Day 6: Favorite movies

I have a lot of favorite movies...WAY TOO many and most are Rom Coms:

When Harry Met Sally is number 1 on my list!

The rest include:
Groundhog Day
Sleepless in Seattle
The Princess Bride
16 Candles
Dirty Dancing
and so many more....

Day 5: Share a picture of something that makes you happy

While not the best picture:

These are two of my very best friends.

K, me and V.

My life would not be the same without them.

Day 4: Tell us about your family

My family:
Currently there are 3 people living in my parents house. My parents and my mom's father. My dad's dad passed away when he was young and my two grandmothers have passed away as well. So as for my immediate family here goes:

I have a mother and a father - this November they will have been married for 35 years. I am so blessed to have such a loving happy example in my life of what true love is.

My mother drives me crazy - but truly she is one of my closest friends. I tell her everything. She is strong, very wise and went from working to being a stay at home mom for over 15 years. Once my brother and I left the house she went back to work. Now she is the CFO of a company. Driven. 100% driven. I hope to be just like her - because she truly can do it all.

My dad and I have the same sense of humor and I am so lucky to have been blessed with a dad who was a great provider, great role model and a parent who has gone out of his way a million times to make his little girl happy. He also can fix anything. I mean ANYTHING. In his off time he is building an airplane. Yes, a real airplane that seats 2 people. It is quite amazing.

When I was 3 years 1 month and 3 days old, my life changed forever. My little brother was born. He is so smart, such a caring, outgoing person and one of my best friends. We talk almost daily and I just wish the ATL was closer to Htown. He is in his 3rd year of law school. I feel lucky that we have such a great relationship as I hear time and time again from friends how they wish they were closer to their siblings. I attribute this to our amazing parents. We were never allowed to bring friends on vacations - so he and I were each other's friend. While on vacation my parents let us roam around a few hours at a time as long as we were together - checking in with them every 2 hours. When I was 18 and he was 15 with a driver's permit they let us take a vacation to Miami to see my grandfather together. It was SO MUCH FUN. I guess my parents tried to instill in us that we were siblings but we could also be friends.
Nowadays we always meet for dinner just the two of us at least one time when he is in town. We make the time to still be friends. I know I am blessed to have this relationship with him and I wouldn't want it any other way.

My Abuelo. My mom's father is another wonderful man in my life. I am surrounded by wonderful men - in my generation of the grandkids etc - I am the only girl. I am the only girl born in our family since my mom. ON ALL SIDES. I am also the first grandchild on my mom's side. Abuelo lights up a room with his stories, his laughter and his joy in life. He may partake a little too much in the red wine now and then, but at "28 backwards" (as he says) he can do what he pleases. My brother and I grew up with our grandparents nearby, in our house or around the corner. Abuelo has been at every large or small event in my life. When people meet him and they ask what to call him he says "Abuelo, everyone calls me Abuelo". Grandfather in every sense of the word. In his previous life before retirement he was an engineer for NASA, Saudi Aramco and a few other companies - let's just say my science projects growing up were "THE BEST" every single time.

I truly love my family.

Day 3: Tell us about your job

Tell us about your job:

I try to keep some things private so I will say the only things I have said before:
I used to own an insurance agency with my dad. I LOVED IT. It was fun, we made money and I got to spend lots of time with my family. For those 3.5 years, it was a wonderful thing and I am glad I did it. We sold our company a while ago and my father went to work for a large company doing what he does best- investments and I went into the industry that dominates Htown.

Now I work in the Oil and Gas industry and use my insurance knowledge. I love my job. I love the environment of my department and truly I am so grateful to be where I am.

I can say - I love to talk insurance - so if you ever have any questions - ask me. I'd be happy to help!

Day 2: Tell us about your blog

Tell us about your blog:

I use my blog as a diary - random thoughts, events that happened and I just keep it real. Nothing too crazy in my life. I use this as a tool to documents my thoughts and my ideas.  I rarely censor myself because as much as I love having readers, I blog for myself. I love to look back to see how much I have grown in exactly one year. I love looking back and seeing that 3 years ago I was working on my first 101 in 1001 challenge.

I also use this blog as my 101 in 1001 challenge place. I love this challenge. It helps me plan out things I want to do, see, try etc. It really helps. I will always try to accomplish all of them, but if I get 90% I am happy.

I'm not a crafty person, so you won't see that here.

 I just like to write.

Day 1: Introduce Yourself

Day 1: Introduce Yourself

Ok...I feel like I have probably done this a bazillion times but here goes:

Late 20s.
Born and Raised Texan.
Graduate of the University of Texas- HOOK 'EM HORNS!
In the Insurance and Oil and gas field
Traveler
Love to read
Watch trashy reality TV
Love red wine
Sushi is my favorite food - just plain ole raw fish MMMM
Cuban American
I speak with my hands - see above as to why. ;)

30 day journey

So I am doing the 30 Day Challenge - or at least I will try to. Thanks to Leggings are not Pants   I found out about this...so here goes nothing...or something...or whatever.

Here are the 30 day Challenges:

Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Day 2: Tell us about your blog
Day 3: Tell us about your job
Day 4: Tell us about your family
Day 5: Share a picture of something that makes you happy
Day 6: Favorite movies
Day 7: Tell us about your favorite vacation
Day 8: Share a picture of your friends
Day 9: Tell us about your must watch TV shows
Day 10: Tell us about your special someone
Day 11: Something you’re afraid of
Day 12: Share your goals you would like to accomplish in the next year
Day 13: Favorite Bible Verse/Quote
Day 14: Share something you are looking forward to
Day 15: 3 tips for a new blogger
Day 16: 5 blogs you visit daily
Day 17: Something you regret
Day 18: Something you miss
Day 19: Share your nicknames
Day 20: Picture of Yourself
Day 21: Something that stresses you out
Day 22: Share about your hobbies
Day 23: Favorite blog hop that you participate in
Day 24: Favorite places to shop
Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle and share the first 10 songs
Day 26: Best concert you have been to
Day 27: 3 wishes
Day 28: Favorite books
Day 29: 3 things you cannot live without
Day 30: Share a picture you love

Life

2011 has been a tough and challenging year for me.

In February I lost my uncle. My mother's brother.

In June I lost my great uncle - who was a father figure for my father as my grandfather passed away when my dad was only 5.

This August I lost my grandfather's wife. My grandfather married approximately 10 years ago as my grandmother passed away when I was 14.

Everyone said "bad things happen in threes" or things of the like to show that I have done enough greieving for a year. Except I don't believe Death is "bad". It is part of life - the good, the ups and the downs. Right now I feel a bit "down".

My uncle was pretty young to pass away, but he had a terribly hard life. Mostly his own fault with his own decisions, but sometimes the "cards didn't fall the right way" for him. He taught me my love of music, how to "handle" my mom, and truly the value of an education. He told me, when I was about 16 that the difference between his life and my parents lives was purely education. They had the same upbringing and same opportunities, but my mother had the perservence to stick with education. He told me to never take the easy road as he always tried to and it always set him farther back than where he first started. I suppose, looking back, he knew his mistakes and he wanted nothing more than for myself to never make those. He told me those things when I was 16 and his youngest child turns 16 this year. I only hope that I can help him understand what his father once told me. 

My great uncle showed me what family was all about. He and his wife had 4 children - 3 boys and a 1 girl. One of the men is in seminary on his way to being a priest. I've always thought he was going to be a priest, but his discerment took about 10 years to truly know his calling. The other three are married to the most amazing partners. While my "Uncle Johnny" was Baptist, his wife and 4 children are all Catholic. They grew up in both churches and did community service projects for both churches. When you asked him what helped to make his 60+ years as a married man so wonderful he always said "it didn't hurt to have 2 congregations praying for you and your family and your marriage". 

My grandfather's wife, Marinela passed away just recently. She truly was wonderful, made Abuelo laugh and truly made him perk up in life again. She was there when he battled cancer and when he went in remission. She was there to celebrate love and life with him. While I was uncertain about his idea to marry 10 years ago, she truly made my grandfather's life so much more fun.

I wanted to write down a few things about them as I know I am still in the grieving process. They existed. They mattered to me. They taught me love, life and so much more. I just hope to get back to the "real" me again. I go back and forth and up and down as they meant a lot to me.

It is in the everyday moments when I miss them the most. When something breaks and I think "my uncle could would know what to do, let me call him." Or when I drive by my great uncle's exit and think "I should pop on over and say hello to Uncle Johnny" or when I talk to my grandfather and I can hear the little bit of sadness in his voice.

It isn't easy. It isn't hard. It is part of life. It is part of knowing and loving people. It is part of family.

Amazing Girlfriends

I have amazing girlfriends. Most are in separate groups and don't really know each other. I've collected them throughout my life from different stages and different places. I do have a group here in Htown - there are 4 of us who try to get together at least once a month for dinner - it's our "Girls Sushi Night" although sometimes it isn't for sushi. Well, V has a cabin in the hill country and the 4 of us, but 3 more went to the hill country and to the wineries last weekend. IT WAS WONDERFUL. We hired a limo and truly had a blast.

I wish I had pictures to add...waiting on them as I didn't bring my camera.

10 DAY CHALLENGE - ONE picture of myself

ONE picture of myself- this was taken on our trip through Colorado last year. I was so incredibly happy. It was a wonderful trip.

10 DAY CHALLENGE - TWO Songs

Top 2 Favorite SONGS:


1.  Carole King's "Beautiful"

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face

And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes, you will
That you're beautiful as you feel

Waiting at the station with a workday wind a-blowing
I've got nothing to do but watch the passers-by
Mirrored in their faces I see frustration growing
And they don't see it showing, why do I?

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes, you will
That you're beautiful as you feel

I have often asked myself the reason for THE sadness
In a world where tears are just a lullaby
If there's any answer, maybe love can end the madness
Maybe not, oh, but we can only try

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes, you will
That you're beautiful as you feel




2. Chicago - "You're the Inspiration"...ok most things by Chicago I like.
2.

10 DAY CHALLENGE - THREE Films

3 Favorite Films:

1. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY!!!

2. Groundhog Day


3. SATC- the movies, the show.

10 DAY CHALLENGE - FOUR Books

FOUR Books:
I don't every really have favorites when it comes to books - I read A LOT. I love a lot of my books!


1. For Cookbooks - I love all of my Cooking Light books. AMAZINGLY wonderful recipes.

2. The True Memoirs of Little K - good historical fiction

3. For a good read - I really recently enjoyed Little Bee, slow at first and just gets better and better

4. As for Chick Lit books - I loved the Confessions of a Shopaholic series - so funny. Truly.

10 DAY CHALLENGE - FIVE foods

For the 5 foods...this is easy...these are  some of the ridiculous foods that I like...

1.  Escargot. It is one of my very favorite foods. I don't get it often but MMMMM

2. Lobster bisque - so amazing

3. foie gras - another thing I RARELY ever get, but I love it. Got it last night when B and I went to Marks as part of Restaurant Month here in Houston.

4. Blue bell home made vanilla ice cream.

5. french bread with really good quality butter. (preferably in France, but I will get what I can!)

10 DAY CHALLENGE - SIX places

SIX Places:

I don't know if this is supposed to be 6 places I love, places I want to go etc...so...I decided it should be 6 places I would love for B and I to go visit!

1. Santorini - I loved it there. It is beautiful...I want us to go there!

2. Paris, France - um need I say more?

3. Australia - never been...want to go...want to see Ayers rock!

4. Italy - specifically the coast and Tuscany...

5. Fiji

6. And for the less far away - Nantucket

10 DAY CHALLENGE - SEVEN wants

SEVEN WANTS:

This is totally an outrageous list...just FYI

1.  An ORANGE Birkin bag

2.  A pair of these Louboutins:

3. This nail polish (This is actually a do-able thing, it just is more expensive than most of the colors I buy!)

4. This perfume...it is on my list once I finish the Kate Spade one I currently have. (I'm a one at a time girl when it comes to perfume.)

5. I also want a really well made dress - like one that just looks like it was made for me. Any ideas?


6. These earrings:

7. And lastly...of this extragavent shopping excursion... these

10 DAY CHALLENGE - EIGHT FEARS

Eight FEARS:

1. That I won't truly leave this world better than it was when I came into it.

2.  That something will happen to my loved ones. I know people pass away, but I just hope everyone I love (and everyone in general) doesn't suffer. I read the news, I see the stories and they just make me so sad.

3. That I won't grow old and enjoy every moment.

4. Roaches

5. Spiders

6.  That I will not be able to have children. This unfortunately is a very legitimate fear and not one I take lightly.

7. Something happens to Roxy. Life with her and B, we are our own little family. I just cannot imagine life without her. Yes, I know she is a dog, but - she is my dog, she is his dog, she is our dog and a huge part of our life.

8. That somehow I will get it all wrong. I see people get married, have children, look happy and then boom - it all crashes down he (or she) cheats and the whole world they knew implodes. I think people say "oh I love him oh he loves me, that won't happen to us" except I think everyone says that and yet it happens more and more and I wonder - where did they get it all wrong. How did they get there...mostly because I never want to be there in that place with my world imploding.

10 DAY CHALLENGE - NINE loves

10 DAY CHALLENGE....DAY 2


NINE LOVES

1. My family.

2. My friends

3. B!

4. Roxy

5. Movie nights at home

6. READING

7. the way my car smells and looks after it has been really cleaned

8. the feeling I get when I finish a new book

9. sushi!

10 DAY CHALLENGE - TEN Secrets

I decided to do the 10 days of YOU Challenge. I feel that it will help me get back into the blogging groove.


TEN SECRETS:

1. I bite my nails. I am trying to stop...I think I've been trying to stop since I was little! I go through phases. Sometimes they are rather long, sometimes they are so short that they bleed. I know it is gross and I would LOVE to stop it.

2. I want to be a writer some day. I don't really "write" on my blog - this is more of a journal/diary of my life. I loved writing in college, I still love writing today. I'd love to get paid to write.

3. I miss my brother every single day he isn't home. We haven't lived under the same roof in 10 years, and I still miss him. We talk almost daily- and I hate that he is so far away.

4. I feel so lucky to have the family I have. Truly lucky.

5. I'm a neat freak. B is making me less of one. I don't know if I like that.

6. There was a time in my life that I wondered if I would ever fall in love. True love. Love like my parents have. I really thought it didn't exist anymore. Now...I know better.

7. I hate working out. HATE IT. I need to find something I love. I love Bikram Yoga...but it is SO Expensive here.

8.  I'm only 5'2 and I LOVE the way heels look- but after like an hour, I want to be back in my flip flops.

9. I love reality TV. I know I shouldn't, I know it is trash...but it SUCKS ME IN!

10.  I have too many clothes. I need to clean out my closet!

Time has flown by!

August is here, therefore summer is slowly coming to an end...and what a summer it has been! I hope to truly update more often, but life has been busy busy busy!

B and I went with his parents and uncle to the Bahamas - 10 days of pure bliss. I loved it. I was relaxed, enjoyed my time with them and truly feel lucky that not only is B so wonderful, but his family is as well.



I'll update with pictures soon!