Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve Everyone!!!

What a crazy year 2010 has been for me/us. Lots has happened and I am excited to see what 2011 will bring as well.

2010:

~Hubby came home from being deployed 13 months

~Two youngest sisters graduated high school

~Quit working for a company I had been with for 9 years

~Married the love of my life on July 17th

~Moved out of our apartment...to stay with my folks and hubby's folks (2 weeks each)

~Moved to Texas

~Work at Starbucks (my first restaurant job...ever)

Those were the big events of 2010. Seems like forever ago. Seems like yesterday. There have been many many ups and downs of 2010, but we made it through. We are still here...stronger than ever :)

My friend, Kimberly, always reminds me that if we could be separated for 13 months and now love with my folks in a completely new state and be strong together....we can survive anything. We just gotta keep our heads up and never forget our love for each other.

I have no idea what 2011 will bring us. I am praying for some good and exciting things.

Maybe to be live where we wanna live.

Maybe to be on our own and not living with family.

Maybe for at least one of us to have a good paying job.

Maybe for things to finally settle down and financial secure.

Maybe a bun in the oven  ;-)

Whatever God brings us in 2011, we can handle it as long as we have each other.

Did I mention 2011 is my 10 year high school reunion year?!?!?

Holy Smokes that is just insane that I graduated 10 years ago.

Hope you all have a safe and happy New Year's Eve!!!

I won't be doing anything crazy, as I have to be at work at 6:00am. So please have a few drinks for me...hehe

Thank you for following along with my this year. I love blogging and I love you all for reading my blog :)

Leave It For After Work

I worked Wednesday afternoon. I always seem to work Wednesday afternoons. This shift is the shift I dread. Why you ask? Well, let me tell you...

This supposedly is the shift that is called 'pre-close', which means you have to clean everything. Do all the 'bitch' work I guess you could say. Whoever works this shift has to do this. Or so that is what the shift supervisor says. Part of me thinks he is just pulling my leg, but I am just too afraid to ask someone else about it because I don't want to sound like a complainer. I am so grateful to have this job, seriously I am even if I have complained to people about it. It makes my car payment, and I need a car :)

Anyways, back on track. So this shift supervisor always makes it clear to me that I have to start the 'pre-close' stuff around 6pm. Yes dude, I know, you dont have to remind me every.single.Wednesday. So I do the cleaning, I suck it up, I dont complain.

Well two days ago, he told me to start the cleaning and he was going to take his lunch. Ok, fine with me...take your lunch so when I am done I can go home. He comes back from his lunch and is totally stoned.

Seriously, stoned!!! Blood shot eyes and all. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I used to be an HR Manager, so to see somehting like this would definitely get you counseled if not terminated. Lucky for this dude, the manager only works the first part of the day...so he is scott free from getting caught.

I don't care what you do on your own time. I dont care what you do when you aren't at work. But come on now!!! How can you think it is ok to smoke pot on your lunch break, your lunch break at work!!! We are all adults, why/how can you think that is ok? And he is a shift supervisor. Meaning he has authority.

This guy has authority. This guy is in charge of closing the store at night. This guy gets more hours. And I am assuming more pay. Yet he thinks it is ok to behave this way while on the job. I just don't get it.

Maybe I don't get it because I have never been into that kind of stuff. Maybe I don't get it because I have a better work ethic. Maybe I don't get it because I am more mature older than him. Whatever the case may be, I think it is wrong . Leave that stuff for off work hours. Be man enough, or woman enough, to be professional while on the job and set a good explain for those working 'under' you.

I think it just boils down to what kind of work ethic a person has...yes?

Missing Home...Missing Our Lives

The new year is just right around the corner. It is just 4 days away. I am trying to become more positive with our situation. I am trying to be more optimistic living down here.

But you know, it is just not working. I have been here since Septemeber and every.single.day. since then I have wanted to get back home to California.

I apply for tons of jobs. But I just can't seem to get a break. What is wrong? Is something wrong with me? What can I do to get 'noticed' in the job market? I am even applying to positions with employee recommendations and I get nothing in return. What is the deal???

I am a dedicated hard worker. I just want to be able to show someone that. I work my bootie off at Starbucks and I am only making $7.25 and hour. Yes, $7.25. It is so sad for me when I get my paychecks and they barely cover a car payment, because I used to make $25.00 an hour and could cover a lot more than a car payment.

I am beyond myself at this point as to what I need to do. Hubby and I cannot afford to live on our own right now, so we live with my folks and have since we got back from our honeymoon in July. Let me just tell you, it is seriously not good for newlyweds to live with parents. There have been some tough times unfortunately.

This situation is nothing what I thought my life would be. I know I had always wanted to come to Texas. So I quit my job and we moved here with my family. Not a good decision on our parts. This isn't what either of us want for ourselves. So here we are trying to get back to California. The place we met. The place we belong. Yet, we are no closer than we were when we first got here. It seems every time something seems like it will work out and we will get to go home...it fails us. It doesn't work out.

We don't want to be here living with my parents. I feel like we are moving backwards, when we should be moving forwards now that we are married. I feel like our planning for a family is going now where since we are not settled and aren't close to being settled.
This is going to sound so lame, but I feel like I pissed someone off out there and karma is kicking me in the butt. I haven't done anything to anyone, so I know that isn't it. But I cannot figure out why things are working in our favor. Not once since our honeymoon has anything worked out for hubby and I. Why is this????

I feel like neither of us are ourselves since we have been living with family and out here in Texas.

I feel like we are our happiest...

When we are by the ocean

When we are on our own (obviously)

When we had money to go out and do things

When we were active (rollerblading, running, hiking, etc)

When we lived a few hours from everyone

When can we have that back??? I miss it more than any words could explain. I miss having that with my husband. I miss being on our own and having our own lives and doing our own things.

What can we do to get us back to southern California???

Sorry for the venting...just one of those nights.

Christmas Recap

I feel like it has been so long since I have been on here. It has been about 5 days I think. Longest blogging break I have had in a while. But it was a nice break...spending time with hubby and family.

Christmas Eve was rainy all day long and very cold. So while I was at work, which by the way was insanely busy, I was talking about how awesome it would be if we had a white Christmas. And all everyone told me was the chances of that are very slim...but I still kept my hopes up :) Work was pretty nice, my manager bought us breakfast...breakfast burritos (my first time having them and they were yummy). And she gave us all who opened a new apron. I was totally excited about this because remember I told you someone stole mine, well I didn't have to buy a new one :) AND I get to keep the red Christmas apron I have been wearing for the last month :-)

So hubby and I woke up Christmas morning to....clear blue skies. Not a single cloud in the sky. Nothing :( But let me tell you it was pretty darn chilly out. Super cold for this southern California girl. Hubby and I woke up before we heard anyone else up, so we decided why not shower and get ready before gifts. Once everyone was up momma started to make some hot chocolate. And not just any hot chocolate, Starbucks hot chocolate :) It was delicious!!! Good job momma!!! :) We took our hot chocolate to the living room and started opening gifts. See growing up we do gifts one by one, so we can all enjoy the morning and see each and every gift we all get. It took us about two and a half hours. But it was totally worth it. It makes everything last so much longer and we can all just enjoy each others company and relax too :)

delicious hot chocolate. cinnamon rolls for after gifts

momma always in curlers for Christmas morning pictures

my stocking stuffers.the MnM's i always at while opening gifts. hot chocolate

this has nothing to do with christmas. a frame with our wedding photos in momma's living room. i just love it :) 

aarika and her new uggs that momma surprised her with

momma's ugg slippers that hubby and i surprised her with

ugg slippers momma surprised hubby with
(it was an Ugg's Christmas haha)

hubby's sexy new shades 

remember that jacket from Fossil i wanted. momma surprised me with it :)

 

Momma warned us before-hand that it was going to be a 'smaller' Christmas. Ummm....momma I don't think you stuck to that. You got us lots of things...expensive things :) hehehe Momma is amazing when it comes to Christmas. She is so super generous to all us kids. I got the plaid peacoat, lots of new tops, Disney classics, Pottery Barn stockings (5 of them actually...just for the future. I gotta be prepared so they all match hehehe), a white snow beanie, curling iron, makeup. Thank you momma!!! There was a family gift...Kinect for XBox and a few games. A totally fun gift for us all the play together and hang out as a family.

After gifts we had some Grand's Cinnamon Rolls...a tradition of ours. They were yummy, especially with a large glass of cold milk :)

A bit later, the gang hung out in the living room playing the Kinect and eating some yummy bean dip and of course lots of candy that was in our stockings. Around 4pm our cousins came over for hubby's delicous Shrimp Fetticini, bread, and wine. This meal is oh.so.delicious!!! Seriously, everyone who eats it loves it. On a side note: momma likes to have it every Sunday. She calls it Pasta Sunday :)

Christmas was good. Thank you momma for all the gifts (hubby and I didn't do gifts this year).

The morning after Christmas momma, Aarika, hubby and I went to the mall to exchange/return a few things. I know, I know. Can you believe it?!?! We totally were brave enough to face the crazy crowds...or so we thought. We got there and we were completely shocked. There were tons of parking spaces open. There were no crowds. It didn't take us long at all. Shocking huh? Were totally were...but definitely didn't complain :) Then we came home and hung out away from the freezing cold outside.

I did miss my family back in California, especially my daddy-o, Kelley, and Lauren. I got to talk to them, but only for a couple minutes. Hopefully next year we will all be together.

Christmas 2010 was a good day.

We had a lot of fun together.

We got great gifts.

Hope you all had a good Christmas too :-)

Merry Christmas!!!

Wanted to wish all my bloggy friends a Merry Christmas!!!

Hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend :-)

Enjoy all the yummy goodies and opening presents :)

What I'm Loving Wednesday

It is really starting to hit me that we are here in Texas for Christmas and not home with family...ok well our immediate cousins and uncles and aunts and grandparents. I am so used to seeing my dad and his family on Christmas Eve and then momma's family on Christmas Day. I will miss that a lot. This year will be so different...we won't be seeing them or hubby's family. Also on Christmas Eve momma, Aarika and I normally go to the cemetary where my brother was buried and we have some lunch and chat and maybe open a gift. I will miss that. I know Christmas has not been the same since Erich died, but we still always see our family Christmas week. I miss my family. My aunt Sherri emailed me the other day saying how lonely this holiday will be because we won't all be getting together for Christmas Eve. I am tearing up as I am writing this because I never realized how much I really miss my family and being around them. There will be no going up to grandma and papa's house this year the day after Christmas :(  And you know one of the make me wanna cry saddest things is, is that all my cousins are in town. Even my cousin who lives in CO flew in for the holidays....and we aren't even home.

I just found out Christmas will be pretty mellow this year. Christmas Eve morning I work. Christmas Eve night Aarika works...so that means we will not all be together. Not sure what we will be doing now. Christmas Day (no one works!!!) but it will just be us...the five of us (momma, Jim, Aarika, hubby and me). Feeling kinda sad about that :(

Now on to

 

{1} I am loving that someone is covering my shift for Christmas. See last week I found out I worked on Christmas morning (6:30am-12:00pm) and I was so bummed obviously. I wrote on the white board to see if someone wanted to switched. I asked a bunch of people. I got nothing :( Then this last Saturday one of the girls came up and said we can swtich shifts. I got the hugest smile on my face. The deal is/was I worked for her this last Sunday (5:00am-9:30am) and she will work my Christmas shift. It made my day. I immediately called hubby to tell him the good news. I am so excited, I will actually get to wake up with hubby this year :) (last year he was gone) Christmas will be good now :)

{2} I am loving that my cousin (below) and his fiance are expecting there first baby at the end of June. I am so extremely ecstatic for them!!! My cousin is like a brother to me, he was my brother's best friend. I just know they are going to be amazing parents. Makes me wanna get pregnant too, so our kiddos will grow up together and be the same age :) Oh and I cannot wait to 'torture' his kid like he did to me aahhah ;)


{3} I am loving that I have 95 followers. Seriously had no idea this many people would follow along in my life. I started blogging because I enjoy it. I wanted to share my life with family and friends. I wanted to write down memories, so I have something to look back on. Thank you so so much for reading my blog and following along in my life :-)

{4} I am loving my hubby. You bring so much happiness to my life. I love you baby!!

Joe's Crab Shack in Oceanside 2008

meeting his family for the first time.

OMG my super blonde hair!!! hubby looks SO young

Go visit Jamie's blog so I/we can see what you are loving today :)

top 2 tuesday

Good Morning!!! :-)
I just have to say the weather yesterday here in Arlington was beautiful!! So nice outside, felt like my hometown kinda weather....too bad I worked all day :(

I guess we will not be having our white snowy winter here in Texas like they had last year. I kinda thought I would get it the one year I am not in California for the holidays...oh well :(

Now on to Taylor's weekly

Top 2 Favorite Christmas Memories

{1} I remember the Christmas I got my purple and black rollerblades(I am pretty sure I have posted about this before). I was so excited. My cousin, who lived across the street from us, got rollerblades too. We rollerbladed all day. Up hills. Down hills. Around the block. Everywhere. It was so much fun. Another funny this is the outfit I wore. I totally remember it. And I just have to say it was totally an 80's outfit. I so wish I had a picture for you. Tight black spandex pants (remember the stirrup ones...yes those). A purple, black, and green sweater with some silly design. Oh my word!! I remember it vividly.

{2} Getting my first Christmas tree with hubby. In 2008 we lived in Oceanside. So we decided even though we weren't going to be home for Christmas, we wanted the have it for the season...so we set out and got a tree. We got the tree at Home Depot. We got the lights and ornaments at Wal-Mart. It was so much fun to have our own tree, in our own apartment, all to ourselves :) I loved it!!! Can't wait till we can do that next year :)

FOUR DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

My Love Affair for Pottery Barn

Good Friday Morning :-)
I am a guest blogger for one of my favorite bloggers today...Smiling Is Good For Your Teeth. Go on over and check it out!!

I absolutely love Pottery Barn. I love the simple style.

I love how classic everything is. I love the neutral colors.

I want it all. I wish I had money to decorate my entire house in Pottery Barn.

ahaha

Can you imagine walking into my house and it looking like the Pottery Barn catalog??

That would be my dream!!!

Master Bedroom

Dining Room

Living Room

PB comfort in brushed canvas material

hubby wants a two-seater leather chair 

i want an accent chair

Those are the three main rooms that I can think of right now, I could think of more baby girl and baby boy rooms bathrooms and office, but I don't want this post to go on for ever. I have tons of accessories I would love to have too. Maybe I'll post about that next week :)

 Hubby and I registered for white dishes and other kitchen items at PB, which we cannot wait to use once we get our own place again. I also asked mom Santa for PB stuff for Christmas....so maybe my house will look like a PB catalog :)

The.Best.Of.Friends.

She has the dark olive skin

She has the gorgeous dark brown eyes

She has the legs I wish I had....the abs I wish I had

She has an amazing eye for fashion

She has the confidence I could only wish to have

She can be kinda ditzy

She is a true romantic

She has a contagious, yet silent laugh

She has a heart of gold

She and I are 7 1/2 years apart

She is Aarika

Sister and Best Friend

Growing up we weren't very close. Actually we weren't close at all. I didn't like her because she took being the 'baby' away from me. We share a room for a while and when I had friends come over she would beg and beg to sit in there with us to hang out and be a 'big kid'. I allowed her only if she was silent. Her first peep and she was kicked out! Gosh, I was evil :(

our first road trip together to SF

Well, as we grew up things changed. Even though there is a large age difference and maturity difference.

We are best friends.

out to dinner

She is that one person I can count on to be truthful with me about everything. Telling me I have lovies in my jeans. Telling me my hair color is awful. Telling me my outfit needs help. Telling me my makeup needs fixed. Telling me I have food in my teeth. Telling me I am gaining weight. She is always, without a doubt honest with me....I am the same with her.

bowling

bachelorette party

Sometimes I feel like we know each other better than we know ourselves. We can look at each other and know exactly what the other is thinking. We can finish each other's sentences. We can be ourselves in front of each other. We can be together for any amount of time and not be annoyed of one another. We can sit in silence together and be totally ok with it. We always take photos together...those ones that you take yourself; holding the camera out at arm's length. We have a million of those...here are some

Aarika was my Maid of Honor at our wedding. Put on my bright pink shoes. Put on my garter. Hand fed me while I was getting my dress on. Reapplied my lipstick. Held my dress up so I could pee. Made sure I looked amazing for my hubby. Stood right next to me. Held my bouquet. Fixed my dress. Gave an amazing speech. Caught the bouquet. I couldn't have asked for a better Maid of Honor.

Aarika has been there for me through thick and thin. She has made me laugh and made me cry. Held my hand and held my heart. She is the most generous, kind-hearted, loving best friend I could ever ask for.

She is a great sister-in-law to hubby. She will be an amazing auntie to our kiddos. She is a wonderful sister. But an even better best friend.

I love you more than words could ever describe.

I love you more than actions could ever be shown.

ps...sorry to make you cry Aarika