I would TOTALLY do this if John and I renew our vows! LOVE IT! Thanks for sending this to me Sheba!
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Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Best First Wedding Dance EVER!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Better Late than Never! Happy Birthday Sheba!
(I don't have a lot of pictures to post right now, all the older ones are packed since we are moving, but SOMEDAY! I will put them on another post!)
Happy Birthday
On Sunday, November 25, 2007 my sister turned………
WELL!... it was her birthday!
Our family LOVES birthdays, and we tend to go overboard sometimes. But without those celebrations, it would be a plain ol’ life!
NOT growing up in our house though. With three strong-minded sisters and two little brothers later on…NOTHING was boring!
But great minds think alike, because
So
This is to you, my AWESOME (yes we’re sisters, REAL sisters ~ yes she’s lighter than me, no she’s not younger than me ~ sure it’s strange that we don’t look ALIKE…yes, from the same mom and dad, go watch the discovery channel, grab a map or something) SISTER!!! My Cute, little – big sister! So cute you could fit her in your pocket, cute! (She hates when I say that!) I have nick-named her Mighty Mouse, because she’s so cute and small, but she packs a MEAN punch!...Literally folks, I have the scar from her nails to prove it! Just kidding….it’s really from her curling iron.
To my BIG sister:
With whom the ORIGINAL ‘Fight Club’ started….NOT on the mean streets of NY.
I have learned to throw that mean punch (which, in 8th grade got me suspended) and tell people off like “none of their business!” No wonder we started the ‘gobble gobble’ craze!
Even though we went to a private Catholic school… you still knew how to accessorize that uniform like NO OTHER!
The original fashionista, who taught me the right shoes meant everything.
Years ago:
Me – “I just bought my first pair of Steve Madden shoes! Do you know who he is?”
C-L-I-C-K!
Note to self: Don’t waste time asking trivial questions.
Dressed up like Boy George when you were 11 for Halloween and ROCKED it.
And the following year we were Nikki and Appalonia from Prince. (a modest version, of course).
Who taught me how to get my dancing groove on, and let me hang out with your cooler, older friends. Learning how to pop and lock, stomp, and a little break dancing in the playground of St. Mark’s.
Cheering for me in my first swim race in the good ol’ swimming pool where Poppo would constantly tell me he would throw me if I didn’t listen to you.
Helped me dress and choreograph my first solo to P.Y.T. by Michael Jackson, and tore it up with Billy Jean! You had the hat and everything! Remember that oh-so-80’s glittery necklace mom let you wear?
Taught me that MTV was AWESOME and had Prince, Eurythmics, Madonna, U2, Michael Jackson and all the Culture Club records….and YES! Can’t forget Menudo! We LOVED them, don’t deny it!
You took me with you and your friends to the Staten Island Mall on Saturdays and shared your favorite lip gloss and food with me. You even told your friends they had to wait so I could pick out a new outfit for my Barbie.
All our trips to
The jersey shore beach house with the Santangelos’. Ferry rides, fashion school with mom and Sophie in the city. Pizza in Brooklyn….LAUNDRY in
Windows of the World in the
Junior’s Cheesecakes where we religiously got the strawberry one.
You and Mandy fighting over ‘the bowl’ at Shaffie’s. Showing me how to spray the Redi-Whip perfectly on my hot chocolate.
Playing that ORGAN!! “Hey, did you hear this beat yet?”
Look at the TV! It’s moving with the songs!!! (At Shaffie's)
The FIRST time we saw THRILLER! We were so scared! We huddled together on the floor next to the couch, screamed so loud…and then asked to watch it again!
(We got the girl’s scream down, and then would re-enact the whole thing!)
A little later down the road; you got me out of my Tomboy stage and dressed me up for one of the mighty 7th grade Taylor Jr. High dances.
You showed me how to use curlers, apply eyeliner, and how you would kill me if I took your clothes. You took the Young Women’s camping skills literally and had to fashion numerous booby traps so I couldn’t get into your room, and CLOSET!
It wasn’t till you came home from college that we started having more fun, and the phrases: ‘I hate you’, ‘go away’, ‘leave me alone’ etc., etc. were used less between us.
…And yes, we started having more fun. Staying up late and making up hilarious videos, and lip syncing to the songs we couldn’t stand!
Laughing so hard that Mom would come in and yell at us to go to bed.
Helping me get ready for my H.S. dances.
Taking me to school when I was running late. Letting me know I could call you anytime if I didn’t have a ride home from anywhere.
Going shopping together!
Making my Sweet 16 birthday so special aside from the fact I was grounded for a month for sneaking out of the house! (Which is an ENTIRELY different story involving you too)! You got me the V.S. robe I TOTALLY wanted, and all the shower gels and lotions too!
Took me to get my first ‘styled’ haircut. “You hair is so pretty! It’s like a horse’s MANE!!” I wanted to kill her as you busted out laughing behind me.
Got into my first car accident with you…the day AFTER homecoming on our way to the airport. (It wasn’t
You have the BEST sense of humor! Or we’re both just crazy and laugh at the silliest things. “Do you know how to put that CD in?” “Umm, I think I know how to use a radio thank you!....Wait, how do you put this on?”
“Hey, let’s go sit in the back”…meaning the fire escape at Shaffie’s.
“Okay, which key goes in which lock? Did you lock all three? Or do we lock two and leave the other open to mess with robbers if they come?” I swear if anything was going to happen, it would’ve happened while we were trying to figure the freaking locks out!!!
You are one of the most talented and creative people I know. You could take a bag of lemons and make lemonade, lemon pie, lemon meringue, and somehow make a necklace and something to go into a scrapbook with whatever’s left over!
In-n-Out Burger has banned us from coming in after 11, but it was totally worth it! :)
I could hear Sherry now: “Indian Girls Gone Wild!” (Just kidding!) “Skooter Boy!”
Going dancing without you is NEVER the same! “Hey! Chinese fire drill!” Sorry….Debbie Downer said NO!! WOMP- WOOOOOMMMP.
You do SUCH charity work when I come to visit. You get me out of my beach –laid back wear and put me back together with new make-up and clothes. Call it feeling sorry for me, if you will, but I will take it!
Our trips to Nordstrom’s together and sharing a delicious strawberry-vanilla shake!
Sitting down with our little ones in the middle of the mall eating cheese and fruit saying “This is nice.”
Seeing a cute guy walk by and still being able to appreciate that by saying “That is nice!” (Our husbands are very secure) [I’m a married spud, I’m a married spud!”] :)
All our sayings that we only get, and get weird looks by everyone else! ~ Heed! Move now!, Oh shut-up you’re so annoying!...HE, HE!, IIIIII TELLLL YOUUUU!, What DE Hell! (that’s
The list goes on and gets sillier so I will spare the rest!
You are the BEST hostess, and I love coming to visit you because it is SERIOUSLY like the best B&B!
You still make MY Birthday special even though I’m so far away!
You don’t follow trends, you MAKE them!
…To my sister:
You were there for me when I didn’t have a soul to lean on.
You let me stay with you numerous times when I didn’t want to live at home.
You stuck up for me when I didn’t have a voice. And taught me to not to put up with anybody’s…you know what! (It took a while, but I’ve gotten better!)
You were there when I had to study for chemistry tests, work on dance, break up with boys, and when I left for college.
You have the best recipes, ideas…the best everything!!!. You’re the most loving mother, sister, and daughter I know! You balance so much that, besides mom, you are truly my role model and inspiration to be a better person. Your love for our Heavenly Father, and the faith you have portrayed after all the good and the definite bad we have gone through in our lives is a testimony to me that we were meant to be sisters. You were probably the one TELLING me to be proponent of Heavenly Father’s plan! :)
You have shown me to be myself even if that has meant it wasn’t the same path as others. You have accepted me with my own ideas and views (though some have not come without a fight) and I wouldn’t want it any other way! I love you!
So Happy Belated Birthday to the one and only
...“Everything else is just a knock-off!!!"
Friday, November 16, 2007
Ain't No Party Like an East Coat Party...
...Cuz an East Coast Party Don't STOP!!
LITERALLY!
Okay, I have been way busy and a little under the weather, but needed to update a few things!
I had an awesome 30th birthday. It was seriously a month long full of celebrations that actually ended with John's surprise 30th birthday party! His birthday is 11/13, (lucky 13!) and the past month has been nonstop!
It started out with my mom coming to visit with her best friend that's known me since I was 3. I was so excited to have them here and we had so much fun! I am way into history, and we went to a bunch of museums and historical sites, ate good food, and laughed a lot! My mom is SO fun! And Ursula is so hilarious. She had us going non-stop!
John was totally wonderful and took care of the girls for four days so I could go to VA with them and finish the "colonial tour" and eat more good food. I must admit I cried my eyes out when it was time to say good-bye. I rarely get to see my mom, and I enjoyed having her all to myself (motherly kitchen inspection and all!) My girls loved having Nana here, and we all LOVED her cooking too! My mom is such a good cook, I hope I could be half as good as her some day!
After she left, John and I celebrated 5 years of being married and 12 years of being together (the dates are within a week of each other). Then came Jalen's Birthday, and the official day of my birthday. John watched the girls again for me so I could go shopping and have time for myself. Lovely!
Later on in the month, I celebrated with some girlfriends with a magical (and absolutely fun) night of dinner and dancing!
In between it all came boxes full of delicious and wonderful surprises from family and friends. The best one came from my mom after she left...it was filled with home-made potpourri for the holidays, poems, cakes, tassies, bread, chocolate...just all of my favorite things!
In between all this, John had to leave twice for a week at a time for business. On top of taking care of the girls, being sick, teaching, and running my business; I had a surprise birthday party to plan!
With the help of some of the girls from work, I pulled it off and the night was SOOOO much fun! I think the best part was pulling off the surprise, and getting to spend the night out with my guy.
It was hilarious trying to get him out of the house though, he almost didn't want to go; then he was fighting with our friends that were in charge of bringing him to the party b/c he didn't want to go to the club without me...awww sweet! But I was getting irritated b/c I wanted him there already! He stalled so much, he ended being 20 minutes late! But "The GOOD Surprise" was not wasted!
We are way into cars, I think that was something that I absolutely loved when we first started dating was the love we had for all kinds of automobiles. We both have vehicles we're restoring, and 'Shae' decorated this chocolate sensation of a cake into the front of his '72 C10. (Yes Tera, Pop's truck!)
~~~~~~~~
Ever since John and I have entered parenthood, there have only been 3 babysitters we have called on so we could go out. They were all in the family of my best friends (shout out to the Jones/Keim gals) and all when Jalen was no more than 6-7 months.Besides turning 30, John and I hit another milestone and actually found an AWESOME babysitter in our ward! I love this family, and felt SO blessed to finally have a reliable, beautiful and responsible girl to call on if we need to. She was laughing at me the night of the party b/c John left so late and I was running around like crazy trying to get ready to leave!
Thanks Sienna for all your help!
This may sound like no big deal to some, but for me, (and those of you who know me best) this was BIG. I don't leave my girls with A-N-Y-O-N-E!!! We have had our family watch them for us, so we get to go out (don't think I'm kidding) about 4-5 times a year when his parents visit, or we go to AZ...which is rare.
The 'Over-Protected Duo' is taking a break!!
Okay, so after the shock wore off, John had a GREAT time and everyone said they had a blast as well. I had it in the VIP room of a club here in the OBX and they catered the whole thing. The food was great, the band was totally awesome, and the DJ ROCKED the house! And you know the dance floor is my home!
John was called up on stage by the lead singer and the whole club sang happy birthday to him! We had a few friends from VA surprise him and come down, and it was so good to be with old friends (and new ones) for the night.
Everyone that came from out-of-town stayed with us, so it was a full house.
We had a great "after-party" staying up till about 3:30-4 just talking and hanging out, catching up and talking about different parts of the night.
I'm leaving so much out, but this is long enough, and I gotta go to bed! Peace Out "ya'll"!
Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner was fantastic, and now it's back to the grind! Will have to write about that Oh, and Halloween!...another time! Pictures to come as well!
THINGS TO DO IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Finish packing to move in Dec.
Shop for dessert menu for Progressive Dinner (homemade: cannoli's, choc. cupcakes, gingerbread snowflakes, pumpkin cake, truffles.)
COOK like Crazy
Finish details for a wedding next month
Christmas shopping
Dr.'s appt.'s (4 of them)
Did I mention pack?
Meetings with 2 Photographers
Wedding show meeting
Association meetings
Jalen's Christmas project
Gift for Teacher
Work on other blogs
Cure for World Hunger
...Piece of Cake!
Monday, October 29, 2007
These Small Hours
Today was such a surprise. After church me and the fam went for a ride and met my Relief Society President at the stables to feed her Arabian horse. She's beautiful!
Jalen had a BLAST sitting on her, and Brooklyn was too busy playing with her dogs. We were walking around the property looking at the other horses, and the breeze was so cool and crisp.
We've had such warm weather lately, and believe me I've loved it. But in the blink of an eye, it was Autumn.
Today reminded me of when I was going to school in Pennsylvania. There, in September~ early October the weather jumps into Fall. Before you know it, the leaves are changing and the shades of pink don't linger in the sky as much. I used to LOVE days like these when I lived there. It wasn't too cold yet, and (when I moved out of my step-mother's house) I spent a lot of time outside running, going ATV riding, or just hanging out with friends. It's the time (for me) to pull out an extra blanket and make hot chocolate. Well...anytime is good for hot chocolate!
Pear Tree & Pink SkyI took this picture on my cell phone so it's not that great, but I wanted to remember this day. Our girls were running in the fields, laughing, playing with horses...just being little girls.
I caught the last of the pink in the sky today, savored memories made years ago and made a new one that will happily remain in my thoughts as well.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
No One
I am lame b/c I haven't updated October at all. There's been a whirlwind of things going on, but I'm also out of commission right now.
Thanks to my lovely girlfriends for the fabulous weekend. Will be posting those pic.'s soon.
But for now...
"This goes out to that special person in my life that I couldn't live without all these years."
Yes, someday I will forgive you for taking my camera all those times!!! Hope you're dancing in your car when you hear this on the radio. You know you'll always be one of my best friends.
I know you're not a blogger, I barely count as one. SO as soon as you read this, you can tell me to "blog off" and I won't be mad. Love ya!
...And John - my all time # 1, I love you with all my heart! See you soon.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Permanent One
Take-Out Tuesday
A few years ago, Sheba's friend Missy made a CD for me and it had a couple of Natasha Bedingfield's songs on it.
I fell in love with her voice and also b/c to me, she had so much feeling that came through in her songs.
I hear certain songs, and like second nature, I'm choreographing a dance in my head.
I finished teaching my classes last night, and played this song while I laid on the floor with my eyes closed. Flashes of memories like a picture book danced through my head.
Music has always been like a best friend to me. It has been there for my ups and downs; getting through the good and the bad. An instant time machine for episodes in your life.
Divorce, re-marriages, sisterhood, moving, parties, heartbreak, happiness, friends, boyfriends, summertime, per chance meetings, disappointments, final goodbyes...the list goes on.
I hear the word 'soul mate' and I think of friends that I have the greatest connection with. Friends and family who are not with me anymore. My sisters who, even though we don't always see eye to eye, I have learned to admire them for their beautiful talents; and that they will be there for me through and through ('not for nothing').
My daughters, who teach me something everyday, and pray that they will know I am there for them today and forever. My husband, who, from our first kiss knew we were instant soul mates; through the good and the bad. He keeps me in check, tells me 'like it is', and loves me through all my stubbornness. He supports me and makes me laugh.
I am grateful for all my soul mates. I am grateful I am here on this earth to appreciate them all.
Clean bill of health this time around.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
And-You-Are-IT
OK, my TOTALLY awesome sister TAGGED me a MONTH ago and I've been stalling. Well, I've been busy, but I know she deliberately tagged me because I was making fun of her on the phone about being tagged.
Note to Self: Older sisters always have the upper hand
...(except when we're in Times Square in front of TRL!!!!) Give the Monk a High Five!!
***************************
Jobs I've had:
- The Limited
- Photography Studio
- Scout for Modeling Agency
- Supervisor @Fleet Bank Headquarters
- Publicist
Movie I could watch over again:
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
- Gone With the Wind (yes, I know how long it is)
- Clueless
- Tommy Boy
- Anything with Brad Pitt...[Or Shebs...go see The Kingdom!] ;)
- ACCEPTED
- Can't write them all!
Places I've lived:
- Staten Island & Brooklyn, NY
- Mesa, AZ
- Clarks Summit, PA
- Woodbridge, VA
- Newport News/Yorktown, VA
TV Shows:
- So You Think You Can Dance
- CSI
- Anything on HGTV & Food Network
- My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding
- Dancing With the Stars
- All the 'Friends' re-runs
- Law & Order
- Sex and the City
Places I've been on Holiday:
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Cape May/Wildwood
- St. Thomas/St. John
- Ocracoke Island/Pea Island/all of the OBX
- Catskills
- Ocean City
- Miami/Orlando/Ft. Lauderdale
- Philly
- San Francisco/San Diego
- Niagra Falls & Ontario, Canada
- SLC/Provo/Bethlehem, Utah
- Washington, D.C.
- Connecticut
- Miami & Orlando, Florida
- Island Park/Rexburg
- Bethany Beach
- Hamptons
- The Poconos!!! (ONCE in a lifetime experience)
- NYC...Of Course!
- Springerville/White Mountains/here & there, AZ
Favorite Dishes:
- ANYTHING my Mom makes
- Italian
- Indian & Caribbean
- Spanish
- Thai
Websites I visit:
- Martha Stewart
- The Knot
- Inside Weddings
- Songmeanings
- My two Favorite Photographers : Art Louis Photography & Innate Photographics (Kirsten Lewis)
Places I'd like to be:
- Anywhere in the Caribbean with my family!
- Italy
- New York City ...................... (My sister wrote all three of these; great minds think alike, b/c all these are the ones I was going to write!)
- In Bed
Tagging:
- Tara R.
- Tera T.
- 'Mr. Busyman'
- Jennifer R.
- Dave
- April S.
- Anyone who feels like doing this!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Jumping Off the Cliff...
So the saying: "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?!" came to mind while doing this.
So many friends have done this and I did too many months ago,...but actually having the cajones (sorry if spelled that wrong; have lived out of Arimexico too long I suppose) to post it.
This picture is not the best either, but I took a shot.
The first thought that came to mind was "Wha?! I don't think so!"
But hey...I would never turn down a job to be Beyonce's stand in if she ever needed one!....That's Hot. ;) Love that girl.
I think my personality is too silly to pull off any of these people. After Faith Hill was Gwen Stefani. How they figured that I have NO idea, but I loved her before she was on the map so I'll leave that alone!
If anyone hasn't done this yet, you should! It's fun!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Take-Out Tuesday = Throwback Thursday
I have had these songs on my mind for the whole day...and they're all 'goodies but oldies'.
I can't help but have a smile on my face whenever I hear these songs. I think anyone who lived the 80's has a story about these songs!
Love it!
This one is a little saddening for me to hear, but nonetheless, a great song...
Dedicated to all the John Hughes movie lovers:
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Libra
I'm not one to keep tabs on my horoscope all the time...sometimes it pops up on my homepage and I thought this was rather interesting and nice. My life is very busy right now and felt a little pessimistic this morning. But I really can turn that frown upside down...especially with good friends coming to visit. It will be a nice break.
You can make real gains as you appear more optimistic
than you truly feel, but your current
progress is about neither fame nor fortune.
It's more about the quality
of your interactions.
Remember, good feelings that come from lasting friendships are,
in themselves, great spiritual blessings that are now
available to you for the asking.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Craving
It's almost five in the morning and all I'm craving is the new Twix PB. I usually keep a stash of my high-end choc-o-late-aye in a 'secret spot', but just like Pooh's Hunney Pot...I'm all out. So unfortunately I have nothing in my house except for the Special K Chocolatey Delight.
That's good and all...but which would you HONESTLY rather have? I really like this cereal, but after a day (and night) like I've had, I want my Twix Fix. Mmmm...
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