La vida de Sabro

Comedy Central here we come

2009-06-16T16:35:00.002-04:00

I am super excited to say that DH and I are going to see Bobby Lee from Mad TV at the Improv. He is just hilarious and I am sure tears are going to be rolling down my face from so much laughter. We really need a good laugh and we've been long over do for another date night.

I finally purchased a part of my childhood memories

2009-06-04T19:35:00.002-04:00

So I can't say enough about the show, "Que pasa USA?". Not only is it hilarious but if you come from a cuban american family, you can definitely relate. It's been many years that I have been wanting to buy this set from channel 2. They are the only ones that sell it since this is a special edition and do not sell in stores. Well I am so happy to say that it is finally all mine. =) This is a classic and I'm sure my family and I will keep these to good use for many years to come.

Victoria Secret has a rocking outfit

2009-05-20T08:14:00.002-04:00

What can I say, I just love this entire outfit from head to toe. I saw it in the VS catalog and thought, "Damn I love this." Only thing that concerns me is the puffy sleeve in the jacket. Not good for a girl with real arms and not sticks. lol If it would have been a 3/4 jacket sleeve, then it would get my vote for 100% perfection.

My fashion style

2009-05-18T15:54:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Mel, she introduced www.polyvore.com in her blog and these are my results. This is definitely true to my style.

Fashionista by Sabro featuring Bandolino Shoes

Monday Weight Loss Check In

2009-04-20T21:40:00.002-04:00

As usual my weight had to be logged into Weight Watchers Online today and I was pleasantly surprised. I know with the pregnancy and all, my weight stayed the same for 7 weeks straight. So as curious george would be, I tried to pull back my log in's to see since Jan 1st how much I've lost and I actually lost 11.5 pounds since 1/1/09. Not bad considering about 2 months not counting. Well the even better news is that I am down 64 pounds to date. Very proud of how far I've come. I must say. We'll have to wait and see how much I can lose before starting treatments and getting pregnant. I'm praying that I lose at least 20 pounds before then but I'm pretty sure I will surpass that. Keeping fingers crossed.

Dedicated the the ones I trusted in and betrayed me as family

2009-04-02T18:06:00.001-04:00

Psalm 26
Of David

1Vindicate me, O LORD,for I have led a blameless life;I have trusted in the LORDwithout wavering.
2Test me, O LORD, and try me,examine my heart and my mind;
3for your love is ever before me,and I walk continually in your truth.
4I do not sit with deceitful men,nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5I abhor the assembly of evildoersand refuse to sit with the wicked.
6I wash my hands in innocence,and go about your altar, O LORD,
7proclaiming aloud your praiseand telling of all your wonderful deeds.
8I love the house where you live, O LORD,the place where your glory dwells.
9Do not take away my soul along with sinners,my life with bloodthirsty men,
10in whose hands are wicked schemes,whose right hands are full of bribes.
11But I lead a blameless life;redeem me and be merciful to me.
12My feet stand on level ground;in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.

My fabulous lasagna I never tried =(

2008-11-20T13:29:00.003-05:00

So hubby had been really craving a homemade lasagna and because I'm such a good wifey =P, I went all out on this one. 5 layers of ground beef, pasta, ricotta, 3 additional cheeses, homemade sauce and mushrooms. If you have ever had a meal that is so warm and filling that all you want to do is jump in bed and go to sleep...well this dish put him under. Let's just say he was knocked out within 30 minutes. LMAO Sad part is that I never had the chance to taste my creation but I heard nothing but raves the next day from Dre's coworkers. I packed him some for lunch and the rest he took to the guys.

Oh and as if that wasn't enough, I baked up over 50 pieces of brownies for my coworkers and DH also took dessert. Talk about spoiled, huh!

Officially reached my 50 pound mark today! =)

2008-11-20T10:57:00.003-05:00

Oh yeah! I'm super thrilled at how far I've reached. Once I stepped foot on the scale, I had to step on 2 more times just to confirm. After a week of bloating and my enemy in store, I wasn't sure how much I would lose. Well all I can say is that today will be a victory party. Woot...Woot...

Halloween Pics 2008

2008-11-03T13:34:00.027-05:00

So Halloween turned out to be a success. The party turned out great and I was loving everyones costume this year. Here are a few pics worth sharing.

Been MIA lately and needed to touch base with my blog

2008-10-06T11:09:00.006-04:00

These couple of weeks have been a bit crazy with events but it's been fun. This past weekend I took part in a bridal show and had the opportunity to meet many brides and grooms, plus networked with many local vendors. Today I have been invited to attend a private cocktail party at Villa Woodbine and tomorrow I am going to see Janet Jackson in concert. Oh and I can't forget the Ultimate Fight that we saw with a huge group of friends this past weekend. Basically all my other time has been tied up helping clients plan their weddings/events and my daytime office job. Life is exciting and as an Aries, I'm ready for the ride always.

Now all I have to do is get on the treadmill this week and prepare for the 5K breast cancer walk-a-thon this Saturday coming up. I do want to thank all my girls and friends that have donated their portion to help out for a good cause. I'm definitely looking forward to it and think we will have a great work out. Much love like always and I will be sure to call you all soon.

Excited its week 23 and I hit the 30 lb. mark

2008-07-18T10:08:00.002-04:00

Oh yeahhhh! Doing the happy dance. lol First I'm excited that its Friday and I'm definitely ready to celebrate this weekend. I know I've been out of the loop for over a week, in touching base with my blog but I've been working on a few projects here and there. I figured it would be great to share my excitement today & catch up on updates.

As for Weight Watchers, it is still going great as it has from day one. I can't complain. Every 10 pounds seems like a milestone for me. Honestly, I feel like I lost the weight of a 2 year old baby. Crazy when you think of it like that. I'm achieving more than I had expected and its a goal that I feel will come to an end, when the time is right. I'm just sticking to the plan daily and I've become so comfortable with it. All my friends have been super supportive in helping work out at the gym, always tell me what a great job I'm doing not being tempted to eat their junk and always pre pack my fruits and snacks in zip locks, when I go to their house. When we bbq, they even buy skinless chicken legs just for me. Awww...they are too sweet. What can I say, not only am I making myself proud but I know that my friends and family are behind me 110%.

On to the subject of my crafts and party planning, I have been really focused on getting all my resources together and putting my mind to work. I've made some amazing progress and I'm really excited to see it all pull together soon. Looking forward to a new beginning and exciting career in the making.

Thats it for now folks...........!!!

Feeling like I'm hitting a plateau

2008-07-09T09:41:00.003-04:00

Lately I feel like the diet has been on a stand still position, even though the numbers and my graph shows other wise. Every week I loose anywhere from 1/2 a pound to 2 lbs a week on average. Though I feel I need to step it up a bit more to continuous results in the 1.5 - 2 lbs a week. These couple of weeks have been in the .5 - 1 lb. Overall I can't complain since I'm on week 22 and have lost a total of 28.5 pounds to date. I am hard on myself and I know it. Though when I set a goal, I will push to the end and nothing or no one can stop me.

I came across a statement on the WW website that even as simple as it is, it really put me to think. It said, "I came to realize that it took me years to put on all of my weight, so it wouldn't come off in a couple of months. I had to learn to be patient." Boy do I need to read that over and over again. lol It's like they say, "Patience is a virtue."

Now Andre and I are planning on hitting the community gym tonight or taking a late night swim. I do have things that need to be done around the house like sweeping, mopping and vacuuming though. I will just have to head home immediately and get started asap. I will be sure to focus on continuous laps back and forth, race hubby a few times or do an intense work out at the gym. Let's see how tonight plays out for us.

Guest Bath Light Fixture, has been ordered.

2008-07-07T08:35:00.004-04:00

Dre and I had looked around for the perfect light fixture, that would work well in our modern spa guest bath. We both agreed that this would be the one. It had to be an oil rubbed bronze to match all the other hardware installed. This ones iron oxide but the match is close enough. All the ones we had seen, where extremely antique or too traditional looking for our style. Patience paid off because hubby had training class points accumulated from work, that he got to trade in for Home Depot gift certificates. He made out good with $100 plus I had a $10 off coupon of $100+ purchase at HD. So the $178 upgrade to the house, only cost us $63 out of pocket. Oh yeahhhhh!

Celebrating our 3 year Anniversary today!

2008-06-25T11:10:00.003-04:00

Opening my eyes this morning, all I could do is smile as hubby kissed me on my head. He was all showered, shaved, cut his hair and smelling all fresh by 7am. What a wonderful way to start the day. I instantly knew he was preparing for a lovely night out with wifey(me). With a quick, "Love you babe! Have a nice day at work and see you later alligator", he was off to work.

I just received an email from him saying, "How does it feel to have been 3 years as a rusty bucket baby?" Laughing at the goof ball he is, he tells me that when we celebrate our 5 year anniversary, he will be getting me a 5 gallon drum of oil so I can soak my old @$$. My response was, "I will lube you up like the tin man from Wizard of Oz you old fart. Broken joints that crackle and snap like Rice Krispies cereal. lmao" Can't you just feel the love. =P

Now I sit here remembering how many things we have done in the past 3 years, feeling super excited about what life has yet to bring. I am truly grateful to have DH like my partner in crime, best friend and loving husband. It's clear we are not the typical couple that is always mushy...mushy crap but the time we spend together is always hilarious and enjoyable. When you can honestly "want" to spend quality time with your partner, no matter what you do after 9 years together...the love is clearly strong and going in the right direction.

As for now all I know is that tonights plans have changed and bowling is out the picture. Hardrock here we come! Updates to follow.

My new Weight Watchers Gadget

2008-06-19T08:47:00.002-04:00

I have been pretty down in the dumps recently, when I realized that I lost my point slider. I actually saved that slider for about 4 years and was excited to use it once again. Even though I am registered for online tracking, it is wonderful to have the scale in your purse. We can't be in front of a computer all day so this method has worked very well for me. I have been feeling really good, knowing that WW has been working its miracle on me once again. I am down 25 1/2 pounds now and still excited to keep going. Right now my motivation is like a train that keeps on going.

Going one day without my scale has been torture. Has become like a safety blanket for me now. I made the decision to go online and check out what point calculators WW is now offering that I could buy ASAP. To my surprise they have an amazing gadget that calculates the WW points, keeps track of all your daily points, also saves your activity points, plus all the water, fruits, veggies, vitamin, etc. that we normally log in daily. Talk about relief. No more writing down and trying to remember what points I have left. This sucker does it all for me.

I can't wait to get it and continue on the plan. Right now I am playing the safety net, just eating things that I know the point values to, until I receive the points calculator. So far, so good.

Mom's 50th Birthday

2008-06-16T14:22:00.012-04:00

I have to say that I haven't seen my mom so happy and excited, in a long time. I am glad that her birthday surprise turned out so well. Considering we had my baby brother (only 10 years old), I managed to have a nice day planned out for the 3 of us.

At first she showed up and my brother and I, sang happy birthday and she cut her cake. She went to the stores, to do some shopping. She really enjoyed that part. Can you blame her? Well I helped her pick out a nice outfit for her and my brother. We then went to Muvico to catch the new Kung Fu Panda movie. Super cute and definitely recommend. Then we went back to the house to shower and get ready. Andre was home from work by this time. Finally we made it out to Benihana's. A nice way for my brother to be entertained and my mom could enjoy a nice pina colada in her souvenier geisha cup. Must I add that she had lobster, shrimp and scallops. Woman wouldn't stop smiling and the best part is the fact we got an amazing picture taken of us. With a little more happy birthday singing and an icecream desert, the day was a success. Here are a few pics of the evening. I am just waiting for the family pic to be scanned and emailed. Once I get that, I will be sure to add it in this post.

Hubby is so wonderful that he promised to take care of my brother, so we can have a girls night out. We are heading to the comedy club for some good laughs and good drinks. =) Oh yeahhhh!

Why I Love Mi Media Naranja

2008-06-12T08:11:00.005-04:00

Let me first explain that "mi media naranja" is spanish for "my other half". Cute term we use a lot in Puerto Rico.

So my hubby decided to surprise me with an early 3 year anniversary gift. Our anniversary is not until June 25th but he couldn't wait. Poor thing was super excited. Regardless the thoughtful gift left me speechless and I couldn't stop smiling. He knows that the materialistic items don't necessarily make me happy but the fact that he put so much thought into the gift and knew what would mean something to me, meant the world to me.

He told me the basic chains were all 16' and he knew I always use 18'-20', so he made sure to purchase another chain that fit me well. He knew I love clean straight lines and simplicity but also wanted it to match the princess cut diamonds on my wedding rings. All I could say is, "wow babe!" I give him much credit because I know how difficult it is for men to shop and needless to say, pick out jewelry with so much thought behind it. How can I not love this man?

What he doesn't know is that I have a nice surprise in store for him too. Hubby loves carbon fiber details on cars and now it seems that they are implementing them into jewelry for men. I found him a nice titanium bracelet and ring with carbon fiber details. I am sure he will be super happy. I will be sure to post pics soon.

What a shocker from thenestbaby.com!

2008-05-22T12:19:00.005-04:00

Let me first start by saying that I have the worst luck when it comes to winning any kind of free prizes. That kind of explains why I never gamble or set my hope up for things because I always get the short end of the stick, kind of deal. Well to my surprise this morning, I received an email from Nest Kaitlin (Editorial Assistant), telling me I just won a free Ducky Layette cake from Hold the Flour!

I couldn't believe it. Just for entering some not so common and unique baby shower games. Thank goodness for creativity huh! I have been to so many baby showers with the same set ups and same games. Considering all my losses I've had in the past, I was preparing for my baby showers to eventually come and I knew I wanted to put a fun twist on things. Still never giving up hope, DH and I have plans of TTC towards the end of this year again. Now I have another great gift I can put away till our time comes. With the way this year is flying by, our time will come sooner than what we can even imagine.

These are the items the cake consists of:

Gently rolled between the soft blankets is a complete layette. Each baby cake includes a night gown, a sleeper, three onsies, two bibs, booties, pacifiers, a teether, and a soft toy. Also folded in are two receiving blankets and color coordinated cloth diaper burp cloths. We have included everything needed to welcome the little one home in style.

Birthday Surprise = Beer and flowers

2008-05-22T09:14:00.005-04:00

So I gave in and figured, hey I might as well send him flowers to work and give him a nice surprise. 1 800 Flowers totally had me cracking up because what is Dre's favorite thing to drink? You got that right, Heineken! lol This is what I found on their website and I couldn't resist. Definitely a manly mans flower arrangement along with a balloon. hahahaha

Do I get the award for the best wifey of the year or what? =P

Un pinon: Carribean style lasagna mmmm....

2008-05-16T10:02:00.003-04:00

Ground beef filling:
1.25 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp salt, to taste
1/2 tsp pepper, to taste
2 bay leaves
1 tsp ground achiote
1/2 tsp coriander
1/4 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
1 16 ounce can whole tomatoes, drained (juices reserved) and chopped
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup raisins
1.5 Tbsp red wine vinegar

For the lasagna layers:
4 semi-ripe plantains, yellow with some spots
olive oil, enough to coat the bottom of a pan
2 eggs
2-3 Tbsp. milk, or water1/2
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella or swiss cheese (choose your preference)
cilantro, optional for garnish

*Note that you can make the ground beef filling in advance and store in the fridge until you are ready to make the rest.

Cook ground beef in a large pot over medium heat until no longer pink. Add the onion, red and green bell pepper, bay leaves, and spices. Cook for a few more minutes until the onions and peppers begin to soften.

Add all remaining ingredients to the beef, including the chopped tomatoes and reserved juice, tomato sauce, raisins, and vinegar. Bring to a simmer and let the flavors combine for 10-15 minutes. At this point, taste and adjust the spices to your liking.

Set the beef aside to cool while you prepare the plantains.

Peel the plantains and cut diagonally into 1/4-1/3 inch thick slices. (Tip for peeling a plantain: the skin is a little thicker than bananas, so you'll want to cut one end off and slice through the skin lengthwise three times, spaced evenly around the plantain. Then the skin will peel off easily.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly oil a large rectangular baking pan (3 quart capacity). Combine eggs and milk in a bowl and lightly beat. Add half of the egg mixture to the bottom of the pan. Follow with a layer of 1/3 of the plantains, 1/2 of the beef mixture, and 1/2 of the cheese mixture. Repeat another 1/3 of the plantains, remaining beef, and remaining cheese. Top with a layer of plantains. Finally, pour the remaining egg mixture evenly over the top.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake until hot and bubbling. If you started with freshly cooked beef (not out of the fridge), usually all the ingredients start warm and you only need to bake for 30 minutes. However, starting with cold beef, you really need to bake for about an hour to heat through.Remove the foil, sprinkle with cilantro, and enjoy!

Key Lime Pie as easy as 1, 2, 3!!!

2008-05-15T14:29:00.006-04:00

Maybe not the healthiest choice but theres nothing better than a refreshing citrus dessert during the summer season. Best part is that it only takes 10 minutes max to complete and then chill at least 4 hours till it sets.

What you need:
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 6-ounce can frozen limeade concentrate
1 cup of heavy cream
1 6-ounce graham cracker pie crust
and zest of 1 lime

Preperation:
In a bowl, place the condensed milk, limeade concentrate and cream. Beat all together with an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, until fluffy and soft peaks form. Then pour the filling into the piecrust and smooth the top. Refrigerate until chilled for at least 4 hours or even leave overnight. Sprinkle the top with zest before serving.

*Note: All we need now is Jackie's (cocojack10) Margaritaville Machine to whip us up some margaritas and get the party started. lol

Thank you HGTV

2008-05-09T12:51:00.006-04:00

Browsing HGTV's spanish rooms and modern baths, I thought these 2 rooms really represented my style really well. Now if only I had the extra space. lol All I can do is dream for now.

Dream Foyer

I actually had the chance to see this episode of Candace Olsen and her choice of glass subway tile, looked amazing. Even the simple clean lined lighting sconces she used, give great impact as well. Really like the contemporary hotel details that make you feel relaxed. I would take this bathroom make over any day.

Melting away the FAT!

2008-05-08T08:35:00.002-04:00

I am floating on cloud 9 today, out of pure joy. It's official that I have lost a total of 20 pounds as of this morning. I feel like jumping for joy, blowing horns and shouting to the mountain tops. This is simply a self achieved goal that I have set upon myself and I feel relieved. First time in my life that I have lost so much, in such a short time and in such a healthy manner.

I have struggled all my life to maintain a descent weight. Always have been overweight up to a point that I fell in a black hole. Turned to alcohol, never ate and truly hurt my body in ways I never thought possible. Everyone thought I looked beautiful but I felt the ugliest I have ever felt about myself. My duty was to lift my spirits again and get my life together. Never turned to food for comfort but yet again my weight sky rocketed.

I give thanks to numerous surgeries, on birth control for 4 years (note: once I got off of it, I immediately dropped 10 lbs. in 2 weeks. Hmmm....makes you think huh!), activity level in work place changed, miscarriages, genetically I have 4 generations of heavy family members, lack of energy to work out at times, etc. Yes I can sit here and point the finger but I was ready to do what ever it would take at this point. Diet after diet, work out after work out, personal trainer, meeting with a dietician, injections by my doctor... my body was just not changing. So a light turned on and I said, "Wait a minute!" Back in the day Weight Watchers did work for me, for the short time that I was on it. Why not give it a try again, especially since its available online now. Best decision I've made in a long time.

As of this morning, I tried on a pair of pants I haven't been able to fit in since over 3 years ago. I couldn't believe it. So today I am rocking what feels like new attire =) What a great feeling. Can't wait to lose another 20 pounds and keep on forward with my struggle. God is seriously on my side.

Baby Fever & Chubby Cheeks

2008-05-01T10:18:00.026-04:00

So Y100.com (our local radio station) is having a vote for cutest baby contest online. With all the baby fever and over 1,000 of the cutest little faces, how is someone to choose. All this does is warm the heart to a whole other level. Dh is probably exceedingly baby crazed, so to make his day I saved a few pics of the cutest ones that I thought would make his heart melt. (slaps hand) Yes, I know...bad...bad...me! =P

and of course we can't forget to vote for our special mini nestie family member Sophia

Genius crafting $ saving schemes

2008-04-28T09:12:00.004-04:00

Cricut, I'm sorry to be taking business away from you but I couldn't stand to purchase a 2 pack of your 12x12 mats for $12, everytime the glue wore down.

Crafting gets to be a bit expensive, as you may know, so I try and find alternative solutions that work. I have to say that Krylon introduced me to an amazing product of theirs. Who would've thought that a Krylon repositionable spray adhesive would exist.

It is so easy to apply. Just spray on outside and let dry. Only takes a few minutes to be ready for mounting. With Michael's 40% off coupon and the can costing around $5 regular price, it came out as a steal. So for all the crafting ladies out there, hope this tip helps you all save a few $$$ from time to time.

Finger lick'n good!

2008-04-25T12:55:00.002-04:00

I have to give major credit to a couple that recently started their own cooking tv show. I'm sure many have had a chance to catch a show or two. It's "Down Home with the Neely's".

Yes, they are a loving couple that always say cutesie names to one another but a side from all that, the bbq food items they create look delicious and really easy to make. I'm always looking forward to watching a show of theirs. Definitely worth checking out. Plus my SIL just gave me an amazing BBQ recipe book this weekend that I am looking forward to putting to good use.

Ready for "La Isla Del Encanto"

2008-04-24T13:46:00.004-04:00

So it's official we finally booked our stay in PR. Keep in mind that even though I grew up here, I couldn't resist than to give DH his own taste of Puerto Rican fun and atmosphere. Bring on the coquitos, masita de puerco from Los gorditos, chocolate covered strawberries from Plaza, a jabarito from the Boriquen Lounge...omg! (pic below) Just makes your mouth water. Deep fried plantain sandwiches with yellow rice. Mmmmmm....Ok enough with my fat @ss. lol I need to remember that Weight Watchers is my priority right now.

So here are some pics of the hotel. Always nice to have our own privacy even though we will be having tons of fun with my father and grandfather each day. Get dropped off, relax, sip some frozens by the swim up bar and just chill. I do that soooo well =P Best part is waking up and staring out the balcony, right towards the ocean. Can't wait! You would think I've never been there, with the way I'm writing this. Though truth be told I grew up the first 7 years of my life there and traveled 2 times a year to see my family. It's just that I haven't been since 2002 with trying to finish school, work, new home and everything else, that I miss being there so bad.

Island Fantasies are hitting close to home

2008-04-23T13:51:00.004-04:00

I'm truly excited about this months issue of pottery barn. Since DH and I both have an island background, its only natural we love spanish and island decor. He continues to tell me time and time again, how much he wants a hammock for the back yard. Considering I love the colors and the fact it is super wide to fit us both, this might just be on the list to order. If only I could have that scenery in my backyard. Absolutely beautiful!

This armoire represents much of the island feel. With all the shutter doors and distressed yellow, this would be a keeper. Comes with a hefty price though :( Is it Christmas time again??? lol

To frame a mounted tv in a black or espresso finish, is truly a nice touch. Just like a piece of art, all on its own.

The mediterranean tile design on these rugs, are to die for. I love the burnt orange but against my mexican tiles in the home, they would blend in too much. Maybe the brown one is worth considering for under the dining room table. Hmmm...still need to think about it.

Welcoming my new nephew to the world

2008-04-18T10:26:00.005-04:00

Once again I am an auntie =) I am now officially an auntie of 13 nephews and nieces. Yup, can you tell that birthdays and holidays are tough on us? lol DH has 5 sisters and he's the only boy. Pressures on...he's the only one left to have a child. We come from a tight family unit and would be delighted some day.

Well my SIL sent us a pic from NY of our adorable nephew. Check out the smile, absolutely priceless! He looks just like DH when he was a baby.

Reaching success on Weight Watchers

2008-04-17T09:10:00.002-04:00

I am so proud to announce that I have reached my 15 pound mark today. I am on week 9 now and plan to stick with this for the long road. It's clear I have a lot more weight I need to drop but this is a huge accomplishment for me. Everyone keeps mentioning to me, how impressed they are with the fact I am so determined, sticking to it without breaking and are all noticing my results. Just yesterday, my coworkers ordered NY style pizza and fried ravioli. I said thanks but no thanks and went to Wendy's for a salad. Which I ended up not eating anyhow but thats a side from the story. I honestly don't go around telling family and friends how far I've come because its not about numbers to me but more about how I feel and look. Though I admit it doesn't hurt to see great results on the scale. I guess the good feeling hits you when people start calling you out on it. My husband is like, "Babe I think its time to go shopping for new clothes. Your jeans are drooping from the back and fit you big." I turn, smile and think..."Now that's what I'm talking about!" lol

Beginning of Kitchen Remodel in Progress

2008-04-15T08:14:00.022-04:00

Last night we had the tiling expert come over, to go over details and layouts for the kitchen. We are really excited that all the plans we've had in mind are all coming together. They will begin working this evening so at least its a start. The tile we picked out is amazing, all in natural stone. The backsplash and border are beautiful with the accents of crackled glass. I will be sure to take pictures of the process and post them soon. If only 5 pm can come sooner than later, we can get the ball rolling today. I'm super excited =) Here is the stone backsplash, border, crackled glass insert (I placed in there so you can get an idea of the complete look) and pencil rope tiles to give contrast. The stone ceramic tile is what we will be using for the countertop and it will all be sealed carefully along with our kitchen faucet and new Kohl stainless steel sink, that will all be replaced and installed.

Accent tile inserts and countertop complete. Excuse the pieces of duct tape =P Those are to avoid the side tiles from sliding, so they dry in place as necessary. Tiles need to set before grouting.

Close up of the countertops

Under cabinet spot lights that will be wired in. Thanks to Ikea for a great deal =) 3 for $25

As of 4/28/08 - Popping out outlets, replacing door hinges and starting to paint over yellow

Sink and faucet installed

Call me Inspector Gadget

2008-04-14T09:46:00.003-04:00

So I've been doing some detective work for the past 3 months now and finally managed to break the case. In Feb 2008 DH and I purchased a new living room set and wanted to donate our older sofa for a good cause. The sofa was in mint condition, considering I always took good care of it. So cutting to the chase, I made a huge sign and stuck it on the sofa stating, "Donation for Breast Cancer Awareness (scheduled truck pick up)" Well it was in my parking space and one of our neighbors thought it was cute to steal the sofa for themselves. I was vivid and I couldn't believe someone would ignore a sign that clearly meant "DO NOT TAKE!" Who in this world thinks they have more worth than going for a good cause. I just told my husband, "don't worry that the man upstairs is watching and they will pay for what they did." I already had plans that if I saw someone with our sofa moving in the future, I would seriously walk right up and slash the hell out of it. When they call the cops, I will show them the donation slip stating that item was missing and have pictures to prove it was ours. Yes, I am just that crazy. I'm a thoughtful person but ugly actions will pay in my book. Now 2 days a go, hubby and I went to speak with a neighbor 3 doors down that does carpentry work. As we are speaking to him, I notice our sofa right through their window. DH just tapped my leg for me to see it. Question now is, what to do? Hmmmm....Should I contact the association? Is it worth it and do I really feel they will do something about it? Probably not and now its too late. My father is a prankster and overall goofball. I told him what happend and he couldn't believe it. His advice is to go late at night and put crazy glue in their car door locks. =P He told me...well if you paid $600+ for that couch and they are taking advantage then let them pay to fix their car. The $$$ will not be returned in my pockets but the aggrevation is worth every dime. It will definitely make them think twice before messing with us. It's evil revenge but all I can do is say...Bwahahahaha!

Hubba Hubba Birthday Loving

2008-04-11T13:06:00.003-04:00

My husbands birthday is being planned in advance, due to the fact I planned a 6 day trip to Puerto Rico for him. At least he can have the opportunity to have tons of fun and enjoy a vacation. I figured I will go all out and order some flowers to be delivered to the room, maybe call the hotel in advance and have them deliver a bottle of wine and really show him what paradise is all about. Hey hey hey get your mind out of the gutter ;-)~ I came across the 1st arrangement by Martha Stewart that is available at 1 800 Flowers that would be perfect for him. $60 is not a bad price at all. The 2nd one is by a local flower vendor (D'Flor Flowers in San Juan) that is even better at $48. Hmmm...choices I tell ya! Can't wait to see his expression and know how much effort I put into planning out a nice surprise. He deserves it, he is truly a blessing to my life.

From BLAH to BAMMMMM!!!

2008-04-11T09:46:00.019-04:00

Before and After - DIY medallion and pendant light

Before and After - From peach to beige

Before and After

Before and After - From basic construction to oil bronze hardware and modern day spa decor

Before and After - Update galore with all new appliances, hardware and lighting. Countertops, backsplash, sink and faucet coming soon.

Turning the Big 27!

2008-04-07T13:54:00.005-04:00

To my surprise this is what I found at my desk, when I got back from lunch today. A gift from my boss and orange flavored cake pieces made with cream cheese frosting, from another coworker. I promise only 1/2 a piece to not ruin the weight loss. I learned in grade school to share ;-)~

and this was my lovely surprise from the hubby when I got home. Gosh I love him!

$$Cash Bash$$ 2008

2008-04-07T08:33:00.011-04:00

Thanks to my husbands wonderful company, we had the opportunity to get invited once again to this years cash bash event in Marco Island. He has worked super hard this year and was honored to have this opportunity. Only top employees that have helped the company grow in profits, are invited. DH won big money...Woohoo! Every penny helps plus you get a free night stay and door prize. I came out lucky when I managed to get the bonus $50 under my desert plate =) hehehehe DH's door prize was the Ipod Nano that he handed over and said, "here is an extra gift for your birthday." lol How thoughtful huh? :P So its official, we have all the extra money to pay for our hotel in Puerto Rico without touching our account. Nice huh!

I have to say that after all the renovations, the Marriott looks nicer than ever. What a nice little get a way for the weekend. Aside from the pouring rain in the middle of the night and after check out going down alligator alley, it was sunny and beautiful the rest of the time. I recommend this hotel to anyone.

Remodeling of 1/2 bath in process

2008-03-24T10:50:00.011-04:00

Aside from all the pouring rain this past weekend, we still managed to make it to Lowes and Home Depot to make our purchases. I have to say I'm super excited to have the house coming along, little by little. After buying the house, we really spent like crazy trying to update so many things asap. The feeling was great but then we got into the, "I don't feel like doing anything else mode." Needless to say, the market is terrible right now and I can't see investing so much money and see no return in the future. Minor updates of painting, door handles, lighting, faucets, mirrors, hurricane shutters, SS appliances, etc. are all understanding. Since we have so much traveling in progress, we really just wanted to focus on enjoying this year, etc. but the urge of fixing the house, came up again :P I absolutely fell in love with the color of our granite counter top (Pegasus: Montesol), so we placed a special order from Home Depot and it finally arrived. Color seems a lot darker in the pic but it has many hues of grey and kind of a natural pinkish/beige tone throughout. Much prettier in person. Then we got our espresso vanity, by Allen + Roth from Lowes, and its sitting in the box waiting to be installed. We even got the matching mirror and can't wait to see it all come together. Very exciting! Contractor should be coming by today to start work.

Next tasks: DIY Projects (Scraping, Painting & Sewing)

2008-03-19T10:27:00.009-04:00

Going Green

2008-03-14T09:25:00.005-04:00

Clearly its been a trend and more a way of living that should stick around forever. Who doesn't love the idea of recycling, turning trash into new treasure, learning to think outside the box for new clever and creative ideas or just appreciating key touches that nature gives us each day. It's been obvious that natural earth tones are extremely popular this year and great reason for it. Natural elements such as (green) leaf patterns, (woods) refurbished furniture, (ocean blue) elements, (fire) rustic reds and oranges, (flowers), etc. are hot right now. Lets not forget all the energy efficient appliances that are flying off the shelves. Plus it eventually saves us all a pretty penny. HGTV has created a new all green home for this upcoming house give away. Really turned out amazing. This is one of the great pics that I had to share. Coffee table books are always a great accesory and conversational pieces to use.

These are a few pieces that I can seriously do a lot of oooooooo....ooooooohhhhhh....ahhhhhh....Has nothing to do with the HGTV house but just pieces I came by that fit my love for tuscan style. Keep in mind they are pieces of natural elements. Clay, wood and iron are earth friendly =)

{(<=Steam is coming out my ears=>)}

2008-03-13T14:25:00.006-04:00

I really need to get this all off my chest before I explode. I am seriously about to lose it with some people. What kind of world are we living in? I'm sick and tired of people living in a freaking bubble and not know how to step beyond their comfort level, to learn about life. Just because you have money and live in a high end city doesn't make your sh!t smell like flowers. Get off your high horse and place your feet on the ground for once. I can seriously say I can hold myself down pretty well in any kind of environment you put me in. Living in S.Florida I have hung out the same in a Ritz Carlton as well as what we can consider crack town in downtown area. Regardless we all have to watch our back, theres no denying that. I'm so grateful that life has given me as much as I have today but it took determination and hard work. I'll be the 1st to tell you I worked full time and went to school at nights paying my way through classes. Lived in a 500 sq ft. little apt behind a house and managed to work my way up through life. Nothing was served in a silver platter to me and yet I can sit next to you now and enjoy a filet mignon with a glass of wine at a 5 star restaurant and you would never be able to figure out truly who I am. Take me to a festival in the hood and I will still eat, drink and dance the night away. What I have to offer is not just pulling out a wallet and flashing the $$$ but being book smart and street smart. I give people the chance to show their hardships and what led them there as well as I admire people who have worked hard to get the best life, even if they are millionaires that deserve every bit. Life is about being there for one another and not putting people down. If you are just an ignorant, stupid person...then you deserve to be looked down as a fool. Don't hate because I have a degree, speak 2 languages, still in my 20's and make a pay check similar to yours at 40+. Who gives a flying arse that you live(d) in Brickell, Seattle, LA or anywhere else for that matter. I just can't understand the reasoning behind wanting to act and carry your life like a drama diva or master of your thrown character as millionaire's club or housewives of orange county and think its a cute way to portray yourself. Learn about culture, devote your time to helping others in need, sit down in a poor families home and see the love they put in their cooking and families, travel to get a good sense of different life forms and customs, just do anything you are afraid to try and you might learn about a thing or two. This also goes for the less fortunate. You are not forgotten. Just because you grew up in a low end neighborhood, surrounded by bad influences, etc. gives you no reason to not try and overcome those obstacles. There are people in the world dyeing for the opportunity to have half the chances you do. Set goals and reach for the stars.

My virtual Model is Style'n

2008-03-12T09:08:00.005-04:00

I came across the website mvm.com, thanks to my mother. I have to admit the clothing choices are limited to a small amount of new brand items but I'm pretty impressed with how nice this outfit looks. Seriously I would rock this whole get up any day :) I'm seriously getting ready to purchase item by item online. lol Great way to get creative, play with different shapes and see whats most flattering on you. Test it out and feel free to post your style.

Wrapping with the whimsypress

2008-03-07T14:22:00.004-05:00

I'm a sucker for the quirky-cute wrapping paper and home items. Whimsypress and JoAnn Fabrics definitely hit the mark in this department. I couldn't resist sharing this 10x10 stretched canvas wall art for a little girls room. Comes with a price tag of $90 but its too cute for words.

These gift wrapping sheets are $2.50 - $4.50 a sheet. Absolutely love them! I had to stock up.

Smucks on Ice

2008-03-03T11:26:00.007-05:00

So this past weekend we went to see Smuckers Stars on Ice and it was really nice. As a little girl this was my favorite sport to watch. I love figure skating but never got around to actually seeing a live performance unless it was a silly Disney on Ice or Lion King ice show. lol The tosses and landings were superb. I truly admire their skill and can't emphasis how much strength these people have. At one point a female did a hand stand on her partners one arm and stayed balanced as he skated for about 4 seconds. I was in total aw! As much as DH and I love hockey and ice skating, you might know where are future children will be enrolled for sports. lol

Whatcha' want..watcha' want...watcha' wanna do

2008-02-29T11:54:00.005-05:00

Guest Room Idea Board

Guest Bath Idea Board

As for the guest room, I really would love to keep many of the tropical details I have in there at the moment but bring in more natural elements to the room as well. Of course with a twist of mosaic prints and additional throw pillows w/ complimentary textures and designs to give it a bit of contrast. DH and I have been shopping around for a platform bed with undermount storage to make best use of the space. I also want to take a moment and give thanks to mamabear7, for sharing your distressed window shutters. Such a nice and affordable detail that fits our style so well. Our goal is to create a nice tropical suite for our guests and hopefully they will feel relaxed and enjoy the space as much as we do.

The guest bathroom connects to the guest room for privacy. In this space I would really like a spa feel along with contemporary clean lines. Mainly dark browns with small key touches of light sage green will be the main colors.

My double bubble of craftiness

2008-02-28T08:59:00.003-05:00

Here are a few little silly things I've made for Christmas and Valentines that just passed. During the holidays its important to make things from the heart and no matter how simple they are, its the thought and time you put into the gift that people appreciate. This past christmas I made these cute snow fuzzies for everyones computer along with a handmade mini gift bag & tags with a baked cookie inside. Huge hit! Then for Valentines I created this lovely card for my DH in which he absolutely loved. Sorry I couldn't show the inside creativity since its disclosed info ;-)~ Pic clearly does not give it justice since I used shiny, suede and textured papers and stamps on this card using my Cricut machine. Gotta love it.

Heart Warming Details that Make'm Feel all Fuzzy

2008-02-27T09:23:00.005-05:00

So here is my final product of the family tree. I'm truly proud of how well it came out. I handed it to my grandma yesterday morning at 5:30am before she went off to surgery and she broke down in tears. It felt so great to show her how much work and effort I put into it. I knew it made her day and put a smile on her face. She had never received such a personalized gift like that and promised to treasure it always. I did my research and found up to my 3rd generation of grandparents all the way down to her great grand children. I will definitely be the one holding on to that in the future and adding on to the family tree for all our future children to see. *note: It's hard to tell in the picture but I did everything 3D pop art in a shadow box and it reads..."Your love is the union of our family."

The best news of all is that her surgery turned out great and she is at home resting now =)

The Woman I Admire

2008-02-25T10:44:00.004-05:00

My abuelita is the one on the left =)
My grandparents have always been the closest people to me aside from my parents. I truly believe that I carry many traits from my grandma. She is the most humble, loving, spiritual and strong minded woman I know. In my world, I would pretty much give up plans just to help her out for the day. Since I know I am fortunate enough to have grandparents that are alive, I think it is really important to spend as much time with them as possible. My grandma has lived a really tough life that I know deep down she tries to live through me. It brings her so much joy, just to see me be the happy woman I am today and go far in everything I achieve. She's always encouraged me to study, stand on my own 2 feet without the help of anyone else, live the moment but always looking ahead and never to regret anything. Just to learn from mistakes and make sure we don't let them happen again. She has always worked so hard, just to save every penny possible. Though there are times I have seen her on cloud nine dreaming about the smallest things but thats all they have been to her, "Dreams." I made a promise to myself that I was going to try my hardest to make her feel good, as the appreciated woman she is. She once told me a story about when she was a little girl in Cuba and how poor they lived. She was fascinated by ballet and always wanted a pair of ballerina slippers as a girl. In that time they were 10 cents but her father working in the fields couldn't buy them for her. He secretly tried saving a penny each month and in the end of the year surprised her and told her he was going to walk her to the store to buy them. When they got to the store, they only had a pair 2 sizes smaller but since she waited so long she wore them proud and acted as if everything was ok. She wore them until her big toe nail fell off. Till this day she laughs about it. Now I understood why she loved seeing me in ballet as a little girl. The joy on her face was always priceless. I took her last year shopping to buy a beautiful dress, we had lunch in Houstons and I took her to see the Nutcracker. Tears rolled down her face when she saw what I had planned for her. Sometimes its the smallest things that mean the most to people we love.

Recently my grandma was really down in the dumps and feeling lack of energy. She saw the doctor and he found that she had her main artery clogged. Now she is scheduled for surgery tomorrow and I am truly worried. This weekend was painful due to her asking me to sit with her to help her create her Will. It was hard but I'm honored I'm the one person she counts on to go over every detail and know I would make sure her funeral arrangements are paid for and no debt is left on anyone. Even though I pray that everything will come out ok my heart is hurting. She is my best friend and I really can't begin to think what life could ever be without her. She is in my prayers non stop and I decided to make her a gift for tomorrow. I worked on it all weekend. Its a family tree handmade and framed in a shadow box since it is 3D. I think she will love it.

Smashing Decor in the boudoir

2008-02-15T12:32:00.008-05:00

I'm kind of torn with the idea of what to do for our guest room. I seriously haven't put much mind to it just in case a little dumpling decides to walk into our life ;-P I have saved a few pics I love and really inspire the future outcome of that area. I have the typical decor style pic I would normally pursue and a few baby rooms worth considering. I love the idea of a unique baby room and how fun it would be to play around with the thought. As a bonus I added in 2 patio pics I came across in another blog that I just had to post. Oh my, I will definitely run this by DH and see if he would love the idea for our back yard. Very nice!

Alligator grunts vs. Fire Works

2008-02-15T10:38:00.021-05:00

This is long overdue but DH and I went with some friends to the Everglades, for New Years to camp and get away from all the city life and drunken fools. Clearly this was not my 1st choice but hey I went along with the idea since we are all trying to save some "moolah". I finally uploaded some random pics I was taking all night. We actually named the big alligator "Chubbs". Also, don't miss the guys acting like fire dragons by the fire pit lmao. Yes believe it or not we do an annual camping trip with tons of friends out to this same spot. Usually playing cards, dominoes, playing music, keg, etc. This is definitely out in the boondies and hopefully a helicopter could find us if god forbid something was to happen. Not everyones cup of tea I know but in the end it is the best spot in the world to see the whole sky full of stars. We become one with nature, we respect them and they respect us. This is how up close and personal we get. Chilling images so beware. lol No no fences or anything to protect us. Yes I know, crazy!!!

So Excited! Bought new crap for my scraps

2008-02-07T15:27:00.001-05:00

Ok ok well not officially crap but more like my new big girl toy. Nothing wrong with treating myself to a little something, something once in a while =) This baby makes wonders for any crafty projects I may have. Between making 5 baskets last night and doodling with my machine, I am losing a bit of sleep. Oh well! I admit my new Cricut Expressions machine is my new addictive hobby.Whenever you need to find me, just look for me in my craft room and expect the creative juices to be flowing.

Being \(,)mi-,sən-dər-stud\;...no me malinterpretes

2008-02-07T08:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday got me thinking about a lot about misconceptions. Clearly there are some of us that express our feelings outloud with no remorse. Then there are people who feel things but shout things in their mind, for no one to hear. We are all human in the end and its only natural to have an opinion. Whether you agree or disagree with how we all express ourselves, is really irrelevant. I see things for what they are and only know how to be me. Though, I have a compassionate soul and always respect individuals and their points of view. Just like an equator, theres a fine line people should just never attempt to cross. People that know me call me Sabrosura for a reason....I can be the sweetest person you can ever come across and I will take the shirt off my back to help someone in need. Though I've learned that people love to take advantage of a good soul. It's ok because I know one way or another it will get taken care of. Like I say, "God don't like ugly". I have to remind myself on a daily basis that I still need to be that person to show the world that kindness is the key. Please, thank you, sorry, etc. goes a long way. You get uptight, I will give you a smile. You disrespect me, be ready to get knocked the f*ck out. Call me crazy...maybe I don't have a middle median but like I said you either love me or hate me, you make the call. Trust me I won't be crying a river but if you need a true friend to talk to or hang with that won't hate on you...then I'm the girl. I don't waste my time with scumbags, b!tches or @ssholes. I have a motto and that is to surround myself with positive ora at all times. If you want the truth and ask for my opinion, I will give it to you direct. I won't tell you want you want to hear because I know its what you want, I will just state my opinion in a nice manner. Never intending to hurt you in any way. I'm not shaddy or a 2 face but may be a bit sarcastic for a good laugh. This is where you put your big girl panties on and laugh along. If you can do that, you are one cool chick in my book. I even admit that I am a very sociable person that loves to laugh and hang with groups of friends. If you judge my social personality as an attention seeker, let me just tell you...you are so wrong. Last thing I ever want to do is have people like me, forcefully and earn brownie points. I'm no damn girl scout, just a down to earth girl that keeps it real :)

Just for the haters...lol

Why my heart goes pitter patter for Valentines...

2008-02-04T08:57:00.001-05:00

In my eyes Valentines is not just some Hallmark day but a day to recognize everyone you love (Spouse, Friends & Family). Even though this should be expressed more often than not, what harm is it to make someone feel special? Anything that is for a positive outcome, I'm for it. To show gratitude does not require $ for chocolates, bears or jewelry. All it takes is a personal touch as a handmade card or spending some quality time with them. Here's a little biblical Valentines poem I love and thought I could share.

1 Corinthians 13

Valentine's Day is a day of love,

For showing that we care,

And if we read the Bible,

God describes love there:

If we speak like celestial angels

From heaven up above,

All our words mean nothing

If we don't have Christian love.

Love is patient, love is kind;

It doesn't brag or boast;

Love conquers pride and envy;

It is never self-engrossed.

Love is not rude or angry;

Forgiveness counters wrong;

Love stays away from evil

It sings a truthful song.

Love is full of trust and hope;

It always perseveres;

Love never fails; It's faithful;

To the Bible it adheres.

And if you give this kind of love

To your special Valentine,

You'll be loving right in harmony

With God's own sweet design.

By Joanna Fuchs

Cha..Cha..Cha..and the Rolly Polly

2008-01-24T09:02:00.001-05:00

So I was really excited to finally go see "Dancing with the Stars". DH's friends cracked a couple jokes on him for going but he ended up enjoying it. I must say the crowds average age was 50+ which shouldn't have been surprising but it was cute and funny. If only you could see them out of their seats clapping their hands to the old 50's jams. Also Wayne Newton had these old ladies like if it were a Ricky Martin concert. Hehehehe The Brazilian carnival portion was probably my favorite part of the show. If I could change one thing it would be to have Mario Lopez there performing. :P Gosh the older he gets the finer he looks. Yummmooooo! It was also funny seeing Joey that used to be in, my growing up childhood years show, Blossom. Brought back flashbacks. So here a a few pics to share of the whole night.

You call it inspirational, I call it Likey...Likey!

2008-01-22T08:53:00.000-05:00

I've been browsing beautiful pics of random rooms and these are a few that stood out to me. Talk about brilliant designs. Geesh if only we had vacation homes around the world, I could have fun decorating. Now thats a dream worth pursuing.

In this pic I actually have incorporated the chocolate brown leather couches in our LR and intricate flower designs in my craft area.

Love the red accents, bamboo sticks and world market feel to this room.

and finally for my relaxation mode...

Sayings that stick like spidey

2008-01-15T12:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks to S.Florida nestie, Anidel, for posting daily inspirational quotes. These are a few more that I couldn't resist sharing.

The Fire of Anger only burns the angry - Chinese Proverb

True friends are like jewels, precious and rare. False ones are like autumn leaves, found everywhere. - Annonymous School Teacher

Inspirational quote that left me like "wooohhhh!"

2008-01-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. -Dorothy Nevill

Em..I..See..Kay..E..Why...MOUSEEEE!!!

2008-01-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

Clearly work overload is getting to me so DH decided to take me away for a little mini get a way to Epcot in Orlando. It was definitely a breathe of fresh air to get away from the everyday drag. Whats better than a one day trip around the world. Here are a few road trip pics.

Welcome to Epcot

The big ball of wonders

The bag of 2 nuts

Power to the people. One union

3 Guides to live by

China

Under the sea Creme Brulee at Coral Reef Restaurant

Nemo's Jamaican Jellyfish - Booyaka!

Waiting in Normandy for my pot of skittles

Welcome 2 Germany...take a pic w/ a fugly troll!

Our brotha from another Motha...

Hello anyone out there!!!....Oops I forgot why I'm here...Hey are you guys following me?

Are we home yet???

Last show 4 the night...heres our circus sideshow freak: The bearded woman.

Thanks for sharing our journey. Yayyy!!! Home sweet home.

Halloween Spooktacular

2007-10-12T09:43:00.000-04:00

Bwahahahaha... the time has come again to celebrate one of my favorite holidays. The joy I get seeing people scared, being creative and simply having a good time, makes the whole day worth it. So far I'm loving tons of Martha Stewart's ideas this year. Definitely planning on putting them to good use. I also have to say thanks to, our S.Florida nestie, Candace aka Photogwife for the adorable spiderweb cupcakes and her recipe. You can check it out at the link http://www.ishotthechef.com So watch out for some amazing pictures to come.

*Great idea from nestie: Squirrelgirrl