mammoth or BUST

Two condos, thirteen adults, nine kids and sh*tload of snacks (mainly fruit chews).

We are on our way to Mammoth and plan to meet everyone up there.

Despite the lack of snow, I'm really excited since this is Camille's first trip to the snow and it has been a long time since Glen & I have made it back to the snow. Our last visit was in 2007 when we rented a cabin in Big Bear and brought Cloie. We didn't go snowboarding or skiing, we went mainly for the getaway and from what I remember, it was a lot of fun.

I'll be sure to post about our trip and of course include pictures.

But for now, since I brought it up, here is a picture of Cloie & Ike from Big Bear 2007.

wal-mart

I'll come out and say it, Walmart is as trashy as it gets when it comes to shopping.

(OMG, have you seen this website?)

It is pretty bad, but sadly I do come across people of this nature when visiting WalMart.

That's why we are more of the Target folk...and we LOVE Target!

However we do make our occasional run to the trash pit, like today when I was in search of thermal wear for our upcoming trip to Mammoth.

I came at a decent hour, when the "crowd" wasn't lingering. But this also made for a more pleasant shopping experience with out many of them around. While shopping in the little girl's section, I noticed A LOT of cute clothes. And surprisingly, it was nicely organized.

I was even able to find Hello Kitty printed thermal wear for Camille!

I was so impressed with their stock of little girl clothes that I had to take pictures and post.

Check it out...

Ballet gear? I know exactly where to go for a few more tutus and tights.

Little girls can pull off the wackiest, yet cutest outfits and colored jeggings are the perfect fit.

Character hats are pretty abundant too!

And the Hello Kitty gear seem unending!

If I was here with Camille, she wouldn't want to leave.

While I will stay true to my beloved Target, it feels necessary to go over to the dark side every once in a while. I just hope I don't end up on the website. Yikes!

Insta-dump

A continuation from my last post, here are pictures that I took and used Instagram.

Camille & friends from her Saturday morning dance class.

This filter created a border and the vintage look.

My friends from high school got together for a little wine tasting. It was so much fun.

Camille got a hold of Christmas decorations and used it as jewelry.

...speaking of jewelry, I love Francesca's. Their displays always get me excited.

During our visit with Gerald and Char, we got to see the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Thanksgiving donations.

I zoomed in on the products and filtered the picture.

I HEART you Instagram!

Instagram vs. Facebook

If you don't have the Instagram app on your phone, I don't know what you are waiting for.

I added this app within the same week that I purchased my iPhone back in October, and it has been my "go-to" app once I snap a photo. I love using it and I love discovering new things that relate to IG.

The app has an editing function to magnify and/or crop, as well a dozen cool options to filter your photos to give it different color effects. How genius is that?

Once you have your photo set, you can either post it to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or just post it to Instagram. Lately, I prefer the latter.

One of the best things: I love how IG keeps the public locked out!

I am a little over the Facebook scene and posting my random photos. I'm tired of the changes that have occurred over time on FB, making my private settings not so private anymore. Random "replies" and "likes" that I make are probably showing up on the new side feed that FB has. And what is this silly timeline feature?

FB has been making change after change to it's interface and I can't keep up.

I will admit, FB keeps me entertained during down time and that helps a lot, but posting is rare and for random fun posts you'll have to find me on Instagram. :)

double dose of happy hour

Typically happy hours are spent at a bar or in a restaurant like setting, with co-workers, friends or family, a little before quitting time, involving alcoholic drinks and sometimes appetizers.

Tonight I had TWO Happy Hours. But not the typical HH.

The 1st Happy Hour involved a bottle of wine with my bff. At her house.

With our three daughters running around and playing dress up.

And interrupting our conversation every 5 minutes.

Oh and snacking on Cheez Its.

The 2nd Happy Hour was actually at a bar/restaurant.

With another family (the M's).

We had beers and ate dinner.

We held our kiddos, Makaio and Camille the entire time.

And it was cut a little short due to some chaos.

Not a bad Happy Hour Friday, at least it included wine & spirits.

And for the record, I found the 1st happy hour to be such a great success, that we plan to incorporate that into our weekly ritual... if our schedules permit us to.

Happy Friday!

garage

We have been in our place for more than 6 months and the boxes that originated on the day we moved in has multiplied. How did that happen? I wish I can have them magically go away, but there are things in there that we cannot just throw out. And that means finding the time to go through all the boxes and deciding what to keep and what to throw out.

You know, one of my resolutions from my post earlier this month.

Oh yeh, that thing. :)

I am hoping to clear out one side of the garage so that there is space to work out.

I don't need much space either.

So let's see...give us until the end of February and I'll post an "after" picture.

Good thing it is Leap Year!

blank

To be able to blog everyday about something, anything is not an easy task.

Like today.

Alls I know is that I am ready for my 2 day work week and the upcoming snow trip.

Work is not exactly one of my favorite places right now either.

I am hoping to be ready and packed by Sunday night, so I am not left stressing at the last minute.

But I have a weird feeling I will be scrambling for stuff.

And I have a feeling that I will be packing at the 11th hour as well.

I hate when that happens.

Thank goodness the weekend is almost here.

revenge

I am all about giving new TV shows a chance, so I jumped on the Revenge wagon.

I actually jumped on the wagon 2 months too late, so there are a handful of episodes that I have missed and must somehow find them to watch.

The show takes place in The Hamptons and it is riveting, addicting and fascinating to see the rich throw money around like its nothing.

In addition to that, the backstabbing drama is pretty entertaining as well.

It is so not what my life is about, but fun to see it on TV.

Check it out yourself on Wednesday nights on ABC.

can't keep running away

Running/jogging takes some serious motivation and discipline.

It's pretty sad that I lack both of those.

I will celebrate the day I find myself in that position.

Sure I've ran throughout my life- through high school and mostly in my adult life, but it has always been a love, hate relationship.

I love it when I'm into in and hate it when I'm not.

It is as simple as that!

Right now I'm in between and I need that motivation.

I ran a 5K on the treadmill the other day and it felt GREAT!

What I need to do is stay motivated to run triple that because I will be running this race in less than 2 months!

Okay people, it's time to get motivated and disciplined!

the help

Let me brag about keeping up with my resolutions (#4) and announcing that I completed

The Help.

Although it took me a little while to finish, I can finally go out and rent the movie.

Every other night for almost 2 months, the hubs would ask me what book I was reading. It was a little embarrassing to tell him that was the same one.

But that's the thing, I couldn't read consistently every night or 3 or 4 chapters each time I broke out my Kindle.

It's not easy for a mom to read a book within week.

Give me some credit. :)

Now on to Breaking Dawn, so I can have that book finished before Breaking Dawn Part II comes out in theaters....in November.

That should give me plenty of time to finish.

Ha!

bff dinner

It seems rare to still have friends from middle school.

That is 25 years of seeing one another grow!

From teenagers, to young adults, to adults, to wives, to mothers...

Tonight I was fortunate to spend it with my best friends from middle school.

Girls that I have been best friends with for over 25 years.

These girls are a true blessing in my life and I love them to eternity.

Michelle, Pam & Cathy

It was Michelle's thirty somethingth birthday and we celebrated together with a lovely dinner at Roy's. The last time the four of us had dinner was over a year ago, so it was even more special.

Here's to another 25 years ahead of us!

bottles of cupcake

What could be better than cupcakes?

A bottle of Cupcake!!!

I've seen this wine at a few parties, but never had a chance to try it out.

G bought me a bottle on New Year's Eve and I thought it was pretty good.

After months of blindly buying different Pinot Noirs, I think I found my "go-to" wine!

I'm not a wine snob and the price isn't bad for my 1 or 2 glasses every few nights.

To me the label is not as catchy as the name, but I suppose that balances it out.

But how could you pass it up, when someone offers you a glass of "Cupcake"?

3 day cleanse

My little bro is a big advocate of Shakeology and the Beach Body scene, so I was able to get 9 packets from him. The breakdown on what it consists of and how it works, is listed above.

I willingly decided to participate in this to help jump start my work out goals.

It is a 3 day cleanse and I got through it...today is the LAST day of the cleanse! Whewww!

The cleanse obviously wasn't anything intense and it doesn't last long like most body cleanses do. My whole point of doing this cleanse was to rid my body of all the sh*t that I've consumed mainly over the holidays, and to attempt it after my cycle.

When I feel the best. So I can get the best results.

Although it was harder than I thought it would be, the cleanse did help with my energy level, a few pounds shed & a feeling of cleanliness within.

Wow, it was seriously emptying me out. (tmi)

I liked it so much that I plan on doing it regularly.

A cleanse a month sounds about right.

getting back on track

Since my am workout post a few weeks ago, I have not been able to wake up and repeat.

Although, it sounds like another challenge, doesn't it?!

I'll be happy to report that I have been getting back on track with exercising (resolution #2).

It's been a struggle starting up again, but for the past few weeks I have gone on walks, done a few Insanity sessions and have gotten in a few runs.

Thanks to my in-laws, I've been making good use of their new treadmill.

When I ran the Carlsbad half marathon in 2008, I trained mostly on the treadmill.

I didn't mind, in fact I found it much easier than pounding the pavement.

My friend and I have been making plans to go to Lake Miramar, but it hasn't happened.

Too many people go there now anyway. :(

I hope to keep this up and stay on track.

golden

I remember when Michelle Williams played the role of Jenn Lindley on Dawson's Creek years and years ago. I wasn't really a fan of her because she posed as a threat to Dawson & Joey's friendship (James VanderBeek & Katie Holmes). So lame, haha!

Jenn was new to the small town of Capeside, and was known as the girl who grew up too fast and led a more experienced life, coming from New York City and all.

That was probably the role that put her on the Hollywood map...almost 15 years ago!

After her WB Network days were over, I slowly started becoming a fan.

She seemed to have grown and matured with each film that she made.

I loved seeing the random photos of her life in New York City and what a doting mother she was to her daughter whom she had with the late Heath Ledger.

I had also learned that she grew up in San Diego. Always a plus!

And here she is present day, with an unending list of accolades from starring roles in a variety of movies. A lot of the movies she has done are not blockbuster hits, rather indie or small budget films that she has apparently been well recognized in.

Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, Mammoth, Shutter Island

...and now My Week with Marilyn...

(It's going to the top of my queue when it comes out on video)

She won the Golden Globe Best Actress Award for that role the other day.

And her speech...it was so sweet! Her acceptance speech was so genuine and touching.

It just validates why I like her as an actress and a person in real life.

Michelle has come a long way and has definitely made a name for herself.

Yaaay for Michelle!

krispy kreme kraze

Last week Angie & I noticed lil S playing a donut-making game on the iPhone.
It really captivated us, not to mention our hunger pangs.

So what do I do?
As soon as I get home, I tell hubs about my sudden craving. Next thing I know we jump into the car and we are heading out to our local Kripsy Kreme.
Our ONLY Krispy Kreme.
12 Miles away.

We didn't want to drive all the way out there for ONLY 2 donuts, so we went big and got a dozen.
Yet, at the same time I didn't want the entire box for ONLY US to consume, so we decided to be nice, stop by the L's house and give the other half to them. What a treat!

Yes, we are crazy, but that's not all...

Do you know about the "HOT DONUTS" sign at Krispy Kreme?

It didn't dawn on me how those donuts could be 100 times more delicious if they were right off the conveyor belt. Hot, soft and melty with each bite.

Yes! We made another trip to KK, but vowed we would only stop in if the HOT DONUTS sign was lit up. Sure enough...

...another box!

They just turned the machine on, so waiting to see the donuts drop into the oil took f o r e v e r!!!

And if you were wondering, half the box went to Grandma & Grandpa's the next morning.

Eating an entire box would be disastrous!

take one down pass it around

...99 bottles/pints of beer on the wall.

If I had kept all the beers bottles that hubs has drank from the day we moved into our new place, I'm sure it would exceed that number.

I'm also pretty sure that other husbands drink much more and this is probably not a number to boast about. But to me, it's a little new and I'm just now understanding why G has such a keen interest in it.

The latest craze of Craft Beers or Micro Beers has taken a whole new meaning.

Gone are the days of Miller Lite, Coors and Budweiser, the focus is now on the local breweries and/or small breweries producing the quality stuff.

The stuff that requires only 2 or 3 great tasting beers to make you feel the effects of what 6 or more beers of Budweiser or the like, will do to you.

This is the good stuff.

And I've taken part in it.

I've never been much of a beer drinker, but I've been sampling some of that good stuff that G has been bringing home.

I've also gone with him to a few breweries in San Diego which have been pretty cool to check out.

In the words of my sis-in-law, "it's like a big boy keg party."

...only you don't have to worry about the "party" getting broken up by the cops. lol!

There is usually a good crowd in a bar-like setting without the fluff, huge beer tanks and of course, drunk people. And unlike clubs and (some) bars, there isn't music blaring throughout nor is there a cover charge (gosh I hated those cover charges!).

Over the holidays, we set out to have a few beers at Port/The Lost Abby and Ballast Point.

So occassionally, I will have a weird craving for a beer and that taste.

Not bad, but I still love my wine!

2nd birthday of the year

At some point pretty soon, I'll lose track of the number of birthday we celebrate in 2012.

But because it's still early and it's still January, it's easy to count.

Today's celebrant was Camille's ballet classmate, Isabella, who turned the big three.

It was a lot of fun watching the girls run around and interact in a place other than in dance class.

Being in a different and more relaxed setting was a good time to get to know the parents of the girls as well. It is nice to know that these little girls, who Camille can potentially form future friendships with, come from good families and are being raised by good people.

Lots of fun today and boy was she pooped by the time we strapped her in the car seat.

It's 7 months away, but now I've got my wheels spinning for party ideas for Camille's 3rd.

Cute girlies!

thirteen

Happy Friday the 13th!

I'm sure you have a calendar and figured that out on your own. Duh!

I'm glad that nothing freaky or weird happened to me today.

But to be honest, I'm not superstitious when it comes to Friday the 13th.

Or the number 13 in general. I'm actually partial when it comes to the number 13.

G's birthday falls on the 13th.

The first letter of my name is M- the 13th letter of the alphabet.

(same with my mom & all my sisters)

13 is the beginning of the adolescent years. (good and bad thing)

13 is the number of people sitting at The Last Supper.

13 is a rather pretty number if you look at it long enough. Haha!

Good thing I wrote this at the end of the day, in fear of jinxing myself.

summer in January

While the sunshine is nice, I'm a little bored.

Weather conditions in Southern California are practically summer-like all year long.

We are in the month of January and it has been 65+ and sunny for the past 2 months!

We need rain!

I want to make use of my pea coats and boots.

Our mountains are in need of snow!

I want to enjoy our upcoming trip to Mammoth in the white fluffy powder, not in dirt and ice.

Caesar

I didn't care much for "Planet of the Apes" when the movie was released in 2001 and I never did watch it. Gorillas, apes, monkeys and the like walking around, and especially talking, kind of freaked me out.

Fast forward 10 years (!) and the prequel to that movie came out mid last year.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Over the holidays G & I had a chance to watch it and I instantly became a fan!

Thanks to James Franco! (ummm, hello sexy)

If you haven't seen it and/or you don't have a phobia of hairy human-like creatures, I would recommend it. It's not too sci-fi and futuristic like Planet of the Apes was.

And yes, I ended up renting Planet of the Apes after all and watching it. Besides, another sexy starred in that movie as well, so that made it easier to watch.

Well, Caesar is the name of the main ape (character) in the movie and I grew emotionally attached to him. Without getting into much detail and giving the movie away, Sexy takes Caesar into his home and raises him as his own pet/child. It's really quite touching.

The reason for the title of this post is because our dog, Cloie, has taken on a new nickname.

Cloie is our beloved Caesar. She just doesn't walk around on her hind legs. Or attack!

am workout

I don't know how I did it, but I did!

I got up and completed a morning workout.

Maybe it was the doubt that G had in me: being able to wake up early enough to get it done.

Maybe it was because I sat on my ass yesterday from the time I got home to CJ's bedtime.

Maybe it was the french fries and ice cream I had earlier in the day.

Or maybe it's because I just need to get it done!

Well it was done and I will attempt to do it again soon.

I just can't promise it can be a regular thing.

I am not a morning person.

Well, I am not a morning, work out person, that is!

never grow up

A music artist that so many young (and older) gals can look up to, I've always admired Taylor Swift and her success. But other than hearing her songs on the radio a few times, I never listened or paid much attention to much of her music until recently. A few months ago I bought her latest album (which is over a year old already) and I have really enjoyed it.

But probably not as much as Camille...one song in particular.

"Never Grow Up" has become the nightly lullaby for Camille.

We do the routine of changing her into her pj's, brushing her teeth & reading a book.

Once the light goes off, we lay there in the dark together until I hear:

"I want to hear Never Grow Up".

So of course, I break out my phone and I play it to her heart's content.

When I first heard this song, I'll admit, my eyes welled up and tears were flowing.

It is such a sweet song about not growing up too fast and not taking childhood for granted.

Really, it can pertain to anyone of any age.

I'm glad that Camille has taken a liking to it, and I think soon enough she too will understand the meaning of the song. She is even slowly learning the lyrics.

But I never want her to grow up.

It's happening too fast. :(

1st birthday party (of the year)

Happy Birthday, Baby Makaio!

Just one week into the new year and we have our first birthday party... and a fun party it was.

Baby M was such a great honoree and his Mommy and Daddy did such an awesome job.

The face painting and balloon making were a hit, as was the food (omg, the food!) and libations.

I know this little girl loved her first face painting!

All the kids enjoyed playing and being silly with one another, and it was nice catching up with everyone there.

Thanks for allowing us to be part of this very special day M & N.

And congrats on the 1st year with Baby M!

until next year...

After 4 weeks of having a tree grace our living room and also trying to stick it out as long as possible (because the thought of cleaning up was so daunting) we finally gave in and took it down.

I tried to give her water regularly, but the poor tree stopped taking water 2 weeks after we got it. The poor tree was dried out, so much that the slightest touch had dozens of needles fall out at once.

Taking down all the ornaments was more of hassle than I remembered from past years.

The culprit: SMALL ornaments...

And that is why I got ride of those useless things.

They became annoying to hang, annoying to look at, annoying to take down and annoying to store. They are now a thing of the past.

So is that dry tree.

Until next year...

the party is over

I'll admit, one of the best parts of working during the holidays is not working during the holidays. Why waste PTO days?

It is the holidays and there are parties galore, activities around the office, gift exchanges-

so essentially no one is 100% focused to put in a full day of work in the month of December.

On top of that, we've been spoiled with having 2 Fridays and 2 Mondays off in a row.

But sadly, it's coming to an end. Waaaaah!

Next week will be the first full week of work in three weeks, so let's try to enjoy this last week until...

the following week when we have another 4 day work week!

Yaaay!

mustache!

Are mustaches the new trend?

Here are a series of fun mustache pictures that I took a few months ago, while hanging out at the L's house.

Mama A brought these back from her Napa trip with hubs and gave it to Cruz as their consolation gift.

They are actually pretty fun and definitely entertaining.

I ended up getting a pack for Camille's stocking this past Christmas.

I love how she decided to let Baby Princess Jasmine join in on the fun.

Silly girl!