Living Life Family Style

It seems crazy to me that I have a baby, life is moving forward, and I haven't been blogging to document all the things that happen.  Of course living life "family style" is exactly the reason I DON'T have time, but I need to MAKE the time.  It's too important.

So forgive my laziness, my lack of keeping up, and know that consistency is a goal I aim for (though I forgive myself in advance for any lapses that are likely to happen).

I wish I could say the challenges of 2013 were dead and gone, but I can't say that.  There IS one major difference, however. 

Shit is still hard, but we are staying focused on what we want to see rather than what is.

That may sound a little weird or airy fairy, but we (my lover who likes to remain nameless) and I both understand and live by the principles of the Law of Attraction.  So rather than spell out all the challenges that happen, we prefer to focus on the outcomes we desire. 

In real time that means we look forward to having a working car, more than enough money to satisfy all of our financial obligations, and to attend to our dental and medical needs pronto.

Living life "family style" was certainly a rocky transition for me.  Going from the single, do-whatever-I-want-whenever-I-want lifestyle to being a step-parent, almost-wife, having a baby, living in stretch pants and pajama shirts with financial ruin made me feel like a big blob of gross.

It took a while....like almost a YEAR to regain my brain power after having a baby.  Is this what its like?  You get stupid for a year, become a food machine, and daydream about the clothes that used to fit?  Oh man.... this is not the romantic concept of having a baby I'd imagined! 

I'm not going to say those challenges don't come up....but I confidently say that my brain has been re-booted, the weight is starting to come off, I'm feeling a little more human, and family life is becoming more fun.  It's hard not to be over the moon when a 1 year old smiles at you with all the love and admiration and sunshine you can ever imagine. 

As long as I get a few quite moments to myself every day, my sanity stays intact.  Going to work, running errands by myself....these are all a saving grace!

My baby girl is getting smarter and bigger every day. She says "banana" and "mmmmmoooooooorrrree", and can sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".  She's sassy but sweet, loves dancing and snuggling, and blows me kisses when I leave for work. 

It may sound generic to a non-parent.  I know I would think so if I was reading this.  But when this is a little person you watched as a non-moving, lays-there-like-a-slug day in and day out for months, these little milestones are huge.  And the sad thing is they are so fleeting. 

I do my best every day to enjoy what she is and can do right now, because I know in as short as a few weeks from this moment, this accomplishment will be old news...she'll have new accomplishments to be excited about, and before I know it, she'll be big. 

I'm not sure I can take it.  Please stay little baby girl. Please?

It still trips me out that I'm a mama.  Being from Utah, I assumed I would have been married by 23, have three kids by age 30, and have far more financial success by this age. 

I guess one thing I've learned from life is it pretty much NEVER turns out the way you expect.  So knowing that, why spend so much time in our heads thinking about the future?  It never happens like that anyway.  haha  Being in the moment is a much better payoff.

2013...the Year of Miracles

I realized recently that I hadn't updated my blog in ages. It was both intentional and unintentional.

This year has been the best...and the worst EVER.  In my entire LIFE.

Most of this year has been one enormous struggle after another, and was consumed by financial struggle beginning to end.  It's been uncomfortable, painful, and has created many sleepless nights.

As hard as it's been, however, I can also tell you 2013 has been the Year of Miracles. 

We have been rescued by friends, family members, and resources have shown up in the most random ways. We have witnessed miracle after miracle, have seen charity in action, and have been blessed beyond measure. 

There were days when I realized we had $4 to our name (with a family of four, an empty fridge and no gas in the car)....but we didn't panic because a check from a loving relative showed up to get us through another day.

Yeah, it's been that kind of a year.

But like I said....even more than the struggling and pain of what we have been going through, we have been blessed beyond measure! 

The biggest blessing of all this year was getting to spend so much precious time with my new baby girl Zara.  Zara was born on New Year's Eve, and every day is a joy to spend with her. Now that she's days away from being 1 year old, her personality is really shining through and she's absolutely hilarious!

She's gentle yet powerful, an old soul, and has a Yoda-like look in her eye that tells you she just "knows" things.  She speaks with conviction, punctuation, and expression and has done so since she was 10 months old. Some of her gibberish is morphing into real words now, too.  Words like "bye bye" and "banana". 

She's an escape artist, getting past any barricade you create to go up the stairs, she could dance before she could walk, and she LOVES Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Her smile and laugh lights up my soul, and no level of despair could compete with such joyful moments. 

She's kind of amazing.

Most of the time, being wrapped up in all-things-baby has buffered me from the raw-ness of everything else. There have been meltdowns, breakdowns, and all-out brawls....but in the end, we still have a roof over our head, food to eat, lights are on, and we're still sticking together through it all.

I feel like this year truly tested me, and helped me see where I am strong and where I need to grow. 

 

I can now see how I play it safe and where I need to step up and own the potential God gave to me.  I'm ready to let go of the struggle and embrace the unknown as I follow my dreams. 

 

Just as I got to experience the Year of Miracles in 2013, I hope 2014 becomes the Year of Living My Dreams and Enjoying Outrageous Success and Prosperity! 

 

Stay tuned...

 

Life Couldn't Be More Different

It's been 2 years since the last time I blogged, and life couldn't be more different.

Since the last entry, I have moved three times, moved in with my lover Z and his kiddo, struggled the course as an almost-stepmom, and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.  Friends have come and gone, my spirit has been stretched, and now I have plenty of "baby weight" to get rid of.  Life has been tremendously hard, yet I am given the gift of seeing miracles happen on a regular, dare-I-say DAILY basis. Despite the challenges, I feel incredibly blessed!

Z and I have been on a path of growth and we have been blessed with two HUGELY misunderstood phenomenons.  1) Seeing the Law of Attraction working in our lives and 2) An incredible MLM or multi-level marketing/ network marketing opportunity is front and center in our lives. 

Here's the reality.

1) My life operates full force on the Law of Attraction.  That's how I met Z in the first place!  Why have I attracted such hard times, financial turmoil, and a mouthy pre-teen into my life these last few months?  I have no idea.  But I did....and I understand that's growth I must sustain.  Besides....it gives me one helluvah story when it all shifts into abundance!

2) There is no other industry so misunderstood and yet so powerful as network marketing!  Hands down.  What else is going to bring you products to benefit your life, give you more time to spend with people you love, and give you the gift of EXTREME financial abundance?  You can be a high school dropout, parolee, or complete bum and STILL be successful in MLM.  I guarantee 90% of you who ask if it's a pyramid scheme have no real idea what that means.  The oldschool way of going to college to get a job for a secure future is quickly becoming obsolete.  Why go into massive debt to learn something that may not serve you; to work a job and make someone else rich while you just "get by"; retire in 50 years and THEN decide to live your life, take vacations (if you can afford to), etc.  Inflation will eventually burst your bubble.

Why not work your butt off for 2-5 years, and then kick back and enjoy your life!?  How 'bout them apples?

Frankly I'm not employable anymore.  Network marketing is the ONLY option for this big-mouthed chica.

So when you see us taking vacations, rockin some sweet toys, living in a beautiful home...you won't even have to ask.  You'll say, "Network marketing?"  And I'll shout a thunderous and enthusiastic "YES!!"

See what we do, and join the ride!

My first ride a bust.

I haven't exactly been diligent in getting on my bicycle. I was jazzed about not having to work at all today, and decided it would be a great day to ride to the beach. It would be my first high-mileage adventure.

Then I woke up to the sound of rain.

My desire to turn over and go back to sleep eased my disappointment in the early morning hours, but once I was up and moving, I couldn't help but be bummed about my foiled plans.

I've also felt some frustration at having no training advice or support given so far. Next week I'm signed up for an online class that supposedly gives the 101 on bike riding. I'm relieved, because thus far, I feel lost. I know NOTHING about riding bikes, other than this childhood lesson:

Don't take your hand off the handle bars to wave to a neighbor when you're flying down a hill in a bikini. You will crash, get a black eye, half your face will be scraped off, along with mammoth sized scrapes down your ribcage and thighs. Your face will be swollen for a better part of a year, and your shiny, neosporined wounds will frighten folks of all ages.

Hopefully this childhood lesson won't come into play this time around.

Inevitably, I do believe a crash will happen. When? I don't know. How bad? Not sure. Will I be able to still give massages with sustained injuries? That is the golden question. Clearly I will have to learn to ride with clip on pedals. But clipping OUT of the pedals when I need to stop.... will I remember in time? Another golden question.

Regardless of this inevitable and looming crash, I'm waiting for the skies to clear so I can hop on my second-hand mountain bike and cruise the mean streets of Los Angeles. I've got the gel seat cover, I've got blinky, obnoxious lights so cars will see me, and my wonky, really-need-a-new-one helmet to keep me comfortable and safe.

Wish me luck. And just to be on the safe side, maybe ship me a case of neosporin.

AIDS RIDE....from San Francisco to Los Angeles

So everyone thinks I'm a little crazy. I have to agree. I'm not a hardcore cyclist...in fact, I'm not a cyclist at all. The closest I've ever come to being a cyclist is my 6am spin classes with Marcus a few times a week. I don't have the clothes, the fancy shoes....I don't even have a road bike.

But when I decide to do something, logic or knowing the odds against me don't always factor in.

So I'll be hitting the streets on my mountain bike, running shoes, and loads of sunblock so I can begin to convince myself I'm really going to do this. This ride raises money to make a difference in the lives of people living with AIDS/HIV. It will be me and a few hundred of my friends making the ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles June 5-11th.

It will take a week. Its 545 miles. I might need to get my head checked. But at the end of the day, I am hoping to contribute to something much bigger than myself. And in doing so, I get to be challenged, tested, and maybe I'll even grow a little.

As I embark on training for such madness, I ask for your support. Know that giving, even if you don't think you can, is an opportunity for you grow a little yourself. Please help me support the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, and the SF AIDS Foundation by giving what you can. Your support, whether it be financial or words of encouragement, creates healing. And for those living with AIDS/HIV, healing is exactly what is needed.

You can make donations by going to this site: http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE10/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=2573801&pg=personal&fr_id=1330

I will post training updates, thoughts, and experiences I have as I train on my blog. I invite you to follow me on this journey, and share your thoughts and support along the way.

My first Triathlon. Success!!!!

I did it!! I finished my first triathlon, and I can't begin to tell you how fun it was!

I was nervous. I had burned out on working out a week and a half before the event, and I hadn't worked out AT ALL in that time. I only got my hands on a working, real-life bike two days before, so I wasn't able to practice riding in the streets. My lazy behind never ran in the streets either. I hadn't run outside probably since marathon training.... or shortly thereafter. Running outside is great, but living in LA makes it harder. You're breathing bus and car exhaust, getting caught at every street light... and you'll have near-death experiences every few minutes as bikers and cars nearly run you over. Its a tough job, I'm telling you.

So I dragged my family out at 5:45am and headed to Pasadena Rose Bowl. The event didn't seem very organized.... nothing was easy to find, I was missing things in my packet...blah blah blah. I'm just glad I was early enough to figure everything out before it was time to get to the start line.

I had no idea what to expect. There was a "transition area" where you set your bike up and set out anything you might need. I took my dirty, second hand, bought-it-for-twenty-bones mountain bike, and set it up next to the elite, aerodynamic, $4000 triathlon bikes.

The whistle blew and we started out running. Somehow I managed to be in the very front of the group when we started..... don't ask me how. I was reminded of this when my baby brother said, "Manda... why did you start out at the front, and by the time you came around again, you weren't at the front anymore?" I stuck out my hand and said," Hi, I'm Slowpoke Simon....nice to meet you."

I had expected adrenaline and excitement to push me, give me more speed, maybe shave some minutes off my time. Then about .2 miles into it, I felt my body dragging. I couldn't believe it. I knew I should have trained outside, but this seemed ridiculous! I felt like I was barely moving. I berated byself for a good mile, just shaking my head at failing to train properly. I started to feel tired, and suddenly, there it was. The 2 mile marker. It was only a 3.1 mile run. Thats when I realized the worst part of the whole event was nearly over. Yay! And then the tide changed for me. The last mile was downhill, and suddenly I picked up speed. I was cruisin....passing people, getting more energy..... I was on a roll. I suddenly wished the run was longer.

I ran to the transition area to grab my bike with my people cheering and screaming "YOU CAN DO IT MANDERPANTS!!!

It's amazing what a litte encouragement and mild embarassment will do to your energy levels.

I got on the bike and was CRUISIN.....

I finally felt the speed I had wished for in my run. As I sped away from the cheering crowd, suddenly the ride got tougher. Thats when I realized why I had struggled so much in my run. It wasn't because I was unprepared or out of shape! The first two miles is at an INCLINE. I had been running uphill. As slight as it was, I hadn't noticed it so much..... but hoofing it on the bike, it became noticeable. I forgave myself for all the attitude I'd had about it...and was proud that I made good time despite the challenge.

The bike part was 9 miles. Not so far, but by the last go around of the loop...I was itching to get onto the next part. I tried to go faster....I messed with the gears.....and I will say the last downhill mile was FUN! I switched the gears so I could pedal as I was going downhill, and I got some serious speed. I was trying not to imagine crashing into the 8 year olds in front of me, or hitting a patch of sand and biffing it big time. I was pretending I was a hardcore athlete.... where nothing but finish lines and award ribbons are happening. Not eating pavement or nursing a concussion.

As I cruised into the transition area to prep for the swim, I hollered at my people to rush to the pool. It wasn't close at all, so they all had to book it over there pretty fast. It was the tiniest swim I ever heard of in a triathlon. 150 meters and it was all over.

Of course I wasn't about to wear a bathing suit in public, let alone RUN in one. No thank you. So I tore off my shirt and did the pants/sports bra thing. Its amazing how pants will kill your speed. Kill it! I felt like I was dragging a small child through the water.

A few strokes into my swim, my goggles got all wonky. The left side filled with water, so I had to swim to the other side only seeing out of one eye. When I got to the other side, I stopped to tighten the strap....hoping to fix the problem. All it did was make BOTH sides fill up with water. So now I'm completely blind, dragging dragging through the water.....and somehow I got stuck behind some dummy who decided to swim breaststroke through the water. Seriously? Did anyone tell her that this was a timed event? A race of sorts? Are you kidding me with this? She nearly kicked me in all my blindness several times.

Finally, I tore my busted goggles off, went around the dummy who was lolligagging in the water, and cruised to the finish line. Thats about the time my people walked into the pool area. Just in time to watch me get out of the water.

I was pooped. But in an energized, lets-do-it-again kind of way.

I'll have to modify my training so I don't get so burned out....but I'm excited to do it again. Bring on the longer triathlon. I'm ready!!

To see a professional picture that was taken of me running, check out this site.

http://www.backprint.com/go.asp?73114135

Triathlon training. I'm over it.

Triathlon training. It started out slow as I was fighting off a cold. Then momentum built, and I was having fun. And now? Now.... I'm just frickin tired. Spending literally half the day at the gym is getting old, and I'm tired all the time. Work has been really busy too, so I get to bust out a three hour workout, and then bust out six hours of massage. Really? I'm over it.

My triathlon is in 10 days. It should be easy enough....a 3 mile run, 9 mile bike ride, and a wimpy 150 meter swim. I'm really not worried about it. All the crazy training has been for the more intensive triathlon in June. But at this pace, I'm not sure I can maintain, and I'm questioning whether or not to do the second triathlon. If I'm dragging myself around every day, exhausted and grumpy....then I may have to pass. We shall see....

E and I are taking a boxing class as well. It's crazy to me that twice a week, I'm punching and kicking and running, bootcamp style, at 6am. Good thing its so fun..... otherwise I just couldn't do it. Particularly when you consider I'm doing this in addition to the training.

Seriously....for as much as I'm at the gym, I should be on their payroll.

Next week, I'm hoping to start riding a real bike instead of the wannabe spin bike at the gym. The spinning bikes are the closest thing to the real deal, but I think its time to graduate to the streets. Now if I can just get my hands on a bike....

Date night begins

Date night has been a success for the most part. Every Friday night, my single girlfriends and I get together and hit the town. Sometimes its a group, sometimes its just two of us. No matter what we do, we always have fun.

We've made a point to do new things, explore new places, and really take advantage of all LA has to offer. Some things didn't live up to the hype, others have been fantastic. Last week, E and I went to Artwalk in downtown LA. Dozens of art galleries open their doors, some artists paint right on the spot, vendors sell crazy, eclectic things....its all kinds of fun. We had walked for nearly 3 hours before we realized we were tired. Next week....pajama party and grub at R's house. I'm lovin me some date night!

This is me and E in a limo after a loveley dinner at Roy's. It was supposed to be a free shuttle to the movies about 6 blocks away. The grumbly driver was complaining about cheap tippers all night, so I gave him an obligatory $10 for a 6 block limo ride. That was expensive, especially considering that we just turned around and walked back once we saw there were no movies we wanted to watch.

Here's me, R, and E....at a party for Chef Ariel of Hell's Kitchen season 6. She was a roomie of mine, so we were showing support.

And most recently, E and I were bored out of our minds at the museum, despite the live bands and alcohol every 10 feet. There wasn't one solitary cute guy in the whole place. Depressing. So this was how we entertained ourselves....

I think date night is going to be a night to look forward to, always!

Finding my flow...

My first week of training was a success....minus one missed run due to my work schedule getting changed. I've been ridiculously sore, but I feel great, and I'm really proud of myself. This body shocks me at what I've been able to do.

I was surprised to find a "rhythm" while I was swimming. I've experienced this running, but swimming too? I've been floundering about in the pool for the last week plus, and finally.....there it was. I found my flow. It felt like I was swimming to music, like finding a beat and keeping on it....and simultaneously, the movement became easier. Perhaps this is what draws people to the water? Finding a peaceful place while your entire body is working hard. Fascinating. This will be me in no time...minus the manly bits.

The same happened to me when I was training for the marathon. You feel like you're dying at first, and then....easy street. I lost huge chunks of time, often looking around me and wondering how I got there. They say running can be meditative. I'm just glad I didn't meditate my happy behind right in front of a bus.

I also found that swimming could be great for stress relief. As I swam faster, I felt like I was punching the water, releasing all my aggression and stress. I guess I don't need to find a boxing class after all. Who knew?

Another turn of events came unexpectedly. I mentioned to one of my clients that I'd love to have a dog, and he told me about a place that rescues animals from abusive homes, or from the shelter before they're euthanized. I checked out the site, and fell in love with a little guy named Tiny. Check out this face.....

I'm going to meet him today, and I'm really excited about possibly growing my little family of one. Ever since I saw that face, I've been daydreaming about the adventures of Manderpants and Tinypants. Here's for hoping......

Triathlon training begins....

The triathlon training has officially begun. I started last Sunday, and by Tuesday, I got sick. That wiped me out for the rest of the week. I restarted with renewed commitment this past Sunday (three days ago).

So far, I'm off to a great start. I've followed my training plan to the letter. Today was 70 minutes on the bike, 35 minutes in the pool. Tomorrow....running and weights. I'll rest on Fridays, and now its time to get on top of my nutrition.

I really see myself going into the nutrition field, so what a great reason for me to end my compulsive, addictive behavior with food. I've come a long way already, but improvement is always on my agenda. I'm grateful to have met a trainer who is also a nutritionist, and is happy to do trades. Trading is what makes my world go 'round. I'm excited to meet with her, and see how my body responds to the changes I make.

I also entered a contest at my gym that gives you 12 weeks to make as much improvement as possible, and the winner gets $15,000. Finalists get $2,000. I squandered the first two weeks, but now my nose is to the grindstone. Watch this sistah bring home some cheddah. They took a "before" picture, and I was sure to wear the tightest bikini I could find. Muffin top included. I even squished down, and tilted my chin to look as fat as possible. Call me nuts, but this contest is based off the picture. And this chica wants to win some cash.

So working out, and work is pretty much my focus right now. Date night with the girls is going to be a riot, and I still spend time with Zam more than I should considering he's my forbidden lover/ex-boyfriend/bff/whatever you want to call him. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I have free time. What? Free time? What am I supposed to do with that? :D

Suffice it to say, I'm happy 2010 is off to a quiet, peaceful start. Hopefully, I don't speak too soon..... :)

Here are some pictures taken over the holidays....

2009....The year of PSYCHE!

Thank goodness for a new year. 2009 was a bust, my year of "PSYCHE!!" Everything would be going great, and PYSCHE! Its as if the entire year was the Universe's private joke or there was some score to settle.

My final two months of 2009 were positively the hardest. In 24 hours, I had gone from not knowing I was looking for a new apartment, to having one. I had to break the news to my roommate who seemed hellbent on avoiding me. Three days later I had to tell her she had 27 days to find a new place.

In the craziness of my work schedule, I had 1/2 day to paint my new place. I managed to arrange going to work late so my friend Javier and I could paint. He had offered to help, and after pushing back the time twice, he ended up no-showing. Since I didn't know what I was doing, I couldn't do anything. Day wasted.

You thought your place was gonna get painted, Amanda? PSYCHE!!

A week later, I had one morning to move all the big stuff. I had 5 friends lined up to help, I reserved the moving truck for 8 am because I had to work at 2pm. When we showed up to get the truck, the place was closed. A few panic attacks later, I found another truck and we were on our way. Oh, and yes....the first place (Budget in case you're wondering) charged me anyway and I'm still trying to get my money back.

You think planning ahead will prevent folly? PSYCHE!!

Moving everything was challenging as I'm on the 4th floor of an old, old building. There's a teeny, tiny elevator which helped a little, but some of that jazz had to be hauled up the stairs. All I can say is those dudes must love me. That, or I'll be dishing out massages for the next decade. I was trying to call out from work, both because I wasn't done moving, and because my body was exhausted from hauling stuff all day. I ended up getting called in to work the last part of my shift and got lost on the way because I didn't know the neighborhood yet. It was an in-room massage, short for you will be hauling a massage table to a hotel room. (Because I hadn't carried enough crap that day.)

You're gonna have the day off because we all understand moving is a big deal Amanda. PSYCHE!!!

A few days after moving the big stuff, I had to go out of town. Unfortunately, I realized my deadline to be out of the old place was while I was going to be gone, so I had 24 hours to have the place cleared out, cleaned up, cable boxes returned, and keys turned over. And yes, thank you roomie for abandoning crap there for me to get charged for. Awesome. I scrubbed that place endlessly, hauling load after load into my car during the heaviest rainstorm LA has had in years.

Think cleaning a nearly empty apartment will be easy? PSYCHE!!

Think your roomie is going to be respectful and help you, and at the very least, get her shit out of there? PSYCHE!

I was supposed to drive to Phoenix the same day all that crap had to be done. I was going to attend the last of my Tony Robbins seminars. As the hours passed by, right before I ripped the modem from my barren apartment, I booked a last minute plane ticket to Phoenix. It was too late to drive....I had to act fast.

Starving and exhausted, I still had to get food, return the cable boxes, pack my stuff, and somehow get to the airport. I decided to leave the old apartment keys there for the landlord to find. I just didn't have time....

My phone died in the middle of this madness, and I had to wait until I got home to book a ride to the airport. I called a couple different companies, and no one had availability. It was 3pm, and I had to get picked up by 4pm to make my flight. I bit the bullet, and paid a little more to have a town car pick me up directly. It was the only way I was going to get there. One hour to eat, shower, and pack for a weeklong trip. Shit.

Miraculously, I pulled it off. My hair was dripping wet, and my nerves were shot....but I made it.

The driver got me to LAX right on time. I got to the gate, just in time to hear that the flight was delayed 30 minutes. Okaaaaay. I got to enjoy Pinkberry as I waited (frozen yogurt). Then it was delayed again. And again.

Think the drama will be over once I get to the airport? PSYCHE!!

Several hours later, I was on the plane. As the place was descending, the wind storms in Phoenix prevented us from landing. We were being diverted to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Are you kidding me with this? Bad weather in Phoenix? Does that happen?

I can tell you it does.

Booked a flight to Phoenix. PSYCHE!! You're going to New Mexico.

With the exception of E's birthday bash, our chola style Cinco De Mayo party, and a few great days in Hawaii, this story is sadly indicative of what 2009 was all about for me. A sad mess of bullshit and disappointments. (Notice the lack of posts for the remainder of the year.) The great part about it, aside from the year finally being over, is that 2010 is gonna rule! It has to. There's nowhere to go but UP!

Here's to a great year ahead!!! PSYCHE NOT INCLUDED!!

Birthday Bash of the Year!

The much anticipated birthday bash of our favorite spa goddess was a HUUUUGE success!

It started out as an idea to have a little fiesta party, Mexican food....music. That was about it. Then it morphed into a much bigger animal, complete with Evites, fliers, and over 100 gorgeous, exotic balloons.

From the moment E and I got to her apartment to get everything started, it was nearly 3pm. The party started at 9pm, and frankly.....we needed more time. We had to finish the last few things as our guests were arriving. E was cooking up a storm, making the most delicious Mexican food you could dream of. Guacamole, taquitos, enchiladas, salsa, rice & beans...and I managed to make some yummy cookies and the birthday cake. I'm definitely a novice when it comes to decorating cakes, but how can you go wrong with chocolate cake and colorful sprinkles top to bottom?


While she was rockin' it in the kitchen, I was master decorator. I channeled my talented decorating mother as I strung streamers from every possible place, taping balloons to the walls, and tying the 100+ balloons to furniture to keep it from popping on the scratchy ceiling. It was gorgeous, if I do say so myself. How could it not with that many balloons?

Part of why I was so excited about these balloons is because it was the ONE request E had......balloons are her favorite. So my enterprising self managed to work out a deal with the balloon people, and for a delivery fee and two massages, had them brought straight to the house. I've never been so stoked. The look on E's face was priceless! She got so worked up, she managed to give herself a backache and forget what she was doing. (You'll understand when you look at this website! http://www.ballooncelebrations.com/)

Shockingly, people started showing up when the party was supposed to start....which doesn't happen in LA. Most folks are 1 to 1 1/2 hours late. Yeah, we had stragglers, too......but a LOT of people walked through the door at 9pm. Miraculously, the food was done, the ice was in the cooler....and we both managed to be showered and dressed.

That's when the alcohol began to flow.

We all became superstar dancers, rockin' AAAAALLL that our mommas gave us, and then some!

For whatever alcohol induced reason, I decided to take notice of E's lovely ceiling.

At one point, my mock boyfriend Michael and I were dancing, fell over, and his hand landed in the birthday cake. LOL. Fortunately, E had already blown out the candles. I remember being on a mission to find one of the only sober people at the entire party to carry the flaming cake. Candles, cake, and tequila don't exactly go hand in hand.

Everyone was dancing. Everyone was having an amazing time. Over 50 of our closest friends showed up. I didn't even know we KNEW that many people! It was incredible, and SO. MUCH. FUN!

When I woke in the morning, I was still in my party dress and lying next to a co-worker that wasn't there when I went to sleep (no, it's not what you're thinking). Somehow, I woke up with a bruised toe, a bruised forehead, and a minor headache. Shockingly....not much of a hangover. After 2hours of chillaxin...I was gooood.

I can't WAIT to do it again in December......when the big 3-0 comes along!! You're all invited! Happy Birthday to me! Tequila anyone?

High Maintenance

When did I become so high maintenance? One day, I opened my eyes, and suddenly....I was ridiculous. Let me break it down....

I used to be a tomboy to the tenth degree. Baggy pants, giant T-shirts, adidas or airwalks were my peddalers of choice. If it weren't for my giant boobies, you may have taken me for a dude.

Fast forward to my moving to Los Angeles, the land of make-believe and beautiful people. LA is also about a decade ahead of the rest of the country in the fashion world. Soon, my baggy, boyish clothes that were meant to hide my buxom body, were no longer acceptable. Bye-bye to the days of wearing pajamas to school and not only getting away with it, but being cool because of it. It didn't take long for my lovely friend D to hook me up with her Lane Bryant employee discount and a $150 gift card to replace my entire frumpy wardrobe.

Even after filtering in skirts, boots, and pretty knit sweaters.....I tucked those over-sized overalls that would give wiggle room to a 300 pound man away for a rainy fat day. Some things I was just not ready to let go of.

As time marched on, and small changes were being made in the wardrobe department of my life.... nothing changed much with my hair or make-up. Who has time for all that girly and primpy crap? Right?

Then I experienced a manicure and pedicure for the first time....and I fell in love. Despite my love for this new form of pampering, they remained special treats. Even still, this was as high as I climbed on the high-maintenance ladder.

Enter the era of 5 star standards. Working in Beverly Hills can be trip sometimes.... and even though you know how pretentious and silly it can be, you still don't want to be the schmoe with the bad hair and secondhand clothes....unless the label says Gucci.

In a fancy spa, where aestheticians have free time and you have a face that breaks out more than it ever did in adolescence, it gives you incentive to hit them up for facials. Thats exactly what started this avalanche of maintenance that got me here today. Facials make your skin glow and you feel like a pampered superstar.

The next item of business?? Waxing. Uuuuuh......I've always felt nervous about that. But now..... I'm a believer. It just makes things look nicer. :)

THEN....I went to the Kim Vo salon in our hotel (he's the super nice guy on TV all the time), and I requested a haircut. The colorist was horrified at all my gray hair, and in a matter of minutes, I was getting my hair colored and cut with a glass of champagne in my hand. Addicting? Absolutely!

Now keep in mind, these are all services that would normally cost me HUNDREDS of dollars for each thing....but trading services makes my world go 'round.

So I guess that means I'm a big girl now? Instead of throwing on whatever, using whatever, and shoving all my hair under a doo-rag......I get facials, get waxed in unmentionable places, get my hair done by celebrities-and-posse, and daydream as I get pampered with pedicures and massages.

What happened to me?

I guess I'm all grown up.

And now I can't imagine life any other way. :)

Cinco De Mayo Chola Style

I think I was a chola in another life. A hardcore kick-your-ass-til-you-cry-for-your-momma kind of chola. See for yourself......

It was Cinco De Mayo. Imagine a bunch of "healers" and "feel good" people AKA massage therapists getting together to grub, dance, and act crazy.

Keep in mind, we were in the heart of Beverly Hills.

The neighbors were afraid, the guacomole that E made was freaking A-mazing, and a hula hoop contest happened on the front lawn for all passers-by to see. Unfortunately I was too hardcore to take a picture of the hula hooping.... :)

It was a freakin good time!