Five Great Gift Ideas for The Holidays 2009

Ok so in the past I've gone all out on Christmas, buying all those close to me the latest and greatest _______ (insert whatever here) with a coupon or discount of course. However, in recent years I've noticed that this tendency of mine to blow through the bank during the holidays has very much tamed itself, which is a good thing. And while it's wonderful to be able to give the ones you love a super neato _______ (insert whatever here), I've come to realize those things often end up losing their value quicker than you can say "Happy New Years!"

About four years ago I came to the realization that when someone asks me what I want for Christmas, I am truly at a loss. As far as material goods, my cup runneth over with more than I could wish for. I have a roof over my head, a closetful to clothe my body, shoes for my feet, food on the table and a my good ol' reliable 99 Civic that still gets me wherever I need to go. And yep, I do feel blessed to have all those things.

So this Christmas the hubby and I are really going easy on the gift-giving, especially because we're saving to buy a house in the Spring. This decision requires us to be a bit creative with our holiday cheer :)

While we realize that handing out gifts ultimately requires some sort of expense, sometimes I think the best gifts are ones that come with an "experience." Yanno, something that you will indeed remember 15 to 20 years from now. As I've grown older, homemade gifts have also become a fav ~ especially sweets, hence my extra 7-pound winter coat of fat. HA!

But enough of that, here are some crafty and creative ideas that I think are great gift options this  holiday season:

Here's a little diddy of me to get you in the holiday mood -- the obligatory "who the hell is this old crazy lookin white-haired man, get me offa here NOW" Santa picture :)

1) Personalized Calendars.

I'm sure as kids you adored your puppy calendar or swooned over that New Kids on the Block calendar like I did. But these days, there is nothing more meaningful than a customized calendar filled with pictures of your gift recipient. I started doing this about 5 years ago and my friends and family loved them so much, they grew to expect them. For the past two years I didn't get the chance to make em because I was overwhelmed with work and just didn't have enough time, and believe me I had some disappointed family members for sure. But this year ... I'm bringin sexy back. YEAH!

In the past I've used Office Max and Shutterfly, but Costco online offers some GREAT options for calendars. I've loved the quality of the calendars and they get delivered to your home in just a few days. Personalized calendars are PERFECT gifts for friends and family, especially grandparents who always adore seeing pics of their grandkids. These calendars can range anywhere from $10 to $25 ~ Costco's standard calendars are $10 plus shipping. If you don't have the pictures to create a calendar, think of giving them a gift certificate specifically for this. It's a great keepsake full of happy memories to last them through the new year!

2) ITune giftcards.

Who doesn't LOVE music? With everyone and their momma havin some sort of MP3 player these days, ITune giftcards are the way to go. Sam's Club and Costco currently have multipacks on sale that are priced lower than their value. Music is timeless and with these giftcards, your family and friends will be rockin out far beyond the holiday season and the one after that :)

3) Make dinner for your family or friends or host a dinner party.

Who doesn't love food? Food isn't just fuel for the body, it also feeds the soul and allows for time to sit and talk to your guests -- it's time to bond. There is something wonderfully fulfilling about seeing people chow down on something you've made and sit around a table laughing and sharing stories. These are memories etched with fondness, friendship, laughter and joy that you will remember years and years from now.

Now if you can't cook a meal to save your life, consider doing an appetizer/dessert party. Appetizers are much more simpler to make and the same goes for desserts. Trust me, an assortment of appetizers, along with something tasty to drink and a selection of yummy desserts go a long way! Oooh and if you want a good appetizer idea -- order from Family Favorites catering!!!! My homemade lumpia was born to rock your parties out :)

4) www.restaurant.com certificates

I don't know how this company manages to stay afloat but they are practically giving away restaurant certificates right now! There are roughly 13,000 restaurants nationwide that have teamed up with this company, selling certificates for:

$10 for $25 certificate

$20 for $50 certificate

$30 for $75 certificate

$40 for $100 certificate

Now mind you these are not franchise restaurants, most are smaller eateries, but many great ones that I have tried. I also happen to think it's fun trying out restaurants that aren't mainstream, so it opens the door for a little adventure. One thing you gotta note is that there are minimums that you must spend to use the coupon -- most of the one's I've seen are "spend at least $35 to use the $25 off." That's still only a $10 meal, which is fantabulous!!!! Also a big bonus is that these certificates don't expire and can be emailed if you want to send it someone you won't be seeing soon.

There are even packages where you can send someone 3/6/9/12 months worth of certificates ($25 a month) so they can look forward to a new experience each month!

Now while the above mentioned deals might sound good -- I've got another doozie for you. I have a ridiculously GOOD coupon to go with it!!!!

Yep 70% off if you use the code SNOW at check out. The code SHARE was their previous deal for 80% off and I think it's expired, but check it out it just may work. 

Imagine buying a $25 certificate for as low as $2 or $3 -- tell me that isn't freakin ridiculous??? 

5) www.smartbox.com gift certificates.

Another great gift idea I actually just discovered earlier today at Sam's Club. Ooooh weee I love me some Sam's Club!!!

These certificates allow people to choose their own "experience." There are themed boxes that offer different options such as:

- Fun for All: pottery class, aquarium visit, kayaking, dance class, etc.

- Adventure: surfing, white water rafting, hiking, yoga, indoor climbing, etc.

- Charming Getaways: 1-night lodging options throughout your area

- Adrenaline: bungee jumping, snowmobiling, segway riding, bobsledding, paragliding, skydiving, etc.

- Gourmet Retreats: wine tasting with an overnight stay, spa visits with an overnight stay, etc.

Each box is good for 1 or 2 people, depending on the activity you choose, and gives your gift recipient the freedom to choose their adventure. I would absolutely LOVE to get something like this and I think it's an awesome concept ~ certainly a great alternative to the regular ol' store giftcard.

The boxes run for as low as $49 up to $350 for the super fancy, all out experience.

Anyhoo, those are just a few ideas that I think are great alternatives to the usual sweater or scarf we all seem to get every year. But remember, it really should be about the thought that counts. So don't break the bank, and instead, be thoughtful and creative and make it something you think will last a lifetime ... ahem, a calendar of Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner without shirts on and that plaid patterned purse you really want will be a worthless piece of crap in about 2 years :) I promise!!

Oh and PS in case you didn't realize it based on my "7-pound coat of winter fat" comment, a basketful of homemade goods -- cookies, holiday sweets, cake, cupcakes, etc. is also rockstar solid for a gift. I don't think I've ever met someone who didn't LOVE a basket of homemade sweetness and if you do happen to know someone who wasn't overly enthused by your basket of goodies, you have my permission and blessing to smack em upside the head!

Five Things You Didn't Know About Me ~ Installment #1

This will likely be the first of many installments, but here we go ...

1) I COULDA BEEN A CRYSTAL. 

My parents wanted to name me Crystal, after Crystal Gale. I'm SO glad they didn't -- that name has always sounded sorta ... stripperish to me. Sorry if your name is Crystal, I'm sure you're not a stripper. Or are you? Hmmmm.....

 In case you didn't know who Crystal Gale was ...

But instead of crowning me with a stripper-life fate, they decided to do what many Filipino parents are oh so very fond of -- the mixed name combo. Mom's name is Mary, Dad's name is Sam -- hence the MarieSam (pronounced MarySam). Ah yes, as if the combo name wasn't enough, they got creative and changed the spelling up too. Kinda like how people do the name Marcus, Markus, Marquis, Marques = hilarious!!!

PS - As a toddler, I looked like I had no chance of growing up cute, my parents wont admit it, but I'm sure they were worried. Example ...

2) I HAVE A DEFORMITY.

I have a permanently broken/deformed right pinky finger, and ironically my daughter has one too!!

I don't know how my finger came to be like this, my Grandma used to joke with me and say she sat on it when I was little thus breaking it. But I never knew if she was joking or being truthful because she always chuckled right after she said it. Nevertheless, it's my flaw and I have embraced it. Although I will say that it has prevented me from learning how to do a cartwheel or handstand ... or at least that's what I'm gonna say, lol.

As for Chey, she broke her right finger in elementary school during recess. It was a freak accident, but we had a splint put on it, by her Pepa (Tommy's dad) and it healed just fine, except now it's a little  crooked and looks like mine, although not as bad. Strange right?

3) I WAS A DANCING QUEEN. FOR REAL.

For about 9 years when I was a kid I took ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and hip-hop lessons and I was freakin good *HOLLA* I competed every year with my dance group -- Chorus Line Dance Studio -- and won more than 30 trophies. We also did yearly productions at the auditorium at Long Beach Jordan High School and I'd invite all my friends and family to come watch me. I began performing at such a young age, I had to learn how to do my makeup and hair because my mom couldn't always attend my competitions. So you could pretty much say I've been doing hair/makeup since I was about 7, hence my love for cosmetics and other beauty products!

My ballet/pointe teacher was Anne Demko and she was a professional ballerina who mingled with the likes of other well-known performers. One year we did the Goblin King as a ballet production and I played the lead role. She said she showed the tape to her friend, David Bowie, and he thought I was beautiful and loved me as a dancer. I never knew if she was telling the truth, but I decided to go ahead and believe her because it just tickled my fancy :)

And oh yes, there are pictures. Here are just a few of the lost archives.

 

OMG, yes I totally thought I was sexy here!!! Look, I even signed the damn thing, HA!

4) I COULD HAVE DONE A DUET WITH STEVE URKEL.

Aside from being a dancer growing up, I also played ... wait for it ... wait for it ... the accordion. Oh yes, I played the nerdiest instrument known to mankind!!!

I have not a clue how my parents got me into playing this thing, but one day somebody came to the house and gave me a lesson and the rest was history. I played for about five years and I was pretty good whenever I'd actually sit down and practice. But alas, I hated practicing! The instrument was heavy as can be and I would have rather been dancing. Nevertheless, my group won lots of competitions and one year I even placed 2nd runner up in a largest accordion competition on the West Coast. It was held at the Hyatt Hotel at LAX every year and the first year I totally bombed. The next year is when I placed and my parents were overjoyed. I was a bit proud too especially because I HATED the instrument, lol.

On a side note, I still have my accordion and Tommy begs for me to whip it out now and then. I still remember a couple of things, but it'll probably take a few lessons for me to become fluid at it again. But don't hold your breath, I have no desire to revive my life as the female version of Steve Urkel, lol.

And here's yet another accordion pic during my pre-teen fugly era. I can't believe I'm really posting this, WOW.

5) I AM TOTAL CHICKEN $HIT.

I'm afraid of scary movies and suspense material, and I mean, hide under a blanket or my jacket when I'm watching them scared.

I never understood why my friends growing up always wanted to rent scary movies during slumber parties, but they did and I hated it. I've never really been able to overcome this fear, perhaps it's because I have an overactive imagination and begin to think that the scary characters or occurrences I see in the film will carry over into real life. The last scary movie I watched was "The Ring" and I am still convinced one of these nights that scary little chick is gonna walk outta my TV screen and eat me.

In the late 80s, I remember watching "Pet Semetery" with my accordion group, ironically, and I almost peed in my pants in the theater. For the next two years I was convinced Zelda -- the skeleton/ghoulish sister with the jacked up back who was locked up in a room -- was living in our guest room, which had a bed that was empty but no one slept in there. It was awful and sometimes I still have flashbacks of her face *EEKKKK*

Admittedly, I am still chicken $hit to this day and my threshold for watching scary stuff is limited to the show "Criminal Minds". Yeah, even that crap scares me. I recently sat through a Criminal Minds  marathon and I am thoroughly convinced that anyone who looks at me sideways is a freakin serial killer!!!

Ok enough about me for now ~ do you still think of me the same way?

If BS'ing was a sport, I'd be freaking famous.

I have no idea why I am like this, but I wait until the last minute on everything! Be it work, doing projects/papers during my school days, working on to-do lists, needing a haircut, or even getting my eyebrows threaded -- I will wait till I look like I've gone on strike from haircuts and I'm sportin an unattractive unibrow.

* I know this would be a perfect time to add a picture of me with grown out hair and a unibrow, but I am not stupid Internet!*

But I think the worst thing about waiting last minute is that it makes me chronically late to everything! Everything such as: my own wedding, our wedding welcome dinner, my day-after wedding photo session, my college graduation, church, doctor's appointments, dinner dates, sporting events, numerous family parties, oh and lest I forget work, work, and work.

You see this should have been in better light, but I was 90 minutes late for my own wedding!!

Even though I know I need to handle these things, no matter what, it's always done last minute. If last minute was a train, I'd be hanging on to the caboose with my fingernails with my knees dragging on the tracks. Yes, it is that bad.

I decided to reflect on this fault of mine because these next two weeks are hellish for me with  six packages due -- shot, script written, voiced and edited.

Interviewing Lou Gossett, Jr.

In fact I have one due tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. but instead I am:

-- sitting at home facebooking and checking every person's page ... three times in case they update it with the answers to life's greatest mysteries -- Is Tupac alive? Who killed Biggie? Did OJ do it? Why do boys wear skinny jeans? Is Heidi Klum "I have 4 kids, but look damn good" human? Will I ever lose my "but I had a baby" gut? etc, etc, etc.

-- eating my Smart Ones' cheese ziti like I was sittin on a patio bistro in Italy ... sans the bistro, the patio, and Italy.

-- and casually sipping on diet green tea like it came from the fountain of youth and it's the last drink left in the world.

Yes, I am totally BS'ing!

And yet, despite my terrible affinity for procrastination, I somehow get things done. Most of the time I have no idea how, lol. Me and last minute are just good friends :)

So in honor of my knack for BS'ing, I thought I'd humor the world, and myself for that matter, listing all the ridiculous ways I have been putting things off lately in an effort to ignore the pile of work and writing assignments I have to do. This is one of the downfalls of being a freelance journalist and working from home. BUT maybe this will make me realize how terribly bad I am and ignite a change ...

1) I hit the home button on facebook about a million times in hopes that someone will post something that warrants my immediate attention. Yeah I know, nothing is ever that important on facebook, lol.

2) I set out on a search for a "Law and Order" rerun, knowing damn well that show is on every hour of the day. Ooooh wee and I loves it!!

3) I watch tivo'ed Lakers' games ... from last season's finals. Tee hee. I am a chronic "old" Lakers' game watcher and will get all excited even though I know the outcome and have seen the same dunks, steals, and-ones, over and over and over again. When my husband makes fun of me, I just tell him I secretly got hired as a scout for the team so I'm reviewing film.

4) I open the refrigerator about two times an hour as if some splendid meal is going to pop up in between peeks. But alas, the same 20 jars of random condiments, bags of Thanksgiving leftovers and other little tidbits are still in there.

5) I read through old emails and organize them into my Saved Folders if they're important and need to be kept. Oh and I address ones I somehow forgot to respond to. Do you think it's rude that I never responded to a "congrats you're married!" email from June? Nevermind, I don't really like that person anyways.

6) I play Jungle Jewels, Bejeweled Blitz and World Challenge repeatedly (as in 20 times in a row) on Facebook. Hmmm...I beginning to realize that Facebook is a perfectly tailored haven for BS'ers. Damn it, this is all Facebook's fault!!!

7) I google/yahoo my name to see what interesting things are being said about me. This is pretty funny and a good thing to do every once in a while. It can give you quite a confidence boost, but can also kick you to the ground and humble you. It reminds me not everyone will like my work and that I need to have thick skin working in the broadcasting industry ... oh an aside from all that, it's a good way to make sure someone isn't using your name as an alias to be an international pornstar!

8) I read every article possible on my USC Trojans, the LA Lakers and sometimes the Angels. My love for sports is always a good excuse to BS :) Nuff said.

9) I bother my 14-year-old daughter to the point where she says "you're crazy/you're weird/what's wrong with you .... mommy?" The conversation starts innocently with me asking her what's going on with school, her teachers, her grades, her friends, etc. And when I feel her attention slipping away I begin to ask her about Taylor Lautner and all the rest of her teenie bopper idols/imaginary boyfriends. She's quick to my game and somehow our conversations always end with her saying "don't you have work to do?" *sigh* sometimes having a smart kid has its faults.

10) Hmmmm .... I blog thinking that it will get my journalistic juices flowing and jumpstart my brain into wanting to sit down and write.

Yeah, that last one didn't work ... Cheyenne is home from school!!! Time to go bother her :)

So Blessed. So Thankful.

Every year my family and I -- at least 18+ of us -- gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a day guaranteed to fill our bellies with lots of food and drinks, and overflow our souls with love and laughter.

This year was no different.

The food was abundant, the drinks (my fruity concoction and Cassie's delicious cranberry citrus sangria) were delicious, and the company was perfect. The usual suspects -- the Sanchez's, Roque's, Manliguez squared, Requireme's -- were all in attendance but we also added our new families -- the Walden's, Harris', Harvey's, and Austin. It was a beautiful blend of cultures and humanity and a night flushed with lots of wonderful memories.

But unlike years past, our Thanksgiving morning was different.

That morning we took in feeding the homeless through a wonderful organization called www.gobblegooblegive.org . Through God's grace, I happened to visit my friend Mina's facebook page about two weeks ago and noticed she had posted an article about ways to make a difference during the holiday season. This organization was listed in the article and I immediately signed myself up along with Tommy, Chey, Angela, Joshua, Eugene, Mark and Cassie.

I stayed up late the night before to make creamed corn, a sweet potato casserole along with biscuits to bring to the event, which is made possible through potluck donations and volunteers. Along with our dishes we brought bags full of barely worn coats that were no longer being used, brand new toothbrush kits and an extra special care package sent by cousin Beulah who couldn't join us because of work. When we arrived at the event in Echo Park, we passed off our donations and immediately had our cars filled with boxed meals, clothes and personal hygiene products -- all ready to be passed out to out homeless brothers and sisters.

Seeing the long line of cars waiting to be filled warmed my heart.
Seeing the droves of people lined up to sign in and help the "conveyor belt" of organizers inside the center made me smile.
Seeing so many people walk up with homemade dishes and bags full of clothes made me realize there is still a lot of good in this fast moving world that often crushes those left behind in its path.

With three cars full, we set off with simple instructions, "find the needy."

I rode in the car with Tommy, Mark and Eugene and with eight eyes wide open we cruised through the downtown LA district in hopes to find the needy and brighten up their day.

Slowly we found them and learned what to look for, their appearances all so similar -- disheveled often stained clothing, uncombed hair, some looking through trash cans, some sitting silently on the sidewalk with glassy eyes, and many pushing their entire lives in a cart before them.

"Would you like a meal?" It was what we figured was the most appropriate way to serve them.

Initially, we came across some who were hesitant, likely because they had already been given one of the styrofoam cased meals or some with their minds lost to our words. But slowly, we found those who jumped at our offer.

We drove throughout L.A. that morning, passing out at least 15 meals, many pieces of fruit, several articles of clothing and tons of soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes and other products.  Gifts of simplicity that carried so much value. About 45-minutes into our trek, we dropped by Smart and Final and purchased a case of bottled water because it just didn't seem appropriate to serve these meals without a drink. We wanted "our people" to receive a full meal, a Thanksgiving meal.

Emblazoned in my mind was a Latina I came across that morning who was picking up pieces of glass off the sidewalk. Why? I don't really know. Perhaps she was picking up the glass to avoid hurting her feet, which were shoeless and only covered with worn down socks. When we offered her food she motioned for us to lay it on a nearby ledge, unable to speak English she only nodded her head.  When I looked at her picking up those pieces of glass, I wondered if she had a family, and if that family knew she was living on the street ... picking up glass, without any shoes. Watching her hastily pick up those shards of glass made my heart ache, and seeing her scurry away wearing only socks made me feel guilty for all the hundreds of pairs of shoes that sit in my garage -- many of them yet to be worn. This woman's face has left an imprint on my mind -- her piercing eyes filled with desperation intermixed with the spirit of fight.

That morning I learned how much in my life I take for granted -- the roof over my head, my closet bursting with clothes, the abundance of food in our house and the warmness of my bed every night. These are things that have always been there since I was little, but it never really occurred to me that these things that can so easily be taken away in the blink of an eye.

I am lucky.

I also realized that faith and hope will never die even in the darkest corners of life. I cannot count how many blessings I received that morning, but they were plentiful and I am so deeply grateful for every single one of them.

"God bless you."

"You are an angel."

"May God always be with you."

"Peace and blessings to you."

" I knew someone was coming today! You are spoiling us!"

These words came with the most beautiful smiles attached to sparkling eyes. It touched the depths of my soul to see their faces light up when we handed them a meal and received such sincere appreciation in return.

My eyes filled with tears so many times that morning and at one point I simply turned to Tommy and said ... "I'm sad." There really was no other way to put it. When you see people with so little, their entire life in a cart, a bag or simply on their person, it makes you realize how hard this world can be. It makes you realize just how lucky you are for every meal, every gift, every opportunity that comes your way.

We merely passed out boxed meals that day, but the thanks and blessings we received in return felt like we had just handed off a million dollars ... one at a time.

It is so hard to put into words what I felt that morning, but it encompassed lessons of love, faith, hope and charity. And I can honestly say, when I gathered with my family that night for Thanksgiving dinner, I was more grateful than I have ever been before.

This Christmas my family and I plan to volunteer at the LA Mission to help feed the needy on Christmas Eve, just like we did last year.

But this year, our Christmas Day will be different.

The Thanksgiving event has inspired us to organize our own rendition of gobblegobblegive. Through the donations of food, gifts, clothing and money we hope to receive from friends and family -- we are going to hit the LA streets once again with cars full of food and gifts. We honestly can't think of a better way to spend our Christmas morning. We hope and pray our event will be a success, and with God's blessing, it will be the start of a Christmas Day tradition that will continue for years to come ...

* If you are interested in participating in our Christmas Day event by volunteering, donating items, or contributing money toward our purchase of food, containers, hygiene products, etc., please send me a message. We greatly appreciate all the help we can get!

Fabulous Find Fridays: Johnson's "Forever Fresh" Refreshing Lotion

Those who know me well, know I am a clothes and shoe whore -- I could probably wear a different outfit every single day complete with an assortment of bags, accessories and shoes for three years straight. YES, the wardrobe/shoe/accessory collections are that ridiculous, and YES my credit cards have been abused through the years, lol.

And then there are those who know my other little addiction -- I am a health and beauty product junkie and I mean, tie me up, tell me friends I'm backpacking through Europe, and throw me in rehab type of junkie. I buy products because they smell good or come in pretty packaging. I will try any and all types of lotion, moisturizers, nail polish, beauty tools, make-up, hairbands, curling irons, etc., etc., etc. And while my room and closet could easily be mistaken for Macy's/Ross/Nordstrom's/Forever 21, check out my shelves and bathroom and you'll think you're knee-deep in Target/Walmart/ULTA/Sephora. YES, it is that bad.

That being said, you can only imagine how many God awful products I've tried and conversely how many wonderful "magic in a bottle" creams and shampoos I have discovered! I think I've found the fountain of youth about 10 times, only to be disappointed by the reality of bad lighting.  :(

Which brings me to today's Fabulous Find ~ Johnson's "Forever Fresh" Refreshing Lotion.

As I said before, I'm a sucker for things that make me feel and smell good and that's especially the case when it comes to my body lotion. About 10 years ago, I went through the same "Bath and Body Works" lotion craze that took over the nation. But several years ago, I wisened up and resorted back to the good ol' drugstore body lotions, which are always much cheaper and more available.

While I've had my old reliable/always have a stash favorites -- Palmer's Cocoa Butter or Palmer's Olive Butter -- I sometimes stray and look for new scents, particularly lotions that smell "clean and fresh."

Johnson's new line of 2009 lotions offers a great variety of body lotions, but Forever Fresh is my favorite!!!! While keeping my skin soft, supple and smooth it also smells like a breath of fresh air from heaven. And what I lurrrvve most is it's time-release fragrance ~ so I, and those around me, get whiffs of my "just stepped outta the shower" scent all day long :)

Forever Fresh can be found for about $3.50-$4.00 at your local drugstore and if you check out the Johnson's link above, there's a *$1.00 off coupon* And in case you're wondering, YES this is the same company that makes that world famous butterscotch-color shampoo in a bottle for babies!

So if you're ever feeling the urge to cheat on your usual body moisture regimen, check out Johnson's Forever Fresh. Trust me, it's fresh, fragrant and fabulous!!!

The week that was 11/9 ~ 11/15

Looking back at the week that passed, there's a lot that immediately comes to mind ...

-- Chey returned to school after missing two days from what I think may have been the swine flu (she had temps of 103+ for 2.5 days straight and was achy, had cold symptoms and was very lethargic). Surprisingly no one else got sick, including me who had the most contact with her. Missing school when you've got all honors classes is no fun. She spent a lot of days staying an hour extra after school to make up stuff she missed. But the way she busted her butt all week made me realize that my lil girl really does care about her grades and that makes me really proud mama*

-- I pulled a muscle in my right shoulder from the work-related stress of producing two packages that I really wanted to kick ass (the election ballot package and retail merchandising class piece, which by the way both ended up being pretty damn sweet!). So I piled on the Ben Gay for two days and felt really, really, really ... old. And smelled really, really, really ... old, like how my Grandpa used to smell :) But in all honesty, I kinda like it, lol.

-- I realized that my self-made lumpia business has been pretty doing pretty well so far and while I feel like I'm rolling at least once a week, I do enjoy it and love knowing that Grandma's recipe is so well received! Now I need to get cracking and advertise to really get my business out there, especially with the holidays coming.

-- Knott's fried chicken is quite delightful, but their freshly baked biscuits with boysenberry jam are painfully addicting!!! In this same train of thought, why does everything that taste so good always gotta be bad for you?

-- My teams aren't doing too well right now :(  USC got shellacked by Stanford (a team that has a damn tree running around the sidelines and a ridiculously talented tailback who looks like a future used car salesman), leaving them at a 3-loss season so far, which is unheard of in the Pete Carroll era. I guess we really are "rebuilding" and it sucks! Meanwhile, the Lakers lost two straight, looking horrible against the Nuggets and Rockets -- both of whom they will likely have to face in the playoffs, but hey Gasol's still out and it's November so I'm not really worried.

-- Manny Pacquaio is the truth. He pretty much blasted Miguel Cotto and left no doubt that he is one of boxing's all time greats, winning a seventh world title in his seventh weight class. This little man of the grandest stature made history in the sport, and like he said "more importantly a Filipino did it." Never in the modern history of our people has someone so greatly unified a country with such pride and joy. The Philippines stops when Pacquiao is fighting. The nation's congress goes on holiday when he's got a match because most of the representatives are at the fight. Crime goes down when he's in the ring -- even the rebels and terrorists stop to watch. He is the most interesting Filipino in the world :) XX

But perhaps what is so honorable to me is that regardless of what he has accomplished, he stays humble and always gives grace to God. Pacquiao is a God fearing man, whom you will always see praying before and after a fight. And though he's made his share of riches, he has and continues to help Filipinos in need. Beggars line up at his PI home daily, asking for help for which he does oblige. During the deadly typhoons that struck the islands, Pacquiao was there to help oft to the dismay of his trainer Roach who believed it was distracting him from training for the Cotto fight. He is not just a boxer looking to make millions, rather he is a man who also looks to help those in need and a man who revels in the opportunity to unify a nation. And while his fighting style is always worth the price of admission, I admire him most because he understands that being an accomplished man also means being a man who has the power to positively impact and inspire good people.

He makes me even prouder to be Filipino :)

Much like PI, we stop to watch the pride of the people!

-- During Saturday evening mass, which I lectored at, the priests of our parish made an announcement at the end of the mass that filled me with sadness. As I tried to hold back my tears, the rest of the 800+ parishioners present were also overcome with a deafening silence that blanketed the swell of their heavy hearts ... Because I am still trying to figure out my emotions about what I heard and a mere paragraph would not do my reflections justice, I plan to continue this thought tomorrow ...

Until then ... Good Night to the week that was. Sweet dreams to today and tomorrow.

Fabulous Find Fridays: El Pescador Restaurant

So since I am an uber shopper/diner/product connoisseur (yes, I had to google to check the spelling on that one), I've decided to share at least one Fabulous Find every Friday. And, if I've found something just so incredibly amazing and can't wait till Friday, then you will get bonus fabulous finds too :) Yep, I'm a dork.

So without further adieu, the first find I'll share deals with one of my all time favs = food. If you know me and my family, then you know we love our food. We don't just eat to live, we live to eat. In my life, food not only means nutrition, it also means being with friends and family, eating something delicious, and lots of good times.

Anyhoo, the first installment of Fabulous Finds is "El Pescador" Restaurant in Hawaiian Gardens, California. This little eatery has been down the street from my house for the longest -- I'm thinking at least 15 years now -- but for some reason I'd never ventured over to try it, until my cousins gave me the scoop and said it was pretty delicious, had great margaritas AND $1 taco happy hour. *SOLD*

So we went for my cousin Mark's birthday and indulged in their Happy Hour, which runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. We splurged on their fresh fruit $3 margaritas, their two tacos/$2 deal, and their half-off appetizer platter. Oh and how can I forget their free fresh chips served with beans, cheese and salsa. OMG everything was delicious, so authentic and best of all cheap!!!

My super cute cousin Ajax enjoying happy hour!

Our personal favorites at El Pescador are: carne asada tacos in a soft flour tortilla, and chicken or carnitas tacos in a fried shell. The tacos are the perfect size, served made to order and come with fresh guacamole and salsa. This restaurant also had a great selection of entrees on their menu, but because we can't get past their tacos, we've yet to try anything else. Although I can certainly say it all looks and smells delicious!

Since our first visit we've been back at least four times, and if my husband had it his way, we'd go at least once a week. But since he'd still like to be able to wrap his arms around his wife, we've decided to ease up on the taco indulgence, lol.

In a gist, I highly recommend everyone to check out El Pescador for some deliciously authentic Mexican cuisine that will make you feel like your dining on a beach in Mexico sans beautiful ocean, bikini clad hottie and the Italian pot-bellied man in a thong speedo :)

Ajax thinks the margaritas are made strong and perfect!

So check it out and tell me what you think!

El Pescador

21500 Norwalk Blvd

Hawaiian Gardens, CA  90716

(562) 809-1183

* And if you're not in the HG area, they also have locations in Whittier, Bell Gardens, Los Angeles, La Mirada, South Gate, Bell, Santa Paula, West South Gate, Pico Rivera, Fillmore, North and South Ontario, Highland Park, and Carson. (*PS I called them and typed the cities as he cited them, lol.)

Baby blog steps shall start with a list!

Ok so in an effort to become a regular blogger, since all the cool kids are doing it :)  I am going to start with an easy blog by doing a list! After all, list are fast, easy and can be quickly jotted down while you're on the phone, driving on the freeway or ... doing your makeup while on the phone driving on the freeway. *guilty*

So here's my attempt to blog via list!

THINGS I LURRVVEE WITH HEARTS ALL AROUND THEM:

1) sports, sports, sports -- especially USC football, the LA Lakers, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which by the way in not even in LA County so umm ... yeah. Within this affinity so goes my love for Kobe Bryant, Pete Carroll, Chone Figgins and Mike Scioscia.

2) good sports talk radio -- yes I'll admit I have not a clue what songs or artists are "in" right now, but I can tell you that the Dan Patrick Show is freakin hilarious!!! 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday baby!

3) yummy food -- there's is just no way of getting around it, Filipino people live to eat. Thus I will just accept my fate that I will always have a gut and jiggles, but damn it, I will never be hungry! Oooh and cake, I just love me some cake with frosting so sweet is makes your teeth hurt ... mmmmmmm.

4) traveling with my family -- and when I say family I mean 20+ people because that's how we roll! We have so much fun together and I love the fact that it's pretty much a "takeover" when we show because there's just so many of us. Up next on our to-do-travel list: Costa Rica, Egypt, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Australia, Thailand, Philippines. Holla!!!

5) coupons -- who doesn't love a discount!?!? Yes I am the girl who will bring a coupon to a fancy smancy restaurant and buy one get one free in a second :)

6) kisses on my forehead -- they're sweet and pure and make me feel warm and fuzzy inside*

7) Target, Ross, Sam's Club and Trader Joes -- I think I'd be ok if I could only shop at these places for the rest of my life!

8) rubbing my tongue the back of my bottom front teeth after a cleaning at the dentist -- weird I know, but I love feeling those clean ridges!!

9) foreign accents and foreign languages -- it just so cool and pleasing to my ears! British, Austraillian, French, Italian, Spanish, African, you name it, I love it! The latest language I absolutely love hearing in conversation is Arabic -- amazing language and from what I've been told, extremely deep and difficult to learn.

THINGS I DISLIKE AND WANT TO HATE, BUT SINCE HATING IS BAD, THEN I'LL JUST RIDE DISLIKE REALLY HARD:

1) bad breath -- blech, enough said, and yes when I offer you a mint that means something. And along this same thought I don't like Colgate, that crap don't work and is pasty. And yes I know it's called tooth"paste" but Colgate is gross. Period.

2) bad drivers -- I live in Cerritos = Asian persuasion/invasion. I am Asian/Pac Islander and have no shame in saying that Asian poeple are terrible drivers who completely ignore the existence of other drivers!!!

3) clothing for animals -- don't get me wrong I love animals, especially dogs, but I would bet my life THAT'S WHAT FUR IS FOR?!?!!! Perhaps I'll change my view on this once we get our dogs next year, an exception can always be made for a cute pup in USC attire :)

4) black licorice, peach candy and watermelon candy -- do these things really taste good to anyone?

5) bad grammar and poor spelling -- when I acquired a nazi editor two years ago he immediately killed and dissected my copy. It became an almost nightly occurrence to hear him say "unf*ck this". Let me tell you, there's nothing like hearing that at 2 a.m. five days a week, lol. And as a result, I became more anal about the usage of proper grammar and spelling. It just takes a little effort and if you're unsure, then hey, just rephrase it or don't use the word/phrase to avoid being wrong. Not to say my own stuff is always perfect, cuz belee me I kno I be writin sum mest up stuf.

6) skinny jeans on boys/men -- just look in the mirror. No further explanation needed. If you have a spouse, mate, friend, sibling or father (God forbid) who owns a pair of these dreadful things, for the love of fashion humanity please burn them!!!

7) anyone who wears a six 6 or less and swears they need to lose weight -- bitch please.

8) the concept of spending serious $$$$ to wear name brands -- so I have to pay you an arm and a leg so I can wear a shirt with your brand written in block letters all over it? Shouldn't you be paying me to for being a walking advertisement?

AH HA! I did it, that's wasn't too bad and didn't take long at all. Now hopefully I'll be back with more blog sauce sooner than later :) Ciao amicis!

Just me and my two favorite gals ~ Mom and Chey!

I totally suck at blogging

Yep this was supposed to be a blogging diary of my journey as a bride. I am now 3 months+ married -- *the wedding was fabulous by the way* -- I am 6 pounds heavier and have not posted for months. Eeek, where the time go?

This will now become my attempt to blog about the randomness in my life, well at least that's the intent, hence my brand new spankin blog title :) I figure this will keep my writing fresh and document my ever-changing approach to life. But don't be surprised if the next time I blog I end up living in Zimbabwe, have shaved my head and am 10 pounds heavier. Ok no, I really mustn't let that happen, that would be so not cute.

Nevertheless, just checking in to, well say, what's already been affirmed by my lack of posts ... I totally suck at blogging.

59 ~ A Bride-to-Be Should NEVER have to cry

Forgot to publish this!!!! eeeekk :P ~ MSS (5/14/09)

Well much of Day 60 was spent with me in tears as I stayed glued to Fox News Channel, watching the Swine Flu developments unfold. I think I've read every article imaginable on this stupid flu virus through bleary swollen eyes, but my heart took the ultimate dive when travel advisories/warnings were issued against any unnecessary travel to Mexico. But shouldn't one of the most important days of my life considered necessary?

During a time when I should be worried about all the stuff I still have to do, I am now totally focused on this Swine Flu pandemic. I honestly can't believe this is all happening...after our years of planning for it to come to this hurts so much. I know nothing is for certain, and Tommy is constantly reassuring me that we are still about 60 days out and so much can change, but it is difficult not think about what could happen ~ cancelation/postponement. To be so close to having our dream wedding culminate with so many sharing our day, and it all could be for not if this health crisis doesn't clear. It is quite simply, so disappointing.

I've already sent our guests an email addressing the situation, and letting them know we hope to know more about how our plans may be affected in the next two weeks. God I hope I have good news to share in the next two weeks. My mom has already made mention that we should make a decision at least 30 days out. So as you can imagine, I am sending every prayer to God that this situation fizzles out in the coming weeks. I honestly cannot even imagine not getting married in Akumal. The thought simply breaks my heart.....

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

65 ~ Bridal Bliss

Been a bit behind with blogging partially due to the fact that I've been under the weather. Last week I was down and out with the flu, and yesterday I had a much needed physical done. Was told I have tonsillitis, an ear infection, and some other feminine problems -- nothing serious but ugh never a good thing to hear how unhealthy you are.

Bottom line was most of my ailments were caused by lack of sleep (God my Dad would feel like he earned his doctor stripes if I told him that one), working too much, and stress. It wasn't really a surprise to me as I've been running on empty for much of the last year and a half. This night job is kicking my butt, and while I do enjoy the decent salary and job security, I'm starting to think it's not worth my health. I've got some serious decisions to make, but not until Tommy gets into the police academy, which we are all hoping will start upon our return from Mexico!

Anywho...the revelation that I am essentially unhealthy got me thinking about how my life has changed since I've gone full steam ahead in the planning process, especially financially and mentally. I've noticed all my time and money has gone toward the wedding preparations, almost to an obsession, lol. Every day is focused on the wedding in some way or another. But I guess having a glorious wedding experience will all make it worth while right?

I've also come to realize that I absolutely LOVE being a bride and all the bells and whistles that come with it. It's exciting to see it all come together, stress, bills and all. I honestly think I could have a wonderful time having a sideline career that is wedding related -- my mom even suggested this to me today. What though, I don't know, but I do know that I love the idea of celebrating love between two people!!!

In realizing this, I must also acknowledge the fact that I will likely be down in the dumps when it's all finally over. When the big day has passed, when the champagne has fizzled, when my beautiful dress is confined to a box... *sigh* But I guess that's what fabulous pictures, video and memories are for right?

But instead of dwelling in the inevitable, I think I'll just continue to enjoy and savor the process. Afterall, the feelings of euphoria and excitement as a bride will only happen once :)

My First Blog...70 days and counting

Welcome to my blog!

I decided to create this space to document my last 70 days leading up to June 26, 2009, the day of my destination wedding in Akumal, Mexico -- the day I officially become a Mrs. and single no more!

There are all kinds of milestones in the life of a woman. Your first crush, your first kiss, and the awful first zit. Hmmm then of course the day you start your period, the day you graduate (Fight On!!), times when you realize who your real friends are, and then the shocking first loss in your life at the hands of death. And of course how can I forget the day you realize your heart can be broken? And conversely, the moment when you realize that you've found the love of your life.

Now of course with all these important steps in life comes the ultra fabulous wedding day! A day I have looked forward to for so long now, a day that I know will change me forever. And because of that, I always want to remember what my life, my mind, my heart was like leading up to that point.

Hence, this blog full of wedding plans and projects, thoughts, fears, stress, excitement, and of course the best imprints in life, photographs!!! Oh and because I am a sports nut, an aspiring sports reporter that is, I must warn you there may be a couple sports post here and there mixed in with all the frilly girl stuff. Kinda like a combination of chex mix and cupcakes :) Salty and sweet but all so delicious!

At the end of the day I hope years from now I can look back at these moments in time and fondly recollect what it felt like before I became a Mrs, before I became single no more, during these last 70 days...