched "notorious" (the biography of notorious b.i.g. - oddly good) and ended the night with a shot of nyquil. i feel so lucky to have a partner in crime. even the worst moments are good when we're together. 

cheesy, i know. so sorry. 

Friends of El Faro

the annual friends of el faro fundraiser was tonight and it was a huge success. in the months leading up to this event, i have moments of doubt and worry. it's so much work and there are really only a handful of us truly committed to the cause. we do it all on our nights and weekends and there's so much depending on this one evening.

will we pull it off?

will we make enough to support the home for the next year?

is this still as much fun as it used to be?

is it time for me to move on to another cause?

and then the night arrives and as i look out into the crowd i realize the answers were there all along.

yes

yes

yes

hell no!

friends of el faro is an extension of my family. casa hogar sion is my home away from home. my role may change over the years but nothing will ever erase those facts. and anyone who knows me knows that family and home are the most important things in my life.

it feels good to be back.

Midterm

i had my first midterm in years today. i know i'm a complete geek because i was actually excited. as luck would have it, mike had a midterm as well in yep...you guessed it, accounting. the subject matter between both our tests was virtually the same so we got to study together last night. 

it was fun.

i won't get my score until next week and my grade really doesn't matter since i'm only taking the class for personal growth but i'm fairly certain i aced it!

Lynn and Ned

i'm one of those lucky people who is actually friends with her boss. she attended my wedding. in fact, it was on her birthday. she's not only a great director but the most gracious and compassionate person i've ever met. she's been a very good role model for me professionally and before you even think it, no...she doesn't know about this blog so i'm not kissing ass.

today, her husband was discharged from the hospital. you see, after years fighting a rare kidney disease and depending on hours upon hours of daily dialysis treatment to stay alive, he had a kidney transplant last week. his donor was a co-worker and friend for many years and gave him the incredible gift of life.

lynn and ned have been a constant reminder of how important it is to stay positive and to have faith. they never gave up. they never stopped fighting. they never let the sleepless nights, painful treatments or inconvenient travel get to them.

today is literally, the first day of the rest of their lives and i couldn't be happier.

Thank God for Chew Toys

i made yet one more run to petco today. this time it was to stock up on chew toys and treats. as it turns out, lola boo is teething and as a result, enjoys chewing on anything in her path.

fingers
arms
the couch
electrical cords
the baby gate
the hamper

the list goes on

i discovered some ingenious substitutions though and she's happy as a clam. our arms and hands are breathing a sigh of relief as well.

R&R

a much needed day of rest.

my cold went from bad to worse - i blame it on too much fun at the wedding - but i had nothing on the agenda today. that is unless you count playing with lola, reading my dad's book and working on the foef fundraiser.

it was glorious and long overdue.

I Do

julie and brandon's wedding day was absolutely perfect. she was a beautiful bride. he was an adoring groom. the ceremony went off without a hitch. the reception was a blast.

i'm so honored to be a part of such an important moment in their life. and i can't lie...it's almost as much fun being a guest/bridesmaid at a wedding as it is being the bride.

Brandamine and Julice

at julie and brandon's rehearsal dinner, the groomsmen passed on the traditional toast and instead, treated us to a shadow puppet show. yes, i said shadow puppet show.

now, this was no ordinary, last minute, thrown together entertainment. it was a true love story complete with dragons, waves and a soundtrack. i can't even imagine how much time they put into this project.

we laughed our way through the 20 minute presentation. it was a true display of love on the boys part.

i was very impressed.

Welcome Home

introducing the newest addition to our family...lola boo!

Just Say No

i'm very proud of myself today. i had a donor meeting this afternoon in newport beach. i'm talking a stone's throw from fashion island. on the way there, i decided that i'd treat myself after the meeting with a quick stop at forever 21.

forever 21 is the perfect store to go to when you need a shopping spree quick fix but are working with a tight budget. you can easily spend 20 minutes and walk out with one or two new tops and a handful of accessories all for less than $40. this is how i trick myself into thinking i went "shopping" when all i really did was go drop $40 on crap i'll wear a half a dozen times and then have to throw out.

it's a beautiful thing.

although i had convinced myself that i most certainly "deserved" this spree, i resisted the temptation. the responsible angel on my shoulder reminded me that i'd had my shopping fix for the month with the aforementioned four trips to petco/petsmart.

after picturing lola's cute face, i felt completely okay with the fact that she is the sole beneficiary of this months splurging. before i knew it, i was driving right past fashion island without so much as a glance in the rear view mirror.

A Place To Call My Own

i set up lola's new "room" tonight. we pick her up thursday afternoon and since we both have class tomorrow night, this was the only time to get it done.

alright. alright. who am i kidding?

since mike surprised me with our new addition to the family on our anniversary, i've made half a dozen trips to the pet store for "supplies." lola now has not one but two pink collars (he'll never admit it but mike wanted one with spikes around the neck), the cushiest bed money could buy, toys galore (even a really cute one shaped like an ugg slipper) and the highest quality pet food i could find.

still, her "room" looked so sparse when i was finished. before i went as far as adding pink wallpaper to her kennel, mike intervened and talked me off the ledge. this is why we make such a great team.

you have to admit...she's gonna look pretty damn cute with her pink spiked collar around her chubby little neck!

Work Does Not Suck

today, i met a man who fears his grandfather may be developing dementia. we talked about the symptoms he's noticing and i shared all of the resources available at the alzheimer's association. he left feeling scared that there may be truth to his fears but also visibly relieved that his family won't have to go through this process alone.

so much of my day is filled with similar interactions. i meet people who either need our services today, have used our services in the past or fear they may have to request them in the future. while i spend the majority of my time chasing down the $2.2 million in funding to insure all of our programs are available free of charge to the community, i still get to interact with the families who rely on us to answer the phone and help them through the day. every day.

it's moments like these that i thank god for helping me embrace my passion for non-profit work. it's not the most glamorous or high-paying profession but it's one of the most rewarding. i can honestly end each day confident that the work i did contributed to the betterment of humanity.

not too shabby for a hard day's work.

Remembering David

i'm feeling very grateful for the chance to remember a little man who was once a very big part of my life. years ago, david was "my" child at the orphanage. had i not been 24, single and living paycheck to paycheck at the time, i seriously would've adopted him. we were kindred spirits and he was the reason i spent every weekend navigating the dirt roads of tijuana for a visit.

david taught me that you could love an adopted child as much as a birth child. when he left our home, i was devastated. it took nine months but we tracked him, his brothers and his baby sister down and learned that they were taken from their parents again and placed in a new home on the the west coast of tijuana. this time for good. i paid them a visit and discovered the wonderful, inspiring and spiritually rich environment that is grace children's home. i left missing him more than ever but at peace knowing he is happy, healthy and prospering.

i haven't been back in a couple of years and mike has never met him but i will always keep tabs on his life and lend support if i'm needed...even if it's from a distance.

below are two pictures of david. the first is of the two of us at the albercas (water park) in 2003. the second is him all grown up and living at grace.

No Rest for the Weary...Or is There?

i long for saturdays spent running errands, working around the house and watching college football. i know i have no one to blame for my busy schedule but myself so i won't even try. i rationalize my desire to bite off more than i can chew because running at 1,000 mph on a regular basis makes selfish days so much more enjoyable.

and that's what i had today. a lazy, go at my own pace, long long saturday.

best part is, i squeezed in some work for the friends of el faro fundraiser and some reading for class. all followed up by a nap in the "man chair" and bbq with my honey.

life is good.

We Will Never Forget

for the reminder to never take anything for granted.

It Hurts So Good

i have a sleep disorder. for some reason, i can't keep my arms by my side at night. this has been going on for years and no matter what i do they manage to drift up over my head in my sleep. think of how a baby sleeps - on it's back with it's arms above it's head. that's me.

a side effect of this sleep disorder is literally, a huge pain in my neck. it drifts all the way down my traps and into the tips of my shoulders. some mornings i can't even lift my arms to the steering wheel without pain. my poor husband worries that if i keep this up, i'm going to be disabled by the time i'm 35.

every so often when the pain has gotten unbearable, i treat myself to a massage. tonight, mike joined me and we had a couples massage at mini day spa in manhattan beach. what's a mini day spa, you ask? think somewhere in between burke williams and the creepy doctor's office massage studio. it's simple with no frills but clean and affordable and my massage therapists had hands like...well, you know.

he massaged, kneaded, pushed and pulled and the pain was far more intense than the enjoyment. i'm sore today but the relief in my shoulder/neck is better than i ever imagined. from the sounds of it, mike enjoyed himself just as much.

looks like we have a new idea for "date night."

A Long Hard Day

work was filled with meetings upon meetings today. so much so that i ended up staying an hour and a half after i needed to leave to make it to class with time to spare. as i flew out the door exhausted and head pounding, i contemplated blowing school off for the night and instead giving in to my guilty pleasure and hitting up del taco on the way home.

after all, we're all allowed to play hookie once i a while, right?

instead, i dragged my tired body adorned in tight, restricting work clothes to accounting class. stomach growling, i learned about t accounts, how to calculate owner's equity and liabilities for three hours.

it was a perfect day.

Chocolate, Cherries and Pistachios

when i was a kid, my grandparents picked me up from school and i stayed with them until the end of my parents' work day. my grandpa and i were very close and he would treat me to a homemade banana split every afternoon.

this probably explains why i was so spoiled and so chubby when i was little.

he also introduced me to the beauty that is spumoni. it's definitely not for everyone but it's certainly one of my favorite flavors to this day. i snuck a gallon into the grocery cart this evening. i don't feel guilty about this because when it comes to sweets, i can practice self-control. after a couple of spoonfuls, i've usually had my fill.

so tonight, mike and i had dinner together, parted ways to do our homework and met up for a late night spumoni fix. the only thing missing was my grandpa but i have to believe he was there in spirit.

Tears, Sangria and Cupcakes...Not in that Order.

hannah, gena and i spent the afternoon working on the friends of el faro silent auction. in fact, we got so much done, that i don't even feel guilty that we followed up our meeting with 3+ hours sitting on my deck catching up on "girl talk."

and, when i say girl talk, i mean the kind that includes everything from water bras to deceased pets, family kookiness, the beauty/sappiness of "p.s. i love you" and unsavory hot tub antics.

mike spent the evening watching the florida state game and pretending he couldn't hear the ridiculousness of our conversation outside. it's moments like these that i'm so happy to be a woman. we really do have way more fun!

Ready, Set, Go!

after some much needed lounging around in the sand, we rode our bikes a mile or so north to the hermosa beach street fair. we mingled, watched a bunch of ex-hippies rock out to a boston cover band, cruised the food court and checked out the vendors who all sell more of less, the same stuff.

we also hit up the carnival games.

like all couples, mike and i love a little friendly competition. unlike all couples though, we're both extremely competitive and it doesn't always stay friendly. today we played the "shoot the water gun in the clown's mouth and blow up the balloon attached to it's head" game. it was the two of us, half a dozen kids and another man and guess who won?

i did!

in all my years of street fairs and carnivals, i don't think i've ever won one of these games and i was so genuinely excited, i actually screamed and jumped in the air! shocked my surprise and pleased by my joy over something so simple, mike was equally excited by the outcome.

it was awesome!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

cal defeats maryland 52-13!

my guess is they'll be ranked in the top 10 by tuesday!

go bears!

Chunk

a very good friend from san francisco came over for dinner tonight and she surprised us by bringing her new baby - chunk. he's a designer breed - half bichon and half something else i can't remember - and he's the happiest dog i've ever met. i don't know if it's possible, but i swear this puppy - chunk - spent the whole night running in circles with a smile on his face!

i love the distinct personalities in animals - especially dogs. my mom and dad's dog, bella, is the most loving dog in the world. chunk is the clearly the happiest. my childhood dog was the most vicious (and he was a lhasa apso...explain that). it makes me wonder what our new puppy is going to be known for - aside from her flatulence and snorting that is.

she is a bully after all.

if mike has it his way, she'll be as sweet, intelligent and good looking as her owners. fingers crossed!

Healthy and Happy

as most anyone reading this knows, i'm a bit of a hypochondriac. for instance, i recently had a mole the size of a small freckle removed from my ear despite the dermatologist telling me he was 95% sure it was nothing serious. three weeks of walking around with a bandaid on my ear and it turns out, he was right.

needless to say, there are few things that worry more than my own health but number one is the health of those i love. for that reason, the highlight of my day today was most definitely learning that someone very important to me underwent some tests recently and came out with a clean bill of health.

woo hoo.

Back to School

i decided to enroll in a business class on wednesday nights. i guess i figured i couldn't let mike have all the fun. tonight was my first class and i was so excited. i was always one of those nerdy kids who loved the first day of school. i guess some things haven't changed.

now for a visual.

close your eyes and imagine the stereotypical accounting professor. once you get a good clear image in your head open up. everything you imagined is exactly what i experienced and it was glorious.

professor craven is as jolly as it gets. his wire-rimmed glasses needed adjusting and his rosy cheeks maintained their hue for the entire three hours we were there. he has a little mustache and a slicked comb-over. his navy tie had the rome skyline imprinted on it and hit right at his belly button while the belt of his dockers didn't quite make it up that high.

best of all, he's knowledgeable, funny, welcoming and really passionate about accounting. i couldn't have special-ordered a better instructor and i'm really looking forward to spending my wednesdays with him for the next four months.

Meeting of the Minds

once upon a time, most favorite orphanage comrade and i used to talk (almost obsessively) about how we were going to change the world one child at a time. it's bittersweet to note that our own lives have grown quite a bit from the time we spent nearly every weekend at casa hogar sion with our "other" family. we added husbands, homes, new careers, pets and children of our own (or hannah's own at least) to the fray. as you can imagine, we now have to schedule our visits and rarely do we get enough time to gossip let alone masterfully plan for the future.

today was different though.

we sat down and brainstormed like the old days. together (and with the help of the rest of foef) we will go back to the drawing board and revamp the friends of el faro child sponsorship program. it felt so good to freely share ideas, challenge each other and build on the other's enthusiasm.

i love this woman and i love our shared passion for this cause. it makes our relationship so special and so unlike any other in my life.

Hal

when you go to the gym at virtually the same time on the same days of the week you inevitably begin to recognize people. one of my favorite fellow gym-goers is a blind man who comes in escorted by his seeing eye dog. by sheer luck he usually ends up selecting a stationary bicycle right in front of my treadmill so i get to see his whole routine.

it takes him quite a while to get set up and always with the assistance of one of the trainers. meanwhile, his dog lays quietly on the floor barely noticeable except for the fact that he's so out of place in a 24 hour fitness. the trainer turns on the machine, selects the setting, plugs in his headphones for him and then he's off. for the rest of the time, the man pedals away peacefully sweating as much as any of the rest of us.

Every time the devil on my shoulder suggests i skip my workout i think of this man (i've nicknamed him hal because he looks like a hal to me). with more obstacles in front of him than i can possibly imagine and a better excuse not to go then i'll ever come up, hal still manages to get his tush to the gym everyday.

how can i possibly let him down by not showing up myself?