Life's Celebrations: Legally Blonde...Okay Brunette

This past Saturday, my family and I celebrated my cousin Amy's birthday. She finally turned the big TWO ONE! Happy Birthday Ames (her real name is Amy)! Welcome to the 21 and up club :)

Babies! Babies! Everywhere! Okay well....there was really only two of them but it felt like a lot ;)

{Side Note}

Cake pops made with love by my cousin Regina...but without the pops part! Haha, so really they're just itty bitty cakes covered in chocolate...but delicious nonetheless! Also, I love how Mia is propping up my chin for this shot. Telling her aunt how to pose already! Hahaha, I love it!

{Love} Family quality time...especially Mia time ;)

Wedding Notes: DIY Save the Dates!

"IN EVERY JOB THAT MUST BE DONE, THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF FUN!" 

~Mary Poppins

This past weekend, my sister held two days of "wedding workshops" for her DIY save the date owls. She asked people from her wedding party to come and help us out (who ever could make it). The turn out was pretty good actually! Hahaha! We had so much fun too- just hanging out and really enforcing the "bonding" time with each other. I personally think this is also a great way for the wedding party to be more involved with the process, rather than just showing up on the day of the wedding ;)

[Day 1] Wings and Things

{Side Note}
The seamstress bride-to-be...had the nerve to call me MOHzilla (maid of honor- zilla)! Hahaha! I was QC that day (quality control) and I guess I was too demanding?? Sheesh.

{Today's workers}
Rachel (a bridesmaid), Shelsey (Rachel's daughter), Ale (a bridesmaid) and Esteban (Enrique's brother and the best man)!

{Side Note}
Rachel called this the "sweatshop!" Hahaha ;)

[Day 2] Give A Hoot

{Today's Workers}
[AM Shift] Rachel & Shelsey again, Gilbert (Charlene & Enrique's good friend), Joann (a bridesmaid), Rodney (a groomsman), Melissa (Rodney's girlfriend).
[PM Shift] Regina (a bridesmaid), Renee (Charlene's niece/my godchild) and Reeka (the junior bridesmaid/Lynn's godchild).

Half way through working, Charlene compares us to the seven dwarfs- then goes on and gives us all dwarf names, you know just for fun :P

Charlene = Sewy (obviously). Joann = Trimmy (for trimming the fabric off the owls). Rachel = Gluey (for gluing the fabric onto the owls).

Melissa = Fabby (for measuring the fabric). Gilbert  = Kid Cutty (for the obvious reason).

Shelsey = Tracey (for tracing the owl templates). Rodney = Painty (for again the obvious reason).

Reeka = Lil Painty (because she's...little). Renee = Snippy and Regina  = Lady Cutty.

I was Floaty...because I didn't really have just one job. I was the floater of the sweatshop, woops I mean workshop ;) Hahaha...it's because I can do it all! (Well, except for the sewing).
We're almost done with the tedious work- drawing, cutting, sewing, gluing, shearing, and painting. We're definitely 3/4 of the way through...then we just need to assemble the owls and place the messages on them.

After a very productive day, we enjoyed some of these delicious chocolate truffles!

{Love}
Mmmmm! I love the peanut and pistachio covered truffles.


{Tidbit Fact}
Gilbert (aka Kid Cutty) made these for Charlene and Enrique. Pretty darn fancy!

My Little Snorlax

My godchild Gavin stayed over at  my place this past weekend (Thursday night through Sunday night). His parents were in a wedding in Vegas and little children were not allowed at the venue, so I offered to take care of him. He has never stayed over with me before. The most time I've spent with him was a few hours (i.e., at birthday parties), so really this was both of our first time together for longer than a few hours. I was excited and anxious at the same time...I don't have kids of my own (yet) and it's been quite some time since I've taken care of a baby. Luckily for me, Gavin is such a sweet, lovable and calm child. Taking care of him was pretty easy and everything went smoothly!

Up bright and early, watching his morning cartoons on Sprout. He loves Adventure Time and Chicka!

I gave him Dumbo to play with and they became great sleeping buddies! Also...I found out that Gavin here is  a big time snorer! Hahaha! SO CUTE! Hence the nickname I gave him- Little SNORLAX :)

{Tidbit Fact}
I have a queen sized bed. So I totally thought we both would be able to sleep comfortably at night. Well...he slept comfortably taking up 3/4 of the bed while I slept motionless on the 1/4 side. Sighhh...but I didn't mind it one bit :)

I took a few pictures of the little guy after his bath (my mom helped me out with this task). He doesn't much care for bath time...but he does love a game of peek a boo!

All dressed up and ready for some play time and shopping with his godmama! My mom and I took him out to Otay Ranch Town Center. It was a beautiful day out!

Near the food court, there's a water play area for kids (water squirts out from the floor and splashes them). Gavin enjoyed watching the kids play.

{Love} Oh my gosh that smile of his! It's infectious!

Later that night, Gavin and my dad had their one on one play time as well. Like I said, he loves peek a boo!

{Love} Yep, my mom and dad immediately got attached to him.

I made sure to get in some more quality with my little snorlax before his parents came to pick him up on Sunday night. This boy is SO wanting to walk already! He loves it when I hold on to his hands and let him walk all over the place.

All in all, I had a great time with him (and so did the rest of my family, who also helped me take care of him from time to time). My "god-motherly" instincts kicked in full gear! Yessss! He brought us so much joy. I was sad to see him go when his parents came to pick him up on Sunday night, but I'm very grateful and honored that they trusted me to take care of Gavin.

{Side Note}
I wouldn't mind doing it all again!

My Disney California Adventure Weekly: Senior Wilderness Explorers!

Back in January of 2011, I bought Disney annual passes for myself and my sister (it was her Christmas/early graduation gift from me). At the time, I didn't have a blog. So now that I do, I've decided to incorporate my Disney year as an annual pass holder. I'll include it as weekly postings (I definitely have more than enough pictures to last through this year)! There'll be two weekly postings: My Disney Weekly and My DCA Weekly (for Disney California Adventure). As you'll see, I'm a HUGE Disney buff! With that being said, here we go!

{Character Highlight: Russell}

{Main Attraction: Wilderness Explorer Camp}

It was one of those DCA days where Charlene and I would rather relax and stroll around while people watching. What better way to do this than inside the Wilderness Explorer Camp! PLUS, we saw Russell and Dug doing their show at the Camp Ahwanee site...so of course that sealed the deal! By the end of our stay inside Camp Ahwanee, Charlene and I had become bonafide senior wilderness explorers! We have the badges to prove it! Caw Caw! :)

My Disney Weekly: Ragtag Band of Misfits

Back in January of 2011, I bought Disney annual passes for myself and my sister (it was her Christmas/early graduation gift from me). At the time, I didn't have a blog. So now that I do, I've decided to incorporate my Disney year as an annual pass holder. I'll include it as weekly postings (I definitely have more than enough pictures to last through this year)! There'll be two weekly postings: My Disney Weekly and My DCA Weekly (for Disney California Adventure). As you'll see, I'm a HUGE Disney buff! With that being said, here we go!

{Character Highlight: Chip and Dale}

{Love} These two...always on the go with their fans and signing autographs :)

{Shop Stop: The Mad Hatter}

{Love} My very first Mickey ears!!!

{Main Attractions: Storybook Canal}

{Love} This is the first time in 20 years since I've been on this ride...and it's just how I remember it!

Also, here's a tiny tip. When you're on the canal ride, make sure to interact with the boat's tour guide. Laugh at their jokes, smile when the point out something funny and be pleasant in general. They have a tough gig! It's just SO awkward when the crowd is super quiet and look like they'd rather be somewhere else...(why get on this ride in the first place then?)...I'm just saying, don't ruin it for the rest of us.

{Side Note}
Perfect shot of Casey Jr. circus train! This train is a pretty fun ride at night. Also, try and sit in the last carriage. That's where all the fun is at :)

{Love} The Storybook Canal arches at night!

{Main Attractions: Captain EO}

{Love}
CAPTAIN EO!!! I used to have this poster up in my room when I was 6 or 7 years old. I am super happy that Disney has decided to keep this attraction open longer. How can you not love this ragtag band of misfits?!?

Every time we watch the show, we always sit towards the left back corner of the room...for two reasons: 1) The air blasts really hard on the part of the show where Captain EO's ship rockets off into space and 2) Charlene and I totally do all the dance moves along with the show! Oh yeah..."You're just another part of me! Hee hee!"

{Love} Our personal faves: Hooter and Fuzzball!

Charlene had no idea I put the 3D glasses on the back of her head :P

The Sweet Tooth Wins...Again

I ran a few errands today and happened to pass by Hans & Harry's Bakery in Bonita. I couldn't resist...it was a toss up between their infamous fresh fruit strudel or a strawberry shortcake. Hmm...I feel like I always get the strudel, so on a last minute whim- I went with their strawberry shortcake!

{Love}

I took this sweet little thing home and enjoyed it after lunch :)