Happy Opening Cermony Friday!

This week has been nutso, so I am sorry for the lack of postings this week, but I had to start this Friday off with sharing my excitement for the opening ceremony tonight! EeEkkK!!!  The Mister and I will be heading over to Mommy/Daddy’s to watch it in HD.  We’ll also be eating yummie food and having a great time together as we always do.  Where will you be watching? If you aren’t sure and you want to watch with us, let me know!

Oh and Fill in the Blank Friday is back…old format.  Stay tuned for a FitBF post soon.

And with that…Happy Friday, friends!

On the hunt...

Hear ye, hear ye…if you have She Laq, contact me!

OMG.  I just found out (I’m apparently a little late to the party) that one of my daily makeup products has been discontinued, for now at least.  I am in need of a new bottle so since Sonia and I were at the mall (yes, again :P), I swung by Macy’s to purchase my She Laq.  Much to my dismay, I was notified that it has been taken off the shelves and is undergoing some R+D…supposedly a new one is to be released in a year or so.  A YEAR?!?!  What do I do until then?!?!  UGH.

So, if you happen to have a fave eye brow sealant, could you please share your secret with me?  I’m on the hunt for a temporary replacement while my precious is being revamped.

I must be slippin’ cause usually I’m in the know on my beauty products…especially my dailies...  :/

Oh the woes of being a woman! :D  Happy Wednesday, friends!

Love, God

At 10:56am, my cousin Justin and his wife Lauren, gave birth to their first child, a beautiful baby boy!  I’m still pending the details (like his name :D), but so excited for them!  Praying for Justin, Lauren and baby boy Yo as they delight in God’s gift of life.

Oh!  Also congrats to Gary and Kiko as they gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last week too!  Welcome, Noa (7 lb. 8.5 oz. 19.75")! 

Many blessings and lots of love!! XOXO

7 lb. 8 oz. 20”

Enchanted!

While I’ve been dukin’ it out with this cold of mine, my hubby, as always, has been taking exceptional care of me.  Tonight, he made sinigang (Filipino soup with veggies and meat, yummie!), then propped me up in bed and turned on one of my fave movies…Enchanted (what's not to love about a modern-day fairytale in New York?!?!?!)!

I love most things Disney – Disney radio, Disney Channel (even though I have no time to watch it L), and of course, Disneyland!  I’m not one of those crazed Disney fanatics, but I do enjoy the wonderment of the Disney world.  I’m not sure how accurate of a statement it is, but some people have even described me as whimsical.  I guess the fact that I wore a Disney princess ballroom wedding gown, with a glitter tulle skirt, lends to the whole whimsical label.

My Cinderella dress and my dapper prince!

I haven’t watched Enchanted in forever, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!  If you haven’t seen it, you are truly missing out.  I have always believed in (and practiced) the importance of childlike “sillies”…to dance crazy, sing out loud, love wholeheartedly, and of course…share in true love’s kiss. 

Wishing you a magical weekend! XOXO!

Christmas Love

And on that Christmas shopping note, thought it was time to share another Bieber Christmas jingle.  Don’t hate on the video…he’s going thru puberty!  This song, along with Mistletoe, is one of my fave’s from his Christmas album, but as you know, I be bumpin' the Christmas tunes year round!

I can’t wait for Christmas…5 months and counting…:D

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

Last night Sonia and I hit up the Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale.  The sale opens to the public on Friday, but since I’m a cardholder, Jennifer, my Nordies lady, always calls to book an early access shopping appointment with her.  It’s nothing fancy or special, but it kinda nice to be able to go thru the merch before it gets crazy on the floor.  Plus she’s so helpful…if you want something and it’s not in the size or color you are looking for, she goes to get it from their backstock.  Actually, I really like Jennifer.  OK, so onto our awesome finds!

Sonia snagged a super cute leather jacket that she looks fantastic in, and clothes for the kids while I started my Christmas shopping!

 

I did buy one thing for myself…my fave MOR lotion!!  A short story on the MOR lotion – MOR is an Australian company so when we were in NZ for our honeymoon, we saw a MOR store.  I went in all excited thinking that things were going to be so much cheaper because we were so close to Australia, but alas, things were so much more expensive!!  My lotion that I just bought at Nordies for $9.90 on sale (awesome, right?!?!) was $35 NZD, which is like $28 USD!  Even when it’s not on sale, it’s still only $18.  Crazy…

After our shopping extravaganza, we were hungry, and as it turns out, there is a Garden Café (a fave of mine) right down the street!  We stopped in for a quick bite before heading home.

Today, as I’m going thru all my purchases from yesterday, I notice that one category is missing…shoes.  Pretty stilettos or cute rain boots...or maybe both!  We ran out of time yesterday, but also my toe isn’t quite ready for the heels yet…and although I already do have those Enzo’s, I love them enough to have picked up a second pair.  The Valentino (swoon!) rain boots are also fabulously cute but I’m trying to justify the purchase when we live in sunny Southern CA.  :/  Sonia and I are going to go back this weekend sometime so I may have to wander on over, just to see what’s out there. :D

On another note, I’m fightin’ a nasty cold.  Praying it will pass soon!  Happy Wednesday, friends!

Sonia: leather jacket

Christmas gifts: flannel, polo (found that I like Tucker+Tate by Nordstrom), tunic

For the hubby: polo

For me: MOR lotion

Wishful thinking: stilettos, rain boots

And we’re back – Weekend recap!

We are home from sunny Sacramento!  We flew up on Friday morning and spent the day with Jr. – watched Spiderman, went shopping, then headed home to hang out with the fam bam.  In other words, we made sure to engage in activities that provided shelter from the heat.  :D 

Thoroughly enjoyed Spidey!

Saturday was filled with party preparation, and of course the party itself.  We celebrated two birthdays – Jr. (10) and Nana (90), and it was precious time spent with family.  We shared our wedding photos and answered the baby question about 20 times - no, we are not pregnant yet and no, we won’t be anytime soon.  The girl cousins and I hung out (Sharlene did make-up while I did hair), the aunties, Mom and I played cards, we ate loads of food and yummy cake and just enjoyed one another’s company. 

Then came Sunday morning…and after 2 hours of sleep, we headed to the airport.  Jr.’s flight back to Hawaii departed 9:15am and ours at 8:55am.  It was an emotional morning as Jr. said bye to his Mom, Step-dad, siblings, Mama and Papa (my MIL and FIL).  After lots of hugs, kisses and teary goodbyes, we decided to grab a quick breakfast with Jr. before we had to board.   Then it was our turn to say good bye, and as we walked Jr. to his gate to meet his uncle (who is flying back with him), his tears started to fall.    For those of you that know me, the whole situation is a little complicated and too much to write in this post, but as I turned around one last time to tell Jr. I loved him, his “I love you, too” response made my heart ache.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and praying for a blessed week ahead!

Yummy yogurt!

Aren’t they the cutest?!  The whole co-branding thing is genius and it’s awesome that so many of the brands I already love, obviously love HK too…Yogurtland, Hanky Panky, Sephora…and the list goes on.  Come on T&Co., LV, and Lululemon…get on the bandwagon (or maybe it’s better that they aren’t…$27 panties are way different than a $2700 purse and I have the feeling I would want the latter just as much as did the former). 

Anyhow, as always, yummy yogurt tasted even better in my HK cup, using my HK spoon!!  HK’s fave flave is Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet and I have to admit, it’s pretty tasty, even by itself.  If you haven’t already, head on over to your local Yogurtland!  For a limited time, it’s not just a treat for your tongue, but happiness for your heart, because as Sanrio says, “small gift, BIG smile.” :D

HK + Yogurtland, again!

She’s baaaaaaaack!!!! 

HK will officially be making her second debut in Yogurtland stores tomorrow!!  Guess I know where I’m headed after the Mister’s bball game…eeEEKKkK, can’t wait!!  

Home again!

We are home - bags are unpacked, dinner eaten and we even had time to see the worst movie ever.  I should've known better, but oh well...*sigh*

Highlight of the weekend – Sherwin’s catch!  Hooray for my Mister!!!  His fishy has been 5 years in the making.

More pics to come later, but wanted to wish y’all a happy week ahead!

Mammoth Lakes

This weekend we are going to Mammoth Lakes.  Totally looking forward to the beautiful scenery and oddly enough, being in the car with my Mister for the 6 hour drive. 

If you’ve talked to me recently, you’ve heard my growing aversion for long car rides, but for some reason, this drive is different.  It’s different because it’s a new drive for us.  We’ve never been to Mammoth together and we get to take a completely different route.  It’s not our 6+ hour drive up the 99 to Sacramento (woo hoo, we are flying up next weekend, NOT driving!) and I’m praying it won’t be like our recent 8 hour drive to Las Vegas (oil spill on the 15 – BOOOO).  Just as the pro’s (J+Josh)  told me earlier this week, we will be heading up the 395 and that, for us, is new.  It will also be just my Mister and I, and as much as I am “the more the merrier” type, I do LOVE being with just him.

I’m sure there will be a post and pics to follow, but until then, thank goodness for Daddy!  He gave us this trusty handbook and as long as nothing’s changed since 1976, we’re all set (hee hee…do love you, Daddy)!

Happy weekend, friends!       

Thankful Thursday...for grace

Good reminder and thank God for grace. 

What is it about feeling like no matter how much we do, it’s never enough?  Praising the Lord for the blessing of those in my life that keep me from going crazy (or at least minimize it), and for the grace He extends to us daily. :D  Happy Thursday, friends!

Independence Day!

As we celebrate our nation’s independence, I am reminded of how privileged I am to live in America.  Thank you Lord, for the blessing of freedom and for the multitude of provisions that you have bestowed upon our nation.  In God we trust, and I do mean that literally.

And before we start diggin’ into tbe bbq and lightin’ up the fireworks, a tid bit of history.  It’s amazing to see how one of our Founding Fathers, 236 years ago, had it so totally right, except for the day, but hey, close enough right?! 

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

                                                       -John Adams, in a letter written to his wife Abigail

And of course, I couldn’t leave ya without some music for your eyes and ears!  This performance, often referred to as the best Star Spangled Banner rendition ever, is a 2-for-1 tribute…one for our nation, and one for the incredibly talented Whitney.

Happy 4^th of July!  Let the celebrations begin!

Independence Day (United States). Retrieved July 4, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

Happy Monday!

Hope your short week is off to as great of a start as mine is!  A phone date, or actually any kind of date with J, always leaves my heart overflowing with all things good – I love that girl. 

Oh, and a picture that I forgot to post yesterday…wishing us all leisurely moments like that of Lolli Oli’s. 

XOXO!

Weekend recap - Fun in the sun!

I just realized that it’s been a while since I wrote a weekend recap!  Our weekends have been nuts  (most of them have been spent out of town) and I am so behind on sharing what’s been happening!  This weekend was the first in over a month, and the last until another month, where we didn’t have any must-do’s (other than a work appointment I had on Saturday), which is awesome because I’ve actually been kinda fightin’ a bug of some sort…not full blown sick, but not my normal self either…just annoying.

Anyhow, we kicked off the weekend with a Friday night dinner with Mommy and Daddy.  After dinner they came over for wedding pictures and dessert.  Mommy and Daddy are like the only ones, outside of Sherwin and I, who actually are still excited to do all things wedding related and I love them for it.  Five discs and an almond jello dessert later, they headed home.  The Mister and I hung out till about 3:30am, then called it a night.

Saturday morning, Sherwin went over to my parents to help Daddy with some yard work.  I cleaned up around the house and needless to say, even though our plan was to sleep in a bit, we were both up and doing stuff by 9:30am, which I guess is, kinda sleeping in. :/  The Mister came home to go with me on my work errand, and after, we swung by the mall to do some shopping.  Oh, BTW, I have decided that a certain pair of zori’s need not be worn until my toe is fully recovered.  They are the shoes I wore in Vegas one day that gave me a blister and on Saturday, after just an hour or so of shopping, my toe was throbbing.  I think they don’t give my foot enough support, but they are super cute and one of three flats I own.  Ugh, my toe issue is killin’ me!  Came home, watched video upon video of the new MacBook Pro with retina display (it is fancy, folks!), took a nap, then went to work on my blog.  I’ve been wanting to give my blog a summer look and was inspired by J’s recent updo, but I spent 3+ hours last night researching and trying codes and it got me nowhere.  Truth be told, I was super frustrated and in a bad mood so finally I just went to bed. 

Sunday morning, late for church as usual (but the hubby did make me some yummy pancakes for breakfast!), then came home for lunch with my Mister, Mommy and Daddy.  Since Sherwin had a double-hitter today (2 bball games in a row), I decided to head up to Nafan-Chan and Diana’s for a swim day.  All in all, a relaxing weekend at home didn’t turn out to be so relaxing, but I did enjoy being with family and spending some QT with the hubby.  Hope you enjoy our fun-in-the-sun day pictures (sorry for the bad quality, they were all taken with an iphone) and wishing you all a fantastic 4^th of July week!

  Lolli Oli practicing her diving!

  Lolli Oli and Diana :D

  Hi Bubbas!

  Cheese!

Daddy having fun with Mommy

  Bubbas sad to go inside…

After a long day of fun in the sun…zzzZzzz