TGIF

After the back to back vacations, {needs a vacation from the vacations} I have to say this has been one of the longest weeks ever!
I'm looking forward to quality friend time, a wee yard sale, boyfriend time, a trip down to laguna beach for some more Sawdust Festival time, and whatever else will pop up.

Keepin' it pretty mellow compared to my last couple weekends.

Tchao!

now and then

this is what hard work and determination will get you..

40 pounds lighter.

at the time i didn't realize i was this unhealthy until i saw the picture on the right.

{this is what too many margaritas and tacos will do to a gal}

 

 

 

{march 2013 vs. june 2011}

 

 

i did this mainly by eating healthier, more veggies, lean meats, lots of water, cutting out most sweets, i still had ice cream here and there keeping up with my daily vitamins and vitamin b12 (due to a deficiency) and being more active, either hitting the gym, to cleaning the house, i would even just park farther from the store to get a little more walking in.

this was over a span of about two years.

and i feel great!

 

my goal for this year: tone and work on wearing heels.

 

not trying to brag, but i am so proud of myself and cant believe Ive come this far!

hope this can be of some inspiration for any of you struggling with the ever so often resolution to loose a few lbs.

if i can do it, you can do it!



disconnect

last night i disconnected from certain social websites.

the only two besides blogger i used, facebook and instagram.

they both give off this false sense of community.

you could be friend on one of them, and then, if you ran into them out and about

they wouldnt say anything, just hurry by.

then i would be tempted to look at pages, i knew i shouldnt, of people i know are toxic and they would change my mood for the day.

i dont need things like that.

it will be hard but im going to do it.

especially at this time of year its a good time to reflect.

so thats what im doing by disconnecting from facebook and instagram, and will be focusing on this...

in the mean time, I'm busy busy finishing classes for this semester,

registering for next, and planning my moms surprise 50th birthday party happening this Saturday.

she has NO IDEA! i cant wait to see her face!

ya she's pretty awesome!

<3

Friendsgiving!

This past weekend my dear dear friend from northern California came to visit

the first time in the 10 years I've been away! lets just say it was waaay over due.

 

So of course i brought her to Friendsgiving!

a bunch of friends, eating and drinking. it was so much fun!

plus i love dressing! Indians and pilgrim. (just one)

 Melissa. you have heard about her here

 a first for both of us.

a trip down rodeo dr. then sunset strip.

 

Loved her time here!

I can not believe thanksgiving is here tomorrow!

I'm in charge of the mashed potatoes, its my first ever for thanksgiving.

30 plus people...easy breezy.

<3

picture dump

fall is my most favorite season of the year.

Halloween, apple cider, snuggling, cool crisp air, festivals

the list can go on and on.

it hasn't been cool here in the so cal at all up until the past week.

and I'm exaggerating with cool, i mean 75. but I'll take what i can get.

pumpkin patch 4 year tradition.

Flo (the progressive girl)

batman and robin

my hunk a lunk and i were pretty cute robbers don't ya think?

the Allstate insurance guy.

(check out my boots? I'm surprised i didn't break an ankle or face)

Not to mention Thanksgiving is around the corner. I have so much to be thankful for this year.

its spewing all over the place.



lifes a beach

at least that's what it's been for the past 2 weeks.

2 weeks ago i was living on the beach at Lake Mojave with my hunk a lunk.

then last week was living on the beach at lake San Antonio with the fam.

man it was fun, but man am i glad to be home

no more squatting over the toilet, although i think my thighs are more toned.

no more snakes, and no more bugs.

my brother

we camped shortly up this hill. this is the group we were with.

the mom and i. (and boobs)

this is proof that i tent camped. I've grown up camping, and i do love it. but my back does not.

i spent most nights laying flat on the air mattress. i think next year i will need a motor home..hint hint Mr Santa. and i wont be tubing. the inner child yells, "do it!" my body yells "are you crazy?!" i feel like an old lady and I'm only 24.

the last day a storm rolled in, the first after 10 years of going to this lake.

it was beautiful, and didn't stop any fun.

only two more weeks until school starts!

summer has flown too fast!



out with the old, in with the new

Remember when i wrote about my back problems here

the options to help that was physical therapy. and muscle relaxers.

i don't like it when strangers touch me,  and i don't want to take something i could become addicted to.

so i put it off for as long as i could.

my mom finally convinced me to do it, so I'm starting physical therapy soon.

in the mean time i figured my old bed couldn't be helping.

Ive had bed this before 10 years,

then it was my parents before that for 10 years too.

EW!

tah tah

and

hello brand new plush bed.

it was so difficult choosing a bed. should i go for memory foam? pillow top? something more soft or firm?

i chose in the middle. hopefully it feels good in the long run.

last night was the first night on it, and so far so good.

my little moomoo loves boxes.

Happy Thursday!!



yes, please!

well i was going to post some pretty dresses im debating on buying

but then i saw channing tatum on the todays show bust into moves.

oy vey! oy vey! oy vey!

i have been super excited to see Magic Mike ever since i heard word of it.

but now i am even more excited. i've already apologized to my hunk a lunk that saturday night my girls and i are going to be oogling his bod. and everyone elses in that movie.

we're bringing in wine boxes. sshhhh!

its about time they make a movie about male strippers.

i want to know when they are going to open a male dance place locally?

they have enough women strip clubs and what not, we need ours too. hello!

maybe i should start a chain. who's with me?

if you havent heard about it yet ladies or gents whatever you like. here you go!

um..yum!

ok stop drooling now!

dont you think that was so much better than this...although its cute, its not channing tatum.

via

happy hump day!



the last of the birthday celebrations x's 2

this past sunday was my families gathering to celebrate

my birthday

uncle mikes birthday (we're one week apart)

and fathers day

it was filled with alot of sun, swimming, food, good people and cake.

i hate being the center of attention so the birthday song is long enough but my family

has created their own birthday song that follows the original and you cant blow out your candles until its done. i was itching to get out of that seat..what you cant see in this picture there's about 15 or so other people surrounding us. ah so many eyes.

i have to admit my family kiinda rocks.

and the song goes:

"today is your birthday, you're one more year old, what a wonderful birthday that's what Ive been told.

on the cake there'll be candles all lighted for you.

and the whole world is singing...happy birthday to you!"

then you're free to blow those suckers out. 

<3

birthday weekend!

howdy 24! nice to meet you!

the weekend started off on friday night, with some line dancing.

my life birthday wouldn't be complete with out a little toosh push, or slappin' leather

all dawled up.

we got a little silly

so much fun!

second night,

main st. Huntington beach.

me and hunk-a-lunk

monday, the actual day kinda sucked

it took me 25 extra minutes to get to work, due to traffic and trains so i was late, i am the only one in the morning with a key. no bueno. patients were waiting and cranky.

i got chewed out by a cranky lady for something i couldn't help.

and it was none stop.

i may have cried.

so my lovely co-workers surprised me with not one but two chai lattes!

yum!

awesome card! the inside read

(please disregard samantha)

if you don't know already...i am in love with corn! i ask for a side of it at dennys...

happy tuesday!

don't forget to let the sunshine in, and face it with a grin!



nobody likes you when you're twenty three

as my birthday festivities are speeding ahead

i cant help but think about the past year.

so much has changed.

when i was turning 23, where i thought i would be now, and where i actually am now.

then, i thought i would be living the married life.

a different job, with this one best friend.

but things change,

i was saying this year was terrible and am so ready for it to be over.

but then a real friend reminded me of the some of the great things that had happened in the past year also.

its a learning process. its life.

**

i grew closer to some great friends. who have been there for me through the waves, and the laughs.

i stayed with my same job, while with every job there usually are some dislikes, but now i feel i have taken big steps and have moved up so i feel more valuable.

i met this little bundle of joy, my nieceypoo oaklynn

i now have this, and its not a high maintenance job, which is a lesson in itself.

i am so grateful for my parents, who with open arms accepted me and poopers back in their home.

and most importantly,

i found myself again, who had been tucked away for a while.

{yes, i was mulan for Halloween}

Howdy, 24...

whats in the cards this year?

june gloom and a road trip

today is the day!

I THOUGHT IT WOULD NEVER COME

a little june gloom has rolled in after a beautiful heat spell last week.

im glad im getting out of town where the weather is predicted to be in the 80's!

here's a little view of our trip. its about 8 hours there, 8 hours back..but since its memorial day weekend..

I'm predicting the worst (traffic wise)

map

if you are that curious.

plan:

today

1:00 leave Fullerton

driiiiive anywhere between 5-7 hours

8-9: arrive in madera ca for some Zzz's

saturday

10: check out and drive another 3 hours

1:00: arrive in jackson

5:00: wedding!

sunday:

9:00: leave jackson and drive 3 hours south

12:00: arrive at millerton lake

where we have friends and boats waiting for us

camping, s'mores, good times!

monday:

drive the 5-7 hours back home.

I'm glad i got my zoom zoom all checked up. we have a lot of driving to do here! about 1150 miles.

i have all the fun road trip cd's packed, and beef jerkey to feed an army.

i know many of you have probably driven alot farther than that, in fact i myself have.

but this is the first road trip with my hunk a lunk.

I'm packing the pooperie to keep the mystery alive! hahaha.

and taking morning strolls to let my air clear...TMI? we all do it! HELLO!

hope everyone has a fun and safe memorial day weekend!

last weekends wandering

it was a busy one, but soOoOo much fun!

i don't think Ive laughed so hard so much in a long time.

Bff Jamie's graduation.

she was a speaker and rocked it!

we stopped to smell the flowers.

(and someone behind us got a head rub)

...that really happened

mimosas..at the beach..from a thermus.

word.

girly burning time!

(as in sun burn, duh)

I can not wait until next weekend!

 road trip up to northern california to see one of my oldest dearest friends i mentioned here get married! 

i better bring plenty of tissues.

whats your plans for memorial day weekend?

well hello there may

i cant believe its may already.

it feels like just yesterday i was singing christmas carols.

i am so excited to finally get in with all the cool kids with instagram.

i heard/saw everyone talk about it, and i felt soo left out.

thank you jesus for allowing androids to pick it up.

whoo hoo.

im going to attempt to do this religiously this month. 7 days late.

#7: something that inspires you

looks like His light is shining through the clouds down on us all despite all the clouds or whatever else may be in the way to keep shining on.



Just DANCE!

had to steal this from this lady

i remember singing this song in the Jr high choir. thinking to myself, i don't understand this.

but now it makes all the sense in the world.

Happy Thursday! i hope you dance a little or alot today!

i have 17 more days until...

stagecoach!

the best weekend on my life

(yes i am giving it that expectation)

and the cowboy stalking begins.

yeehaw folks!

i am going to be such a busy girl between then, with some:

line dancing

snow sledding

tests

dad's bday

brother's bday

flamingo hunting

research paper writing

baby shower

swap meet

flag painting

and working over time in there

pheeww...i think i may have asthma after all that.

is this a busy time of year for you too? tell me about it!



Hello there Sunday

You are a beautiful one. The sun is shining not a cloud in sight. I'm so blessed with the cards I've been handed recently. I never knew what I was missing until I wrote you off for good. Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday also. P.s if your driving take a min to look behind you while pulling out of your parking spot and save me an almost heart attack. Gracias.

the night i got a fake tattoo..

and the peach believed me for 2.3 seconds. EPIC WIN!

was one of the best nights i've had in a very long time.

i'll just say it

sexsay laday! who that be?

oh ya..thats me.

waahhbaaam



happy monday!

well today is the day i've been anticipating.

as always i can barely sleep the night before.

hence being awake an hour before i needed to be.

the beginning of a new school semester.

this semester i'm taking 2 extra units than usual.

this is my schedule now:

monday, 6:00 wake up, 8:30-6:30 work, 7:00-10:10 History 3 units = 6 hrs of homework a week

tuesday, same routine, math 2 units= 4 hrs hmwrk

wednesday, same routine western art history 3 units= 6 hrs of hmwrk

+ 40 hrs a week working = a whole lot! im gonna be a busy lady

thurday and friday homework time

and possibly a social life on the weekend.

i know it could be worse, i just always get a little nervous before.

plus im petitioning all of my classes.

wish me luck, in the rain also!

hope that crack ive been meaning to get fixed on my windshield since september holds up!

as the dictionary says:

e·piph·a·ny

noun, plural -nies.

1.

a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

2.

a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.

 

when i searched epiphany

 

i had one last night. everything came at me. BAM. like i could finally see the light of the situation.

i was able to let go, and move on.

my eyes are wide open to what could be.

that what i was in was a not a healthy mind set, thinking all that drama was supposed to be that way.

and i know now.

thanks to my epiphany.

give me an amen!

happy happy friday!

what on your to do list this weekend?

i get to figure out this printer my brother brought home from his job site, that has no disk.

and put the donated lap top my work gave me together!

im so blessed.

plus some coffee, boot poppin', and family time!