It's that time of year again...Miami Spice 2009! In the months of August through September Miami's best restaurants offer 3 course meals for a $22.00 lunch and a $35.00 dinner. Although that may sound expensive to some it's really a great price compared to the the regular menu of these restaurants. I am hoping to at least visit two of the participating restaurants this year, but since Fernando and I are going to San Fran, that may be out of the questions...we have to save for our trip!!! Two restaurants I have my eye on this year are: Meat Market, and Kobe Club. Hopefully the portions are not so small as some of the restaurants we have visited in the past, so beware if you plan on doing a Miami Spice dinner. I know I want a dinner menu not a tasting menu!
So once again I come home to find this on my dinning room table, mind you my birthday is not until September 1st.
I of course ask my husband what this black birthday bag is all about? He tells me to open it and find out. I open the bag to find a card and a small paper folded up with a note that says "Open me to see your gift".
I unfold the paper to find a picture of this:
That's right people we are going to San Francisco Labor Day weekend!! I am sooooo excited!!!
Last night was such a fun night! RCM Band was asked to play at another local church for there annual youth week, and we happily agreed. It was such a blessing and great to see such young people excited for God. I pray that God may continue to use us!!!
This weekend was Veronica's Baby Shower, and what a beautiful shower it was!! Everything was just so perfect and pretty in pink! I want to start by saying that Michelle Capo from Two Girls and a Card Shoppe did an awesome job with the invitations and all the decorations.
Tell me these are not the cutest baby shower invitations you have ever seen!
The Centerpieces & Decor
Sign In and Cake Table
I love everything she did and wished I would have known her while planning my wedding, but there will always be other events.
The Happy Parents!!
I am very happy for my cousins as they prepare for the new addition to our family, and I can't wait to meet her!!!
So I come home this afternoon to find this little blue box on top of my dinning room table...
(Please excuse the mess of papers in the background)
So I ask my husband "What is this?", and he of course acts dumb saying "I don't know?!?!" If there is anything I love, it's antique looking keys, I am absolutely obsessed with them. I don't know exactly why it is I love them so much, but I just do. I think they are so beautiful, and who knows what they could possible unlock? So my husband being the great man that he is gave me this just because:
My father gave me a similar, but smaller gold key several years ago, which is right about when I believe my key obsession began. That small golden key was given to him by a family friend who helped my father a great deal in the past. It was gifted to him along with a small book titled the golden key, on his one year anniversary of being sober, and it is said to be the key to willingness. My father later gifted that same key to me, and my hope is to use that key as a family heirloom in the future. I now have four beautiful keys each of them given to me by people I love dearly. Who knows perhaps I will give all four of them as heirlooms in the future!
So I was at Panera Bread this afternoon, and had some time to kill, so I decided to go to the Ross next door to see what I could find. Once I entered I was on a search to find some cute gifts for the winners of the games at Veronica's baby shower next weekend. To my luck I was able to find most of the prizes, but the best prize of all was these Jessica Simpson nude pumps I found. I of course bought these HOTT shoes for myself, and I'm still in shock that I was able to find these babies for only $20.00!!! I love finding bargains like these!!! Nude shoes are definitely in, and I believe are essential basic for a functional wardrobe (not that I know anything about that)! They pretty much go with everything, and that is more bang for your buck!! Nude shoes are suppose to make your legs look longer, but in my case my legs are so white it might not do the job that it it intended to.
The shoes look darker in the picture, but they are alot lighter!!!
I believe that aside form family friends are an essential part of life. I was lucky enough to spend some quality time with some special ladies last night for a potluck dinner!! I met some of these ladies several years ago at the church I attended. We shared our lives, our tears, our joys, and countless other things with one another at our weekly Tuesday night meetings. We don't get to spend time togther much anymore due to our busy lives, but its always nice to stop from the craziness of life and find time to spend together as we used to. These young ladies will always have a special place in my heart!!!
I received an e-mail this morning with 45 lessons that I thought I should share. These 45 lessons were written by a woman named Regina Brett. Mrs. Brett is a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland Ohio. She states:"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written...My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more: "
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?' 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come. 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Today Mrs. Brett is 90 year old, and I love when people share there wisdom as she has.
Today my husband and I make half a year of being married, it is crazy to think how quickly time fly’s right by us. In six more months we will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary! I hear the top of the cake does not taste so bad after a year of refrigeration. I wonder does being married a year mean you are no longer a newlywed?
Mac is coming out with a touchscreen laptop! Now I am not much of a technological type of person, and for all I know this could be old news, but I believe this is one cool gadget! No one knows what it will really look like but I guess it would look like a giant I-phone and according to Good Morning America it is supposedly being released this October. I guess we will just have to wait and see if the rumors are true.
The Egipciaco family, Justamante family, and Relevant Kids has a new addition. Baby Elyse was born today, and she is absolutely beautiful, she has brown hair and weighs approximately 6lbs 10 ozs. Karina spent 30 minutes in labor, and she did not even have time to mess up her hair. I hope that the day I am blessed with children my labor will be just as short.
That little boy stole my heart and I am sure his little sister will steal it too!!
If anyone knows me, they know how much I adore my grandmother! I love her with all my heart and soul and I can not imagine a day without her! She called me yesterday afternoon and read a poem that she wrote in regards to family, and I asked her if she was happy already knowing that her answer was YES! I guess her birthday inspired her to write. Today my grandmother turns 70 and I pray for 40 more years of her sassy and firecracker personality to bless upon this world. I only hope that when I am her age that I am everything that she is. At the end of September God willing my grandmother will become a great-grandmother to my cousin's baby girl. The first baby in my family since we all grew up (lol). I love her excitement for the up and coming new addition to our family and all the wisdom she has to share with me. I love calling her in the late afternoon just to hear her voice, and see how her day is going and I especially love calling her at night just to say good night Mima. Most of all I love being able to celebrate another birthday with her!
All I can say is bless my husbands heart! I am very grateful for the man God has given me and I could not ask for a better husband. I laughed to myself this afternoon as I opened my lunch to find what leftovers he had packed away for me to eat. I truly believe my husband thinks I eat as he does, I am girl for crying out loud!
This is what he served me.
This is what I actually ate.
Again all I can say is bless my husbands heart!
My co-worker was laughing as she watched me take pictures of my food.
So my husband decided to surprise me with a trip to Disney this past weekend. It feels as though ever since we got married we barely have any time for ourselves and I figured once we were married it would be quite the opposite. I don't know if it's that we are involved in too many extra curricular activities or we just can't sit still, but it sure was nice to get away. I felt like a little kid as I packed my suit case and got all excited only drive four hours away from home. I love Disney and I love Mickey Mouse, but then again who doesn't? For the first time I looked at the Disney theme park in a different way. I thought to myself one day my husband and I will be bringing a munchkin of our own here to visit Mickey Mouse for the first time. I saw all the families walk by us and with there excited children in this magical place. Although neither one of us is any where near ready to have children I pray that God gives us wisdom when that day does come. If and when it does I will definitely not be taking them in July it was way too HOT, but then again watching the Fourth of July fireworks at the happiest place on earth was well worth it.
So I finally finished reading New Moon by Stephenie Meyer and I am waiting for my mentee (Nathalie) to catch up to me to begin reading Eclipse. I have become so consumed with this whole twilight saga that I have already convinced several of my friends to start reading its along with me. It's funny because I never would have thought I would enjoy reading this saga as much as I have, and can not wait till November to see New Moon in theaters.
Third time in my lifetime I have had the oportunity to see my favorite band perform in my home of sunny south Florida. It's the second time I get to see them perform at The Cruzan Amphitheater and I absolutely love the atmosphere at this venue. I don't know if it's because you can select to sit on the grass, or because it's outdoors or maybe seeing all the differnt types of people that attend is what gets me, but I love this venue for any concert.
It seems like in today's day in age you can find out anything about anyone via cyber space. With websites, such as google, facebook, myspace, twitter, linked, Hi5, blogger, wordpress etc. it is easy to access information about anyone. You can learn about a person's personal life, find out about any past convictions, and even see pictures of there daily lifestyle. It 's crazy to think that you can connect with people in way which was not possible several years ago. Are we losing personalization in this cyber era? Is it easier to write an e-mail or call someone rather than to write a card and send it through the mail or even meet someone up for coffee? Or is this cyber era only enhancing our ways of communicating? I recently had a friend discover my blog and he told me he was surprised because he thought I was more of a private type of person, although that is true to some degree I do enjoy writing. What's the point of writing something if no one is ever going to read it? After our brief conversation I realized that perhaps we do not live in a private world anymore, but the only ones who are to blame for that is ourselves. Is it necessary to join or be apart of all of these websites?
I am not one to watch any type of beauty pageant, but I could not fight my interest in this story. As I was driving to work and listening to the radio this morning the discussion was about Ms. Carrie Prejean and her answer to a very controversial question at last nights Miss USA pageant. What I learned in my short car ride to work was that Ms. Prejean also known as Miss California was the runner up of this pageant and was asked by judge #8 Perez Hilton a controversial question in regards to gay marriage. The question was as follows:
"Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?"
I love the honesty and brazenness in her response; although I do believe she could have been more articulate in her answer she still nonetheless gave her opinion, which is exactly what Mr. Hilton asked for. Her response was this:
"I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”
Ms. Prejean did not win the pageant and there is talk that her loss was due to her response to this very question. I do not believe her response was offensive or made to alienate anyone but that's just my opinion. I do however also feel her loss was not due to her response, but perhaps to her nervousness about responding to the subject matter. She states that "we live in a land in which we can choose same-sex marriage...” if that were true Mr. Perez would not be asking her if all states should legalize this type of marriage. What bothers me the most about this whole incident is the attention that has been taken away from Miss North Carolina who was crowned Miss USA Sunday night, and how upset, abrasive, and rude Mr. Perez has been towards Ms. Prejean once the pageant concluded to the point of using profanity to describe her. I feel Mr. Perez was opposed to her response and because of it choose to attack her. Mr. Perez states that her response was not the correct response a possible Miss USA should give, he states, "I do expect Miss USA to be politically correct". Does being politically correct mean you have to lose who you are? Isn't Miss USA supposed to be a woman who sets an example for other young women? If so what are we teaching young woman by being politically correct, that it is okay to put your beliefs on the backburner to win a title?
Are we politically correct? What are your thoughts on this topic?
Leadership is a topic that is constantly discussed. It is discussed in grade school, high school and all throughout our collegiate careers. It is even discussed in non-academic environments such as non-profit organizations, religious organizations, and in the work place. Wherever we go a leader or leaders surround us, and at some point in our lives we have all been or will be leaders. Whether it be in an emergency situation by simply telling someone to "call 911" is taking ownership for the situations and stepping up to the plate. Leadership is everywhere! Some leadership positions have more weight to them then others do, for example the President of the United States has more on his shoulders than say the Mayor of a city or town. My question is; is everyone really meant to be a leader? If a child fails second grade is it the teachers fault he/she failed? If those you lead fail, does that make you less of a leader? These questions have bothered me for months now. Leaders fail not because the follower fails but because of the leaders failure to realize the responsibility that comes along with the title of "leader". For a while I believed it was the leaders fault for the failer of his/her followers, but is the leader responsible for the actions of the followers? I came to the conclusion that you can't control what people do! People have a choice and will make choices whether good or bad, right or wrong, but when choices are made our leaders/mentors are supposed to guide us in the right direction. You see being a leader it is not just about you, or the position or status you may hold. True leadership is about everyone else around you, the example you set, by the way you live your life, and by the way you react to things. I am no expert, but I know that no one is perfect and leadership is hard, and is always always up for the judgment of others! I can not find or know a perfect leader, but I have found people willing to change for the better and make a difference no matter how small or large, and that is the kind of leader I want and the leader I strive to be.
Are you a leader, and if so what is the force that drives you to be a leader?
Another year has gone by, and I once again have Monday's off because the Relay for Life 2009 is now over. In November, we will begin planning once again for Relay 2010, and that is only 7 months away. This year my team decided to do something different in comparison to the past few years, we decided to sell Corn on the Cob and what a great success it was!!! I thought of the idea when I visited the Our Lady of the Lakes Festival in March. I saw how successful selling corn was for them, and I could not help but want to do the same at our Relay. The Relay over all did not collect as much as it has in past years; but, one must take into consideration the state of our economy, and even in these tough times this event collected over $47,000.00. Our Committee Chair did a great job for her first year as Chair, and I am excited to see what will happen in her second year. Hopefully next year we will have even more volunteers and even more people motivated to help fight this terrible disease.
Below is a picture of our Relay For Life Committee 2009 after the Relay was over.
In December of 2008, I began mentoring a 13 year old young lady who has taught me several things in a short period of time. In an effort to do something together I suggested that we read a book of her choice; now I am not one to read novels or fiction stories of any sort, unless it is some form of classic literature book. I was not sure what to expect while she contemplated which book we should read. For the most part I enjoy reading any type of religious, self help, psychology, or biographical book, so when my mentee suggested reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer I was not too enthused with the idea. I had seen the movie prior to reading the book, because my little sister-in-law was absolutely obsessed with the whole twilight saga. To some degree I wanted to know what the fuss was all about, but I also wanted to know what was her obsession with Edward Cullen (character in the book), she literally went to see the movie at least 9 times before she got the bootleg copy to watch at home. I was not blown away with the movie, but thought it made an interesting love story. I have recently finished the first book of the series, and read the entire 544 pages of the book in less than a week. I feel the movie is not nearly as detailed and leaves out a great deal of substance in comparison to the book. I have now opened my horizons to reading novels and fictitious stories which was something I failed to do in the past. I am excited to start the second book New Moon, since I will not be cheated out of using my imagination because I saw the movie prior to reading the book. If new characters are introduced I will now be able to imagine on my own what the could possibly look like in my mind. If you have not read or seen the movie jump on the band wagon and see what you are missing.
This past Sunday, the Easter Bunny came to Relevant Church. It is the first time ever that Mr. Bunny visits our church, and the kids really seemed to enjoy having him around. The parents also seemed to love having a family picture taken with him, and I must admit I was a little skeptical about having Mr. Bunny around. I thought to myself if I was a kid I think I would be a little terrified of a giant size bunny coming at me, but to my surprise none of the kids cried. Below are a few pictures of our Easter Sunday, Vanessa Alves did a great job taking pictures!
After many years Relevant Church of Miami is finally going to have it's very first worship night! This is going to be a great event and we would love for everyone to join us on April 4, 2009, at IBB (17701 NW 57 Avenue Miami, FL 33055). Doors open @ 6:45 hope to see you there!
So I guess since I met this wonderful couple on my honeymoon everyone has decided to call and inform me that Tom & Gisele have decided to tie the knot. I bet if I had never met them no one would care to share this piece of information with me, but apparently they got married in a small private ceremony in Santa Monica, California according to People Magazine. I guess most celebrity couples decided to do it this way to avoid all the media, unless they are Donald and Ivanka Trump.
It's been a crazy few months for me, and I feel as though time is passing by so quickly. I recently returned from my honeymoon, and my husband and I went on a seven day cruise. At the last stop on our cruise my husband planned for us to disembark from the ship in order to spend the next four days at an upscale and exclusive resort. So our first day at this beautiful resort we decided to go lay out on the beach and take advantage of the sun and beautiful scenery. Those of you who know me, know I need to take as much advantage of the sun as possible. So as we laid out we kept seeing a group of people walking back and forth to small tent in front a large home that the resort rents out. Come to find out the group that kept walking back and forth was Gisele Bundchen (famous Victoria Secret & Sports Illustrated Model) and her crew working on a photo shoot right there on our beach. What are the odds of that happening? Once we discovered who she was my husband and I began to wonder if Tom Brady was perhaps lurking around the resort as well (considering that the two are dating), but he was no where in sight. My husband of course thinks he is Mr. Paparazzi trying to take pictures of this gorgeous woman on the beach and from the balcony of our suite, and I had hope of seeing Tom. The next day we decided to go lay out by the pool on a side that faced the ocean, and guess who comes and literally sits right next to us, with her boyfriend? You guessed it, Gisele and one of the hottest and most talented QB's in the NFL Tom Brady!! My husband finally built up the courage to talk to Mr. Brady and informs him that he is one of his fans, but that he also was a Miami Dolphins Fan. I nearly wanted to kill him, how can you tell one of the best QB's in the NFL that you are a Dolphin Fan? I loved Mr. Brady's response to my husband it was a mere "oh no". I wanted to tell Tom (because we are on a first name basis now...right!) how he was my first pick for my fantasy team this year and how he killed my team by getting injured so early on in the season, but then I thought to myself he probably gets that a lot. What kills me is that I have never picked a QB in the first round, and what are the odds that Tom Brady is going to get injured. Ugh! I guess you just never know!! As far as his injury is concerned let's just that Gisele nursed him back to health. As the next few days passed we continued to see the couple in the resort as they enjoyed there time there as much as we did.
How many people can say they met Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen on there honeymoon?
Gisele and her crew walking back and form from the tent during the photo shoot.
The guy laying out in the black shorts and white tank top behind me is Tom Brady
These picture are from the Boston Herald and they must have been taken from the ocean or from a helicopter in the sky, but they are literally right next to us in the picture where Gisele is feeding Tom. The location in which the Boston Herald states that they are at in these pictures is incorrect, but who am I to tell a newspaper they are wrong.
I am a believer in God, a daughter, a wife, a friend, and family woman. I love my church, my dog (Puchie) music, singing, culture, art, writing, reading, and learning. I will forever be a student, a city gal, a Dallas Cowboy fan (Go Romo!), a Miami Heat fan and I will never ever stop thinking!!
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