I am moving ...

OK before you decide to ask where ... I'm only referring to my blog (for now)! Yes, I'm moving blogs. Movin on up like the Jeffersons to a brand spankin new blog that will give me more freedom format-wise!

It has been a transition in the making for about a month-and-a-half now, but I am finally for the big reveal ~ so... I will no longer be posting at this site. And while it was a lovely and comfy home for almost a year, this girl is movin on up to a deeeeeluxe apartment in the skyyyyyyyhhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhyyyyy!

So as I bid this comfy little slice of the Internet adieu, I welcome all my readers to come with -- which is probably like two of you! Hehehehe, but I LOVE each and everyone one of ya to pieces <3

My brand new cyber home is:

www.mariesamsanchez.com/blog

See you in my new neighborhood, make sure you holler when you see the new place!!! And please excuse the mess, I'm still trying to settle in* And to make up for any unsightly mess, first round of drinks are on me :o) *holla*

Quick Hits - 3/1/10 @5:14 a.m.

I've often been known to have random ass thoughts running through my head at any given moment of the day, to which Tommy and Chey usually respond "um ok, RANDOM." So as I sit here during a short lull at work at 5 in the mornin, these are the things that have crossed my mind in the past couple hours ... along with further proof that I am totally the coolest person that ever lived, in fact ice asks for a jacket in my presence, that's how cool I am :)

1) Night-time sleep is sssssoooo underrated

2) It's nice to be told, I still got it *holla*

3) I detest when my hair feels "flat" and despite what my hairdresser says, I desperately need a haircut stat!

4) I really miss seeing Conan O'Brien on late night TV

5) My family of 18+ peeps relies on me to book our family vacations and I really can't decide where to plan our vacation this year -- Florida, Costa Rica, or an Eastern Carribean cruise

6) I really want to go back to Europe in the next couple years

7) Alanis Morrisette really cleans up well. I remember her being a bit grunge and tomboyish, but hot damn, she looked amazin in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics

8) I don't drink enough water

9) I really want to cancel my personal training session later today, but I know I shouldn't because I ate way too much cake this weekend

10) I hate people with fast metabolisms and even more, hate people who don't need to exercise

11) This is the first year Kobe has looked "old" and it makes me sad

12) I miss talking to old friends

13) I'm going to Vegas next month for a work/pleasure trip and I'm excited

14) I can't believe I worked the full-time overnight shift for two years

15) Beautiful pictures make me smile no matter how many times I look at them over and over again

16) People make way too many excuses and sometimes I am guilty of that too

17) I buy way too many clothes although I have tempered my addiction lately

18) Apollo Anton Ohno is so freakin cute

19) I feel like the Grimm Reaper when I work the overnight shift -- nothing I write is ever positive. So much so that I don't really get sad off of death stories anymore, yep I've built a shell of "wutev" around me. It's kinda sad.

20) I have a list of things I want to buy -- none are necessities -- but nevertheless I still want them and a $100,000 jackpot would really be helpful right about ... now.

21) If I really want to, I have the capability to do anything. So then what's keeping me from doing the things I want to do?

22) I love my Motorola Droid

23) Why is my face so dry?

* PS these photos were all taken by Chey and Tommy after I came home from a long and exhausting day of shooting and tape logging. Needless to say, I was extremely happy to be able to slip under my cozy USC blanket and act ... a fool, clearly  :)

Fabulous Finds Friday: The Happy House Seafood Restaurant

Coming from a Filipino family, it's almost predetermined in your DNA that you will grow up a "foodie" AKA person who doesn't eat to live, but rather lives to eat! HOLLA!!!! (Please note: this excitement for food also comes with 10 pounds that I will always need to lose, lol.) So of course it was only apropos that I marry a man whose family is equally devoted to the splendor of food :)

Tommy and I love a lot of the same things, but one thing that was stamped in permanent ink from the moment we met was that we both lurrrrved good food. And you can only imagine my delight the first time I ate at his parents house and realized his mom can put her foot in it when it comes to making anything and everything!!! Case in point the most recent "care package" she sent home to me via a Tommy visit.

Ahhh yes Internet, that is an entire pan of coma-inducing-because-it-taste-so-good Mac-n-Cheese and lick-your-fingers-to-savor-the-taste Maryland style crab cakes (tons more crabmeat than breading) a la D. Walden!! And yes Internet, it was even more delicious than it looks ...

So after sharing many a meals together, about a year into our relationship, I introduced Tommy to dim sum at my favorite local Chinese food restaurant ~ The Happy House Seafood Restaurant (formerly known as Ten-Ten Restaurant).

For those unfamiliar with this delicious Chinese treat ... dim sum is a dining experience that normally occurs in the late morning to early afternoon where tons of quick little dishes are served on carts throughout the restaurant. Think of it as fast food on wheels, but 100 times better!!! The concept of getting food served to you in less than a minute, instantly captured Tommy's heart, kinda like watching his first sporting event in HD -- a momentous occasion that made his eyes light up like NY's Times Square. And when he tasted the yummy goodness of some of my favorite dim sum dishes and then saw it was only $1.99 to $3.00 a dish -- he was sold. Like, $100 for a brand new Lexus sold.

Some of our favorite dim sum delights include: the Shrimp Hargow, Seaweed Eggrolls (a must-have), Seaweed Salad, Shrimp Wontons (my fav), and the Pork and Shrimp Shu Mai.

And what makes it even better is that they also have discounted weekday lunch prices for their wonderfully vast selection of entrees, including our personal favs -- the Salt and Pepper Squid (AWESOMELY ADDICTIVE!!!!), Chicken and Broccoli (great if you're trying to eat healthy), Beef Lo Mein, Beef Chow Fun, Crispy Chicken Noodles, Mongolian Beef, Garlic and Crab with Sauteed Garlic and Scallions, and Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce.

One dish that was recommended to us by their manager, Ed, is their Cubed Beef Filet with French Mushrooms -- it's the most tender/melts-in-your-mouth beef served with mushrooms, carrots and snow peas topped with the most delectable sauce that is flavored with a twinge of salty and sweet goodness. This is sort of our splurge dish, something we eat when we're starving and have had a good and productive work week :) So it's kind of like a deep tissue massage for our bellies, lol.

I can honestly say that everything we've had here has left us pleasantly satisfied and of course their great lunch and dim-sum prices can't be beat. Tommy, Chey and I can feast for about $20-$25 during their weekday lunch hour and still have lots of leftovers!

And while their food is incredibly good, this place also has the nicest staff -- some of whom my entire family considers friends. Since our first experience at Happy House, we became regulars to the point that Ed and our favorite servers -- Ken and Sergio -- come and talk to us about life, work, the Lakers and always hook us up with either a dim sum dish, desserts or drinks on the house.

 

The wonderful staff sitting down for lunch during the afternoon lull.

One time Ed even prepared a special pot of Chinese tea for us, which apparently cost about $100 a kettleful in China. So you can imagine how we slurped it up with utter delight and thanked him profusely for his generosity. Their staff has also watched Cheyenne grow up through the years, so whenever we come in without her, they immediately ask "where's my girl?" It's the cutest thing :)

Needless to say, we love this place for its food, atmosphere and people. But also because this is where Tommy dropped to one knee during a late night dinner on Dec. 23, 2006, and proposed to me. Obviously, I said yes with tears streaming down my face and to my surprise our families and a some of our closest friends came from behind a private room and congratulated us. Chey was not in on the surprise so she was crying buckets just like me. We then had a wonderful dinner full of our favorites and Tommy's late grandfather even serenaded us over dinner. Ed and the entire staff made sure our evening went off without a hitch and it was truly perfect. Unfortunately, we do not have any pictures because the camera that was used was later lost :( But we will always gave our happy memories!!!

The table where Tommy proposed, except it was round and had a white linens that night, lol.

  

Happy House will always be special to us, but it will always be one of our favorite restaurants because of their great and reasonably priced food, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere and ambiance.

So the next time you're in the mood for some dim sum or simply looking to indulge in some wonderful Chinese food, check out "The Happy House" in Artesia ~ after just one visit, you'll leave with a smile on your face and realize that that this place really does live up to its name!

Ok maybe, not this corny of a smile, lol.

 

The Happy House Seafood Restaurant

18868 Norwalk Blvd.

Artesia, CA 90702

(562) 402-2428

*dine-in or order to go* 

My Valentine for the 11th time

We met each other in an AOL chatroom in January of 1999. I was "Sam007562" and he was "WuJunior." Of course neither one of us would have ever guessed those late night instant messages between us would slowly fertilize the soil of what would eventually grow into an 11-year relationship.

After chatting online for about two months, we both inexplicably changed our screenames. I became "MSam007562" and he, "WuJuniorX." And yet we managed to find each other again in a world of a million usernames and thousands of chatrooms. And though we hadn't communicated in about a month, the $hit talking between us picked up right where it had left off.

I should have known then, it was meant to be ...

Over the weekend we celebrated our 11th Valentine's Day together, nothing flashy at all. We spent the day relaxing at home, watching the NBA All-Star game and made dinner together. He reminded me it's been his tradition to make me dinner on Valentine's :) He grilled NY steaks and made some Cheddar and Broccoli rice while I sauteed some veggies. I know it sounds so simple and boring, but it was truly perfect. And it's the only way I would have wanted it.

I don't think you need a day like Valentine's Day to realize how much your loved ones mean to you, but seeing all the "Be Mine" candies, "I love you" bears and red-adorned decor everywhere does make you reflect on all the love you have in your life.

So in honor of this "holiday" that celebrates love ...

 I love my husband for knowing me better than anyone else and in spite of all my flaws and faults ...

... he still loves me unconditionally, or at least he acts like it :)

I love that we save our goofiest moments for each other.

And even when we're borderline idiots, we're still attracted to each other.

 

In fact, he totally thinks I'm at my prettiest during moments like this.

Thousands of IMs later, millions of minutes on the phone, tons of "You Got Mail" alerts, and millions of text messages later, we still talk, share everything with one another and listen to each other. Well at least he fakes like he does :)

Eleven years later, Tommy is still my best friend and makes me laugh everyday.

I love him and he loves me ... it sounds so simple, and that's just the way I like it.

Eating the Last Piece of Lumpia

I can't believe the first month of 2010 is almost over, didn't we just pop open the bubbly like a couple weeks ago? I don't think I've even washed the underwear I wore that night yet, lol.

Time is flying by so quickly, it still amazes me that 2009 is in the books. Last year was by far one of the busiest and most exciting periods of my life -- non-stop wedding planning, the wedding, our two-week vacation in paradise, adjusting to being married, deciding to walk away from a stable paycheck and instead work freelance, Chey starting high school, Chey transitioning from world of cute to the stinkin dangerous land of pretty ... God help me from strangling all the boys who stare at her! *sigh*

Those were just the main highlights and then there were also the little changes, and in totality it was simply a year that opened my eyes to life and all its developments ... the good, the bad and the ugly.

It's crazy how they say a wedding -- especially a destination wedding -- can bring out the ugly in people. I never really knew what this meant and always thought I would be the exception and somehow slide past all the unattractiveness. Unfortunately, I was being naive because ugly will always find you!

When Tommy and I opted to have a destination wedding we knew it would shorten our guest list considerably because of costs, travel worries, etc. But that was ok because we knew we would be having the wedding of our dreams. It also helped that we never wanted a huge wedding surrounded by people we barely knew because it was most important for us to be amongst the closest people in our lives -- people who loved and cared for us unconditionally and would always be there through the worst and best of times.

As RSVPs rolled in there were some pleasant surprises by people we never thought would be able to make it, and some painful disappointments from those who we had already written in with a Sharpie "wouldn't miss it for the world." Money of course was the main reason for many who couldn't make the trip, and of course with the economy struggling as it is, we completely understood. And then there were those who used the Swine Flu or Mexican drug wars as their escape -- again what could we do? Even then it was understandable.

But then there were those armed with excuses as porous as a block of Swiss cheese ... they simply didn't come.

With all the wedding chaos that was going on a month prior to our a date and even months thereafter, their absence didn't really hurt as much. I think the excitement of our special day and all the adrenaline that came with it really eased the blow.

But now, several months later, when I think about it...it hurts. Like a great workout that your aching muscles don't really feel until two days later. The pain was delayed.

When I look at our incredible photographs it is a beautiful reminder of the amazing time we had with all our family and friends -- the people who I now know I can always depend on rain or shine, good or bad, swine flu or drug wars :)

But those same photographs that can instantly make me laugh with joy, are also bitter snapshots of who was missing...who should have been there.

How could one of your closest friends miss the most important day of your life? How could he/she not even have the courtesy to tell you, "I'm not going to be able to make it." How could he/she not be there? How could he/she not take the time to even call you after the big day and see how everything went? So many questions, with silence as the only answer.

I don't know why it has bothered me so much lately, perhaps because at the end of each year I take time to reflect on what was and what is yet to come. I guess in reality, I should have seen it coming. Some people never truly seemed happy about our wedding plans. Why, I don't really know. But in the back of my mind I tried to convince myself that I was being overly paranoid and it would all work out.

People change, they really do, even those whom you think are the closest to you.  Unfortunately those are the friends whose betrayal hurts the most, because well, you thought that friendship could withstand anything. And yet somehow you seem to look past the days, months, years of stormy weather and then one day you look at the friendship with eyes wide open, shocked to see what's left is merely a skeleton of a weathered friendship that collapsed when you needed it the most.

I am sad for lost friendships because I won't lie, it hurts. But what can you do? Much like a failed relationship, you sit back and wonder what went wrong. And much like failed relationships, you think back at the good times and all the laughter, and hope that one day the pain will subside and understanding will take its place. Instead of being bitter or holding on to a grudge, I want to remember the friendship that was and how he/she helped me become what I am today. No regrets, no anger, but simply grateful for what was. That is how I choose to handle it.

But I don't write all this to wallow in my tears because what has been equally powerful is realizing that while my circle is not merely as large as it used to be when I was Ms. Social Butterfly, the loved ones and friends I do have in my life today are simply...the best!

I hold dear to me old friendships that have survived being battered and worn like a favorite pair of jeans. And I'm also excited for new friendships bubbling on the surface. And then there are those long lost friendships that seem to have caught new life ~ I will say Facebook certainly has a lot to do with that and I am grateful*

While we were not blessed with the presence of every single person who was important to us on June 26th, the circle of love, life, and laughter that enveloped us on our wedding day was overwhelmingly wonderful. My heart was filled with so much love and appreciation that day, our cups truly runneth over with a joy that simply could not be put into words. It could not have been more perfect and I really couldn't have asked for a better experience.

And for those who simply could not make our big day for good reason, but sent us their love in a package filled with prayers and well wishes topped with a beautiful bow -- *THANK YOU* from the bottom of our hearts. Your love from afar brought blue skies and sunshine to our day and we were so very grateful!

I have had these feelings weighing so heavy on my mind since the last couple months of 2009 so it feels good to finally get it off my chest and say it out loud, internet style at least :)

And on that note, I think I am finally at peace with the year that was and am finally ready to toast in 2010. So with a festive spirit in mind... like a yummy dish at a party, there's always one piece left that no one wants to eat but is dying to be picked up.

So I'll gladly take that final piece of lumpia and swallow it with a smile!

I'm officially closing the book on 2009. It was a year to celebrate love and changes ... the good, the bad and even the ugly.