the cutest card

looks like i've got to plan for multiple sleepovers!

balboa park

what a beautiful day at balboa park and coronado. my word. i'm so lucky to be living in paradise. there was not a cloud in the sky and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. this was my first time to both balboa park and coronado and i'm pretty sure i fell in love with coronado!

mootime ice cream is pretty famous for being sooo good, and SO EXPENSIVE. $10 for 2 scoops???? really????

sheerwater cafe at hotel del. omg. best dinner ever. the view couldn't have been any better either.

hotel del

balboa park to see the titanic exhibit. SO COOL.

balboa gardens

farrell's for the februarys

there happen to be quite a few february birthdays in our family. this sister (and the one in brazil) are included. so where did we go??? farrell's ice cream parlour. have you ever been there??? 2 words . . .

heart. attack.

because of the food? maybe. but i'd say it's the constant noise, beating of drums, yelling, shouting, running through the restaurant. let's just say it's a birthday to remember and something you have to experience for yourself! LOL.

a banana royal. divineeee.

archangel records

i know, i know

i'm the worst blogger ever

boy oh boy have i been busy

this past week not only did i work six 12 hour shifts in a row, but i was performing in a 2 day concert in Orange County for archangel records.

victoria and gary produced an album featuring multiple artists. it's even on itunes.

how cool is that??

so, the first day of the concert was Friday, December 16th

we sold about 250 tickets. not a bad turn out.

Saturday, December 17th was day number 2.

around 500 tickets sold. a very nice turn out.

even got to see my very favorite high school choir teacher, mr. elg (i'm kicking myself for not getting a picture with him. what a joy it was to reunite)

overall the concert was a hit. not only did i get to sing, but i got to see tons of people who've supported me over the years. love them all.

a huge thank you to those that came to the concert. my sister, blupid blore, for doing my hair and make-up for both days. she even stuck with me through my rehearsals. david, for taking us all out to dinner afterward, and aldy for driving all the way from temecula and bringing me flowers.

outfit #1

outfit #2 (a bit more casual)

duet with tandy shields . . . "put you under my tree"

haven't seen ms. alison in over 6 years. she's the exact same. . .cute as ever!

david, me, and blupid blore. they're the best.

aldy drove all the way from temecula to come support me. best branch member ever!

beautiful lillies.

so so tired after the concert. this was at like 11 pm. probably shouldn't have had a full meal at bj's that night.

our dessert

thirty seconds after the dessert came to the table

and ps. . .

here's a little video for those who couldn't make it to the concert. it's almost like you were there :)

special sister presents

emma gave me her surprise xmas present.

a special card and a dollar bill.

"merry xmas and a happy new year"

how special.

my sister knows me too well

gigi knows the way to my heart

best brother of the year award

this letter was waiting for me to come home from work. so sweet.

uhhh scusi, bopadaboopi?

my sister picked out this italian chef's hat from a local italian store so of course we had to perform the infamous family guy episode of "scusi bopadaboopi" . . . needless to say i can never do anything without laughing. the videos are proof.

papa's cimenos (chee-main-oh-s)

(gram tells me as a little girl I couldn't say "tomatoes" so I said "cheemainos")

you can seriously get lost in these plants. grandma threw a tomato party for family and friends this past weekend. she told me that we have been having this annual party for at least 20 years. what happens is once the tomatoes are ripe enough, we pick them, clean them, and package them up for people to take home and make a marinara or insalata. i've never been a fan of fresh tomatoes, but i'll make a fresh sauce any day. there really is no comparison to the store bought tomatoes. they're just not the same.

the menu must always include a pasta with marinara sauce to showcase the tomatoes. this time we did a baked penne with tre formaggi. buona let me tell you. we also had red pepper, onion, and sausage sandwiches (a typical food item that you can get from a street vendor in italy), swiss chard and cannellini beans, an insalata del balsamico, and some biscotti.

basilico. mamma mia, there is no question that this plant is flourishing.

pepperoni

have you ever seen a hot pink and orange cactus?

poochie the skater

my 8 year old brother going on 18 dressed like a skater today.

a gorgeous day in OC

blabs and i

after the pinning ceremony the family and i drove to il fornaio (one of my favorites) in orange county. it was just as good as i remembered. i think i stuffed myself to the brim and look about 4 months pregnant but it was so worth it. thanks to g-ma for being so generous and taking us out to dinner! we all had way too much fun :)

number 2 baby!

love these girls. rin, jam, and mel.

phew! i'm done! well for a little bit at least. who would have thought this day would have ever had come? not me that's for sure. i was just thinking about how i've been in school for 6 years straight. i think i'm in dire need of a nice vacation.

today i had my exciting and wet pinning ceremony at a winery where i was "pinned" a nurse. it's so great to graduate with 45 of your friends who you've spent everyday with for the past 2 years. it just had to rain though. . . seriously?? the rain didn't make for a good hair day.

my bestie reiko (mel)

look at the familial support :)

just pinned as a nurse!

passing the flame

hello have you seen such pretty flowers?? they're in my room right now and they smell wonderful. thanks g-ma :)

video chat/birthday/graduation party

the fam video chatting with patty in NC

mema's 9th birthday and my graduation at g-ma's casa

singing happy birthday to mema

bored in the car

strawberries from g-ma for some jam :)

gun show

some kiddies

duck face