Conversations With My Neighbors

I don't think I will be a very neighborly person once I own my own home some day. I wont know the people that live on my block maybe not even my next door neighbors. The Smith's? The Rodriguez's? (These are my imaginary future neighbors.) 

Right now though, my neighbors are my parents. So at the moment I very much KNOW my neighbors. And they know me. They also know I don't have a functioning kitchen...yet.

current state of my kitchen....

 Last night about an hour after I got home, I had the following exchange:

MOM: Hi Mija, how are you, are you hungry??

ME: HI Mom, no I'm good right now, had a long day and I'm tired. 

MOM: Are you sure, I made some (forgot name of food offered) want me to heat some up for you? Or how about a sanwich?

ME: No, I'm not that hungry, just really tired. 

MOM: OK, do you want some cereal?

ME: (dam it now I want cereal, my late nigh weakness) Um...OK, I'll have some cereal. 

MOM: OK, it's cold outside so I'll send your Dad. 

ME: Yeah it's cold.....What?

MOM: (yelling at dad across the room) Honey, take her some cereal.

ME: Mom, it's....(interrupted)

MOM: OK your dad is taking you some cereal. Have a good night mija.

2 minutes later..knock at the door, Dad walks in.

DAD: Hi Mija, where are you?

ME: Laying down, I'm tired.

DAD: (hands me a bowl of milk) Here you go.

ME: Oh, thank you, but where's the cereal?

DAD: (Walks back into living room)

ME: (I should have asked for a banana...)

DAD: (Comes back in with box and a banana)

ME: Yay! How'd you know I wanted a banana?

DAD: I know my daughters.

ME: (Aww...)

3 minutes later Mom's at the Door. 30 minutes later my neighbors finally left parents went home, they may or may not have tried to tuck me in. (awkward).

I love having my own place and still be close to home and a free kitchen. However, they know my every move day and night and drop by when they like....just like nosy neighbors would I suppose. But I can stand it, for now,  since they are my parents.

♥always,

Guest Post: Alejandra

February's Guest Post comes from my cousin, Alejandra, in Guatemala! She's growing up and teaching me a lesson along the way...

Life Is An Adventure

A couple of months ago, I went to a “Feria del Libro” (Book Fair) that was installed in my university. I live in Guatemala City, and this activity is a way to motivate students from San Carlos University to buy and read books. They don’t only sell new books but also used ones. I went there only to sniff around because my personal budget that day was Q15 (quetzal), which is about $2.00, not really a fortune. While I was looking at the titles I found one, by the cover I knew it wasn’t new, it was very worn out. The title was “Spark of Life” and I honestly don’t know what called my attention. Maybe, its English title – a great source to practice a language I’ve been try to dominate, English – or its irresistible price of Q10 which matched perfectly with my budget, I don’t know exactly why, but I bought it. I started to read it, it’s about people’s life in a concentration camp and their suffering during the II World War. However, the book captivated me for other reasons first of all, it was written in 1952, but I have on my hands the printing of November 1964! The book is about one century old, so when I first opened it I could smell this particular fragrance that is a mix of humidity, old age and experiences. Second, when I flicked through it I could read in the last page a stamp with an address in Puerto Rico, it belonged to someone there. It lead me to imagine the great stories and anecdotes it could tell us if it could talk, imagine all the people it has met and how many of them thought it was interesting enough to read it, imagine how many places it has visited. It was printed in USA, it belonged to someone in PR and now it’s here in Guatemala, with me. 

But why am I telling you this story about the book?? Last month I turned 22 and this is my senior year at University, so it’s a year of reflection and decisions.  I have to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life because I don’t want to waste my time or later regret not doing things, or making mistakes, but then I thought, what if do all of these things?? What if I make mistakes and lose my way??  I realized I’m afraid of growing older… But, then I just got it, growing up might be hard but also exciting because it’s sort of an adventure. I see my grandmother and my mom – Grandma’s younger version, and my older version (hopefully) - They’re women who built their characters through hard experiences, but in the battle with life they won. Growing up is like the book, it’s a compendium of experiences and moments that build you character and make you be who are. I understood that old things are beautiful too in their own particular way because each wrinkle, mark and stain are memories, good or bad they teach you something, and they are the proof that adventure exists, even in a book cover…

{Grandma and Mom}

 So I’ll try to live my life according with what I think is correct, I’ll fight my own battles if I have to, and with God’s help I hope to be able to get something good out of it. If I make mistakes, they’ll just mean a learned lesson for the future and if I get hurt, it’ll just mean I have scars to be proud of. I’m ready, are you??

-Alejandra

Visiting the Getty

How cute are they? The pink flowers in the background I mean. I know the boyfriend and I are all kinds of cute but I'm not that naive to speak about us in the thirds person (wait, is that third person? Is that naive... I think I mean vain.) For a blogger I should really brush up on my grammar and vocabulary.

This past Sunday Two weekends ago we took a little family trip to the Getty Museum. We got there around 4:30 and they closed at 5:30. Yeah, we like to live on the edge like that. So while we didn't really get to see much we did enjoy seeing the Photography Exhibit on Cuba. This was one of my favorite shots:

How cool is that? Makes me want to take a photo from the inside of my car... althouhg my dash view is not this cool. It was a really nice day though. We had a good time just walking around the grounds taking photos, there is a chance we might have been a little obsessed with the pink flower tree things...

Those folks in the background, why those are my parents...and me taking their photo.

But not as obsessed as I am with my denim shirt! Seriously, I've been wearing it like every other day with everything it goes with EVERYTHING! I love it. I may or may not have given it a hug. I could do a whole blog just about it. Hmmm...

When did my baby sister become a little lady?

The whole fam minus one very sick-had-to-stay-at-home little sister...

Plus the boyfriend...and the running man...

We finished of the day by stuffing ourselves at Versailles for lunch. So much that we all went back to my house and fell asleep the rest of the day. Until we woke up to go eat some frozen yogurt. 

A Night With Don Quixote

I remember reading a children's version of Don Quixote as a kid and I remember my Dad trying to get me to read the entire novel in Spanish when I was a teenager but I never did. Seriously Dad? I love to read and all but at 16 a full length novel in Spanish was not going to happen.So what does Don Quixote have to do with anything? Well, there is a ballet inspired by this novel and this past Saturday G, my little sisters and I went to see it.

photo source

 You might be thinking, "How did you manage to get your guy to go see a ballet?" Easy, it was his idea. The production was put on by the National Ballet of Cuba. So in all honesty he probably thought it was going to be some kind of cultural event not a full on ballet production. We enjoyed it though. It was beautiful and a lovely story.The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion has these huge chandeliers and mirrored walls, that apparently we couldn't keep our eyes of...

And it's located in the Music Center Down Town. I love that little area, especially the fountain right outside.

We were trying to make this look romantic but we couldn't stop laughing...maybe next time.

♥always,
Marisol

Congratulation Baby Sister

Last Thursday was my baby sister's High School graduation. She's not a baby, she's 18 but since I got to change her diapers I have the right to call her my baby sister.

She chose me as her mentor and during the graduation I got to walk with her in the processional and also received a beautiful letter, a medal and a flower. I almost cried. She requested I not so I held it back. It was very surreal to walk the same path I took 11 years prior with her. She's out in the world now. She will have college and a life to start. When I see her I feel almost parent like. Almost. I know maybe I could play the cool older sister part but, 11 years is a long time and a whole generation later. I want to protect her and guide her and make her make the right decisions. But I know that it's up to her now.

So baby sister, I promise to always be here for you . No matter what, when, where or who. I'm so proud of you.

 ♥always,
Marisol

Happy Father's Day

I was blessed with the best Dad. I'm not just saying that. He really is a great human being. I have felt loved and cared for since the day I was born and I know that as long as I can feel I will feel that way. I also know that if I'm craving a cheeseburger at 1am I can probably talk him into going to get one for me. So why is this post one week late? I know Last Sunday was Father's day and we celebrated, it's not like I forgot or anything. It's late because I finally found this photo:

I looked and I looked. But alas I could not find it last week. I knew it was in my room somewhere. The photo I so dearly cherish. It's a photo of my dad holding me while standing in line for a ride at Disneyland. Why this photo? Because it's my favorite of me and him. It was from my first trip to Disneyland. I think we are in line for Star Tours. It's not the best looking photo of us. My dad is making a weird face and I'm sun burned but there is just something about this photo. It's so real to me like a memory come to life. I felt so special that day. Just me and my parents, walking around Disneyland in my six year old glory. It was 1987 and I was basking is the August heat and believing my dreams were coming true. I hadn't seen my Dad for a year prior because he moved here from Guatemala. This Disney trip was a few months after my Mom and I moved here too. My Dad kept doting on me that day (like most days anyway) but there was just something about this trip that made him proud to be there with his family and having a day off from working to just laugh and play with his daughter.

Little did he know that he would be the doting Daddy of two more little girls. So even though this is late, but it doesn't matter anyway because really just about everything on this blog gets posted late and celebrations like these should be had more than once a year, Happy Father's Day Daddy.

♥always,
Marisol

June Gloom Go Away!

It's the middle of June and the Sun has yet to make an appearance this month. It's really starting to get to me. I want it to be summer already, hot summer. Beach worthy summer. Sun dress worthy summer. Summer nights are some of my favorite things in life. The shade of night with the heat from the day... not having to wear sweater or jackets or boots. I live in Southern California for crying out loud! This weather has me in a funky mood. Until I saw these photos...

 Back in Sunny May (go figure) I was taking some random photos in my front yard when my mom decided that I "looked pretty" and wanted to take photos with me.  Or what I like to call "give me something to put on my Facebook." Yes, my Mother is a Facebook user. A very, very avid Facebook user...

I wasn't feeling photo ready and my hair was a mess so I reached in and grabbed this hat I bought the previous day. It looks a little silly here but I love this hat. I'm just waiting for the sun to come back so I can give it a proper wear. 

Not really sure what was so funny in this photo but I really like it. It makes me laugh. I think she was trying to fix my hair and I was trying to let her know not to push her luck, she already had managed to get me to agree to this impromptu session.  Then my Dad wanted to take more photos, he was feeling cool behind the lens...

Nice camera work Dad. Well, these last two were courtesy of photo editing by yours truly.  I can't wait for some sun... One a side note, I am obsessed with these Seychelles Wedges they are super comfy and also the pattern on the dress. I really need some vitamin D. No, seriously like I am vitamin D deficient right now. So dear June Gloom go away, and Sun come out please. Pretty please?

♥always,
Marisol

Guest Post: Doris

June's Guest Post... My ♥cousin Doris♥:

Ok, so I’m about to find out how well I write LOL, I never did this before but I’ll try to do my best…

I wasn’t really sure what to write about, but after thinking and thinking I decided to write about a little part of my life...After all, I always told myself I could write a whole novela (Spanish soap opera) with all the things I’ve been through, but I wouldn’t finish today so I’ll just tell you a small part of it. The chapter that affected my life the most. I’ll call it…

“A journey  to be humble”

For the ones who don’t know me, I met Marisol maybe a week after I came to United States, about 9 years ago. She has been one of the most important people in my life since the beginning, she’s not only my cousin but one of my best friends, the one who was asked to take me out and wasn’t even sure why but did it anyway and that’s how we found out we had so much in common. That day we went out made me feel a lot better, because for some reason I had it in my head that living here was going to be the worst thing ever, without my friends…yes, with my family but without my friends... a very important part of my life.

Me and Marisol

 Coming to this country made me a totally different person, a whole new person was born through the experiences over the years. We had difficult situations as a family in Guatemala like everybody else does. Kind of like a roller coaster sometimes up, sometimes down but somehow we always knew we would make it. However, moving to this country became a totally different level of difficulty. Here is where I completely understood people that usually do what are considered “lower class jobs.” That’s what I used to think of them before. The lady that used to clean our house, the one that used to iron all our clothes even the guy that used to the garden or the one that washed our cars; I guess for a while we had it easier than other people in Guatemala. I know you hear Guatemala and people wonder if we even have phones down there or get amazed when they hear we have cable!! Yeah, believe it or not I’ve found some people like that. Anyway, It’s a city just like this one, there’s a lot more crime and violence down there but about the same stuff we have here. I really thought I was a humble person, but I wasn’t even close to being the person I thought I was. Everything turned upside down from one day to the next. Our economic situation was suddenly not that good anymore due to my dad losing his job. Next I hear my Mom talking about coming to United States. First I thought we’ll get through this, like we always did, but I guess my parents knew this time was going to be different since they wanted us to finish school and keep our house and none of it was getting any cheaper down there. So my Mom bought the ticket. My uncle had come already a year before so my Mom felt some comfort knowing there would be someone waiting for her, and there she went. I just remember I cried myself to sleep that night thinking how I was going to survive without her being with me.

My Mom and Dad.

 My dad stayed with us, he got another job where he was making a lot less and it just wasn’t the same anymore. I was left with my Mom’s responsibilities, a big, big load on my shoulders since I wasn’t used to any of that, like the cooking, the washing, and a lot more stuff that Moms usually do. Here is the part where I appreciated my Mom the most  and didn’t really know how much she did for us until she was gone. This part gets me very emotional, because I can’t really explain how much I missed her in words. Four months later my Dad decided to leave to help out my Mom, and so my two brothers and I stayed by ourselves...very hard by the way since my brothers were in their teenage years and believe me that it’s a hard thing to handle when parents are not close. I had to mature from one day to another, not that I wasn’t mature enough for my age, but this was a whole new level of maturity, to be able to handle all the stuff I had in my hands, we were alone for a whole year and so I used to think it was the worst year ever. Every day I woke up wondering what’s going to go wrong today?? Struggle with money every month, crashing with a motorcyclist on my birthday!! Yes on my birthday! Really bad by the way, but I didn’t kill him so I guess that was something good. Fights with my brother because I started acting like a “Mom”, the car braking down almost every month…really, going through the day wasn’t an easy task. Thankfully, God always put people around me that gave me emotional support and helped me go through that very rough year even though I really didn’t want to come to USA I couldn’t wait to be with my parents again. 

Now I turn back and see that this experience made me stronger (I thought this picture would describe it LOL), it taught me that nothing lasts eternally, like you feel it will and to appreciate the parents God gave you. The time finally came to get on a plane and move to the US. I was kind of sad since I was leaving everything behind, I only took a suitcase that looked like it was about to explode since I tried to fit all my stuff in it.  I was sad because I was leaving important people in my life, friends and family; but the happiness over passed the sadness knowing that I was going to see my parents again. When I saw everything here for the first time, everything looked so big; I loved the new smell in the air, weird huh? But I’m sure anybody can totally tell there is a different smell on the stuff here when you come for the first time… I got to the house where my parents where living and when they opened the door an explosion of feelings and emotions crashed into me I didn’t know if I should cry or laugh but I ended up doing both. I couldn’t wait to tell my Mom how hard it was to not have her by mi side, even though we used to talk on the phone often it wasn’t the same, I hugged her as tight as I could and didn’t want to let go the same with my dad. Little did I know that this was only the beginning of a journey, a long, long journey that took me from cleaning houses, something I never thought I would ever had to do to finding  out my dad had a part time job in a car wash, something that was very hard for me to accept since I always saw my dad as the boss or working in a suit, to helping my Mom take care of a baby with brain damage that showed me how blessed and lucky we are to be alive and be able to walk, talk and do everything we do and take for granted sometimes, to struggling with the culture shock and not being able to communicate since it took me some time to feel confident speaking English. 

With my brothers on my wedding day.

Seeing my brothers work in warehouses getting as dirty and tired as a person can get lifting heavy boxes loading trucks. Here is where I used to cry the most because I never wanted to see them like that, the worst thing to deal with on top of everything was being illegal and having to lie or hide like if you’re a criminal, there was so many times my stomach ate itself from being so nervous thinking “they’re probably will find out I’m not legal” but just kept praying to be able to be strong and have the peace I so much needed. Here is also where I got closer to God, he was the only one to give me the strength and the hope I needed to continue this hard journey.  I got my first job all thanks to my cousin, Yessenia, who by the way told me something I won’t ever forget and has taken me far “You won’t lose anything by trying, the worst thing they can tell you is NO.” Also, the help of Marisol, who by the way helped me a lot when I answered the phone and didn’t understand a word they were saying and of course thanks to God cause I wouldn’t be able to do anything if he wouldn’t open the doors for me. I worked there like a year and a half but the company wasn’t doing too good witch by the way brings back a lot of memories when it was time to cash our checks LOL, right Maso? Just when I was about to give up on that job, God once again opened doors, in the form of a phone number and a call for a new and better job for me and my brother, and that’s how we started going up the ladder still struggling sometimes but not as much as before and always seeing God’s hands in all we did. We are some of the lucky ones that were able to fix our legal situation here too. 

With my Husband.

This is just a little bit of my journey, a journey that made me the person I’m now. I appreciate everything I have more, now I know that it doesn’t matter what kind of job you do, you are no different than anybody else and it made me a lot stronger, even more than I thought I was. Now, I have the family I always knew I wanted but my dreams didn’t even get close to what I have now. I found the man of my dreams, of course being from different cultures made it difficult in the beginning but somehow we make it work with God’s help of course and two beautiful little girls that make my day every time I see them smile. So yes, life is hard sometimes but there is hope, nothing lasts forever that’s is why we should enjoy every minute and learn as much as we can from difficult situations because I’m sure whatever we learn becomes a tool in the future.

Doris

Feliz Dia De Las Madres

Today is Mother's Day. Well only to those born of a Mexican, Guatemalan or Salvadorian Mother it is. Being Guatemalan I qualify. Growing up I always thought May 10 was Mother's Day. It wasn't until I was like a teenager that I learned that here, in the US it's the second Sunday in May. So my Mom gets two.

 This is my Mom. I know what you are thinking...yes, this is where I get 50% of my good looks. Seriously, look at that shiny brown hair, the creamy complexion. That wrinkle free face (she's going on 51 by the way), the sweet smile and well you get the point. What else did I get from my Mom? An expensive eye. If you give us a list of items we always end up choosing the most expensive thing, it's really weird. We also seem to have a fascination with bread. While my temper, character and personality are a mix of a little bit of her and a lot of  my Dad's, I'm most like her in that we both are super sensitive. Seriously, we can cry over anything and really easily too.  Movies, news, sad stories, happy stories, commercials, other peoples sad stories and happy stories and anything that has to do with our Dad's. She's also a Daddy's girl.

 

I like looking back at my childhood photos and seeing the cute dresses you hand made for me. I like how I can still ask you to make me a sandwich because I'm too lazy on the couch to make one myself. I love your food, you are the best cook ever! I love how obsessive you get with opening the windows to let the light in, it cracks me up. I love how gullible you can be sometimes, it has provided plenty of laughs for all of us, I think my favorite is still the "magic maxi pads". This is a total inside joke that she would be mortified to know I mentioned on here. I like that my love for shoes was something I probably also inherited from you. I love that you like to dress up and look good, even if you annoy me by asking me to put on some makeup or wear something nicer before I go out the door. I don't love your choice in perfumes, they make me gag, but sometimes when I find a sweater of yours and and the scent has diffused and only a little bit of it lingers that has mixed with your scent, I find it comforting.

Feliz Dia de las Madres, Mami! I love you so much!   

Witnessing a Live Birth

Did you know that today, March 8, 2011 is International Woman's Day?

Neither did I until I heard it on the radio. Not sure exactly what it's about other than what I imagine is to celebrate the awesomeness that it is to be a woman. Maybe to get awareness of the long way we have come and the long way we still have to go? Either way, I'm for it!! (metal note: do some research)

Some days I feel like a kid, a teenager at best. Not really an adult woman. But...the 29 candles I blew out recently tell me otherwise. So, to celebrate IWD I decided to write about a moment where being a woman became one of the most mind blowing moments of my life. I feel a bit like I'm disappointing IWD by writing about this and not something like getting the right to vote, or earning equal pay. I already know that we deserve those things and fought and will fight for that. This moment was something completely different. Witnessing a live birth is intense. Seeing my cousin give birth made me realize not only are we just as smart, just as capable and just ans awesome as men, on top of all that we can have babies. That beats peeing standing up any day!. 

A little over four years ago my cousin, Doris, was pregnant and anxious to give birth. It was December 20, and she did not want to have the baby during Christmas. She wanted things to go by much faster. She had witnessed a live birth before and we had spent countless hours watching birthing stories on the discovery channel (there was a time where we both didn't have a job). She felt confident and like most 9 month pregnant women, she was ready to have the baby already! 

Being the rookie she was at that time, she decided that I would be in the delivery room too. Pre-babies (she has two now!) and pre-hubby, Doris and I were very close. We still are but her life has taken her in the direction of wife and mother and they are her priority over me. As they should. But back to the "pre" time, there I was in the middle of the show. Now, my roll was to be supportive and just take pictures once the baby was born. You know...minimal stuff.

They had been at the hospital for a few hours when I showed up, I was rushing through a final to get there! Her epidural had been administered and it was just a waiting game now. We watched some TV, we talked, took some pictures. In between all this they would check her, things were moving very slowly. They broke her water and things started to move a little faster but still nothing to jump about. Clay and I put two big chairs together and slept on opposite sides for the night. Our backs were aching the next morning.

Around 9am (almost 24 hours later at this point and a few hours of pushing) Doris was very frustrated, there was a lot of commotion but nothing was happening. Everyone kept telling her you are doing good. We can see her head! You are almost there!! Here comes my favorite part of the story. Probably not hers but I'm sharing my perspective here. While everyone was saying all those positive things Doris seemed to just not believe it. At one point it was just me and her in the room and she turned to me, her cousin, her confidant, her best friends, the one person she knew had always and would always tell her the truth. "Marisol, can you look? Can you see her head?" Well, this was more that I expected to do but hey, why not. Be a good friend. So I took a look. Now, I could have said "Yeah, I can see her!" or "Oh my God, there she is!" or "Wow, Doris! You are progressing!" But no. I decided that I should tell the truth.

Marisol:"I don't see anything!"
DOris: "Seriously!?....Oh my God."


I should have lied.

Doris describes that moment like she felt all her hours of work just came under her and all her efforts were for nothing. It was very discouraging. I know I have said this before Doris, but I am really sorry. A few hours, massive pain due to epidural running out, getting more involved in the process that expected and lots of effort from my cousin, Savannah Michelle was finally born!

Like I said, I ended up being more "involved" than I expected but it was worth it. It really is beautiful and amazing... well, at least once they cleaned every thing up. She was so big, and so real and alive! It doesn't look natural to me though. It seriously looks crazy like "How is this possible? This should be in some alien movie!" But that is what a woman's body can do. We can do many, many, many other things...but seriously, growing a human and giving birth to it, awesome!

I got to take her first live photos and recently I took the ones below...


SAVANNAH MICHELLE :)

I love being your "Tia Maso!"

 Someday kiddo, I will embarrass you with this story. Specially the part about how HUGE of a baby you were, seriously Savi, you were like almost 10lbs.!


Oh and Doris, I probably would not be too happy with you showing my, I just gave birth photos someday so thank you for letting me share this. Oh and here is a very beautiful family photo were you look like you normally look...

 

So happy International Woman's day. We can do this and we can do anything else we want! 

Over The Weekend: Birthday, Birthday and SAP

I had quite a busy weekend! Two birthdays and one sap. What is a sap? Well, you will just have to keep reading to learn about that.

First of, Saturday. This day was a beautiful day. Bright and sunny. I LOVE living in southern California. While most of the country is suffering from the evils of cold weather, I can wear shorts and sunglasses. But anywho...Costco on Saturday is madness! Avoid at all costs! Had lunch with Karen, we had some Johnny Rockets and when the bill came she said "I got this." Awww Snap! Then we did some shopping. Bought me a pretty new dress (A whole post about this dress is coming, that's how pretty it is and how much I love it!) and an orange owl. The orange owl will be back in some final Bedroom Makeover post...someday...

That night I went over to Claudia's for her hubs b-day. Sat around with my friends where a whole lot of topics came up. We went from bad strippers to plastic surgery. I refused to eat some birria (Aome beef dish. Beef..eew) but enjoyed a carb-loaded plate of beans, rice and tortillas. During conversation I made up the worn "Centimiterige," you know like mileage? Well, it made sense at the time. I mean if only 1 out of 5 people questioned the validity of the word, that's pretty good.  After some more conversation it was time for me to come home and make cupcakes. Birthday Party number 1 down, time to prep for Birthday number 2.

I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU TO COME UP WITH A CAPTION FOR THIS PHOTO! WINNER GETS A CHOCOLATE BAR OR SOMETHING...(Doreen was not harmed in the taking of this photo)

I'm never the tall one, I'm just wearing really high heels. Yes Doreen, is channeling some Sandy/Olivia Newton John moment here.

I was up till like 2am making these chocolate fudge cupcakes. Only for you little sister. Karen turned 22 on Sunday. We had a birthday party for her at our house. Lots of family, friends and food. And lots of fudge everywhere. Like, seriously, I had fudge everywhere. I kept finding it on me throughout the day. Wait a minute...I just said "Like" on my blog. The last time I val-wrote on here it was on purpose. This time was just me, hahaha. I'm a fresa sometimes! (Fresa = Spanish for Valley Girl).

I look pretty hot in that apron. It's been a while since I made cupcakes. Lesson reminded: Don't fill the cups up this much they will come out looking like muffins and not cupcakes! However...not really a problem in hindsight :)

We said the party started at 2pm. We had guest arriving from 1:30 to 5:30 pm. We expected everyone around 3pm,  so when some people showed up early we were baffled. Who shows up early? Didn't they get the Latino memo. If the Party starts at 2 that means the party starts at 3. But then again maybe we should start working on that.

It got chilly pretty quickly once the sun went down -- well chilly for us is like 67 degree weather -- so inside the house we all went. Watched The Proposal. Took a short nap during The Proposal, almost snuggled with my sister's friend in a sleepy haze because I thought it was my sister...awkward...woke up right at the end of The Proposal, then got ready for my SAP.

Well my readers, you made it through. Time to solve the SAP mystery. There is Valentine's Day and then there's Singles Appreciation/Awareness Day. Hence SAP = Singles Appreciation Party or SAP = Singles Awareness Party. Yes, that's it. That's what you had to sit there and read this entire post so you could find out what the heck a SAP was. I'm sorry.

So back to my SAP. It sounds like something kind of cool though right, like a bunch of single people getting together and meeting and having a good time, enjoying some food, drinks and being single! Well, it is and ours was just like that...except it was just 5 girls eating chips and ceviche, drinking wine and watching the Grammy's. But I promise it was fun. I had a great time. I laughed. A lot. There was a time when my stomach started to hurt from the laughter. My favorite lines from that night, which wont make sense to you since you had to be there but I think are so funny I'm going to write them anyway, are: "I'm a C", "Call the Verizon Hot Line" and "Do the Bernie!"

Definitely, a great weekend. Lots of food, fun and love. I leave you with this cute little card I found on Etsy: