Vacation

Hello!!! Although I only took a week off work for Vacation, I needed more time to get back to normal! 2 weeks ago we took the kids to the Nickelodeon Hotel for some R&R and we had a blast! From the moment we arrived the kids were gleaming with JOY!

We enjoyed time in the Cabanas...

....going to the Nick Show where Andrew was picked from the Audience to play a game on the stage!

Overall, it was a great time to spend with the KIDS but my next vacation is just Me and My HUBBY! Maybe Puerto Rico???? stay tuned.....

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm a Mother, I AM A MOTHER! Wow, sometimes I still feel like I'm 18 years old trying to act like an adult! But, I'm really a Mother! I'm a Wife, a Mother and a Daughter! WOW! This year I feel especially Blessed! I don't know, I really am starting to appreciate my life much more than I used to. Not that I didn't appreciate it before but life is just GOOD...you know! I'm surrounded by just WONDERFUL people and the memories I just want to savor forever! I don't want to look back at these times and wonder where the time went, I want to remember the memories, have the pictures to see and most of all the FAMILY to continue sharing these precious moments.

Like this one....this is my MOM!!!! Rather than spending 2 hours at a crowded restaurant we decided this year to stay home and enjoy each others company with VERY Good food! I made FETTUCINE ALFREDO, SALAD, PORK ROAST and dinner rolls! The time was nice...I even helped mom with the dishes.


Here's another for the memory books. My Husband and his Mother. I wish I look this good when I'm in my early 40's! Sure I will.....with BOTOX!! LOL!! This is special because it was soooo easy to leave my mom's home and drive 10 minutes to another family party where MORE family was celebrating! That is a BLESSING - for those of you that have to drive or fly you know this is special!

Days like today, I can spend hours laying in bed awake just thanking GOD for all of our blessings. Thinking about our future and thanking god for the present! I'm looking forward to the time when Bella and Andrew will come to our HOME with their Spouses and Kids...But till then, I'll keep thanking GOD for today!!

TDF Hairbow Holder

Bella has TONS of hair bows and hair clips that I would like to have displayed or stored on a SUPER cute Holder but really haven't found anything CUTE enough UNTIL NOW! I found this on an ETSY shop and almost fell out of my chair! OMG! I love it!! How cute is this in a black and white damask with HOT PINK, our favorite color! She has tons of colors and styles and this is by far my favorite!

Just TDF!!!

Bella's Candy Shop Party

Ok, so the day finally arrived! My Princess Bella turned 3...I can't believe it! I'm actually blogging 2 days later, although it was exhausting, everything turned out perfect! We invited our immediate Family, which consist of over 30 people and a few close friends. The day started out with Church of course, Here's a picture of Bella before we headed out the door...BTW, did you notice the earrings! I LOVE THEM!

I originally planned to purchase cupcakes but I went waaay over budget and in the end had to make them myself! I had some great help though, Pastor Elaine and Alexis helped me bake and decorate all the cupcakes and P Elaine came up with a great idea for my tower and the brownies. She decorated them by hand! Gotta love her!

These candy apples were not only CUTE but delicious! These were super easy to make. They are coated with FROSTING from a can! You melt it for 30 seconds in the microwave and spoon the frosting over the apple and decorate! Voila!

These cellophane candies came out cuter than I originally imagined! I already had the paper lanterns, turn them sideways and wrap with cellophane and a bow on each end!

As if the Candy Shop was not enough, we gave out these super cute old fashioned gumball machines as favors! Oh, and I found bigger ones (in RED) at Walreens for 50% off right after easter! Yaay! so I bought a few of those for the bigger kids!


Our Custom Made Lollipop Pinata was TDF! I was handmade and it was so cute we didn't even use it! We'll save it for next year!

Tada!!!! Here is the Candy Shop!! It turned out even better than I imagined!



Bella enjoyed all of her gifts! She looks very happy!




I loved, loved planning this party, it was too much fun...Now, what next year???

My Birthday - the BEST one EVER!

So I turned 33 today! For months I was struggling with the fact that I am getting older and no longer in my 20's. I always LOVED saying I was 25 or 27...I loved it..and although I LOVE my life now, I was struggling with getting older. My husband helps me feel young but my face tells me I'm aging! LOL! I've read articles on the Fabulous 40's but what about the 30's was my question. I'm raising 2 kids, my husband is in school and it seems there's never enough hours in the day. Time flies and I feel like I'm not accomplishing all I hoped. But today I realized that everything is WONDERFUL. I'm 33 years old, I'm married to a 26 year old! For us older women with younger women, we're now called COUGAR Women! I would prefer LIPSTICK COUGARS! Sounds a little sassier! Anyhow, I'm surrounded by WONDERFUL friends and family, I love my work, my kids are great and I'm very proud of my husband and what he's accomplished. Life is FABULOUS! My 20's were great but my 30's are TRULY more rewarding!
Tonight was the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! MY BFF had us over for a FABULOUS black and white party! From the moment I walked in her home, Alexis played HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the PIANO as everyone sang! I had to take this picture to remember the memory (I'm getting older remember)

I enjoyed every detail...there were monogrammed "A" napkins! My FAVORITE dessert was on an "A" monogrammed DAMASK plate!


This was soo cute, the candle flame was the same color as the candle!

Bella had fun and enjoyed her dessert!

opening gifts...

LOVE my new IPOD SHUFFLE...in HOT PINK! LOVIN IT!

Luigi surpised me with this RING!

and I surpised MYSELF with this BAG! ON SALE!! Thank you JESUS!

It was a great night!!! I'm no longer afraid of 34, bring it ON!

Easter SUNDAY!

We are so blessed with wonderful families we had 2 parties to enjoy! The first was at Titi Dianna's house. She is a wonderful hostess who recently started dabbling into cakes...for someone just starting out, she's doing pretty good! I love her choice of colors for this year, Preppy Pink and Green...reminds me of our weddding!
Does this look like a cake of someone just starting out...she's got some talent!

I LOVE this Pic...and we didn't even plan it!

The main reason why I enjoy taking pictures is for memories like these...When my children graduate high school and college I plan to have a collection of photos they will never forget!

Our 2nd party was at MOM's house...I really enjoy saying that...gosh, we are SOO Blessed! All of us are there except Chaniz and Kiki. We really missed Alyssa this year!

Mom made some wonderful cupcakes but the best part is that even Julian was able to enjoy!

Andrew and Mom's Birthday

Now for what we REALLY did during Spring Break...Yesterday was Mom and Andrews Birthday and we have 4 Birthdays to Celebrate this month. So, for Andrew and Bella I've decided that I would have a big party for each every other year. Their birthdays are 2 weeks apart and you know me, I find it very difficult to just do something simple so this year is Bella and next year we'll do something big for Andrew. Although this year was not BIG, we did go to Aquatica as a family, all 13 of us! My MOM was on the phone talking and said "what better way to spend your birthday than with your kids and grandkids". I was so happy to hear her say that and am happy I was there to enjoy it all! The weather was perfect, the high was mid 80's!
I took this pic in the afternoon just a little before we headed out of the park. Happy Birthday MOM and ANDREW!!

One of my FAVORITE pics of the day....Hopefully they will remember this day for the rest of their lives. Chula, Ariane, Andrew and Tori.

Here Pepe covered their legs all the way up to their knees in SAND! I can't wait till they get older and see this!

No need to say a word...this pic says it all! LOVE IT!

Bella in the car on the way home...It was a wonderFULL day with family...Thank you LORD for these memories. We are BLESSED!