Little Drummer Boy

Since I posted last week, about my favorite Christmas song, my Teddy Bear has been talking about Christmas music. Actually, we've been talking a lot about Christmas traditions. My parents never had many. But I want it to be different for my Baby Girl.

Anyways, my Teddy Bear wanted to share his favorite Christmas song with all of you. The Little Drummer Boy. I would have never thought. But it is a really good song. Hope you enjoy it! Merry Christmas Eve!

Joy to the World

I was thinking today, one of my favorite Christmas songs is, Joy to the World. Hasn't always been. But in the last few years, this song, really has a new meaning for me. People are right, when they say, life changes when you become a parent. You see the world differently. Especially the holidays. And I'm so grateful!

Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!

Recently, My Teddy Bear and my Baby Girl, spend their morning watching cartoons. Old cartoons to be more specific. I love hearing their laughter. I'm usually tumbling out of bed. Looking for a slipper. Trying to get my eyes open. Wondering if the sun is really up. I'm not a morning person!

Then I look into the living room, and I find my 2 loves, snuggled up. Watching cartoons. Laughing. Enjoying some silly storyline. And my heart feels like it's going to burst, with love!

Lately, the favorite at 5AM, seems to Yogi Bear. Do you remember Yogi? I remember watching Yogi with my Bestie! Early morning TV. Whenever we had sleepovers. So glad my Baby Girl gets to enjoy it too!

Makes Me Want to Be an Angel

Earlier this week, I watched the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. I should start off with, I've never been a lingerie kind of woman. Never! I've never been comfortable in my body. I think that's most of my problem. But for some reason, this year, watching this show, I want to go buy lingerie. Well, maybe not lingerie. But fun bras and undies. Sorta makes me want to be an angel...

Romeo and Juliet

Do you remember the movie, "Romeo and Juliet?" I think I was in middle school when it came out. And I wasn't allowed to watch it. But when I got into high school, I watched it. I was hanging out with some friends. And we decided to watch it.

Every since, I've really liked this movie. I bought the soundtrack. But could never find the movie. The other night, it came out on TV. And I convinced this guy to watch it with me. He'd never seen it. Now it's one of our favorites!

She Loves Abby!

Over the last week or 2, we've noticed something so sweet! My Brother B first realized it. When my Baby Girl hears Abby Cadabby, she lights up! Her little feet kick like crazy. Her arms swing, and her hands go to grab. My Baby Girl smiles, makes all these sweet baby sounds, and tries to find Abby.

We've all enjoyed watching this. My Teddy Bear, immediately ran out and bought all sorts of DVDs with Abby. And the cutest stuffed Abby. My daughter loves all of them. Our morning routine, definitely includes lots of Sesame Street. And well, we're all enjoying this so much!



Who would have thought? But it's been so fun. Just to watch my Baby Girl get so excited. She really loves Abby. I'm glad that she's finally enjoying life. And whatever it takes, to make her happy, I'm going to do!

Sweet November

I'd never seen this movie. But my Teddy Bear brought it with him, the other day. He thought I'd love it. And I did! I really enjoyed this movie. Even though, I cried like a baby, at the end. The end is super sad. But the movie, it's such a good movie.

If you're anything like me, you like to curl up with a good movie, on a weekend night. This is perfect! I'm kind of curious now. I wonder if there is a book. I think it would be so good! You know, the books are always so much better. But the movie really is amazing!

De Colores

Let's start of with a little background info. I was born and raised, until I was 15, in the southwest. There were only 2 blond kids in my entire elementary school! I was one of them. The other was popular. Greg's grandma was a volunteer at our school. He was golden because of this. I on the other hand, was a total outcast. My only friend, was this gal. I was cool with that. She has been an amazing friend to me. I can't even begin to tell you, just how much she means to me.

At our school, we always did fun class performances. Things like Spanish Dancing, or singing Spanish Music. It was always a lot of fun. Our teachers would put up these props and houses. We'd practice for weeks. Then we'd put on our show. Most of the time at our school. But also at the local high school, or the Mall!

When I was 6 or 7, we were having a Holiday Show. I practiced hard. Learned all the music. Which was hard. It was all in Spanish. But my grandparents helped me. I begged my mom for a new dress. I wasn't asking for much. Something that she could make me. I didn't care. I just wanted something new. Everyone else was getting something new. Not me.

I wore black tights with this ugly, long pink sweater. It had a dog on the front. And had a hole on the side. My mom did manage to get me this embarrassingly huge bow for my hair. It was the 80s. There we were. Me and all my classmates. Everyone in new Christmas clothes. Me in my pink sweater. I was so nervous. We walked up the stage. We started singing. My favorite song, De Colores.



And I accidentally pushed over the "Hacienda." I had 3 teachers screaming at me. But I kept singing. With my "white accent" and all. As loud as I could. I'm pretty sure, everyone else had stopped singing. What could I do? I'll never forget that day. My mom wouldn't talk to me for days. My dad said I was an embarrassment. But I sang my favorite song. That's all that mattered. At least, that day.

Jump ahead. I'm 27, and pregnant. My Bestie is throwing me and my Baby Girl a Baby Shower. I'm happy as can be. As happy as a 8 month, pregnant mommy can be. I could barely move. But I was so happy! And I opened 1 of the many gifts, that my Bestie got us. It was this book...

I cried. It's the best book ever! I've read it many, many times to my Baby Girl. We've sat and talked about it. I've told her my funny story. Played her the song. Heck, I've even sang it to her a few hundred times. :) I might only be 1/4 Hispanic. But it still matters.

I want my Baby Girl to know about our family. Our roots. I want to share with her, a little bit of our history and culture. It's such a colorful, wonderful, and fun culture. This is just the beginning. But it's such a great place to start. I'm glad we have De Colores to share. :)

Made Me Smile

I woke up this morning, to my Big 'Ol Teddy Bear and my Sweet Baby Girl, watching The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures.

I laid there watching them. As this big man, held my tiny baby girl. Telling her all about the cartoon. Making silly voices. My baby girl cooing away! Both of their eyes, sparkling. Like a kid on Christmas morning.



It really was the sweetest thing ever! I laid there for 30 minutes. Just taking it all in. Knowing, just how lucky I am. I really do wish, he would have been her biological dad. But I know, in all our hearts, he's her daddy. And that's all that matters!

Fun Accent Vlog

I originally seen this video on my bestie's blog. And I really enjoyed watching it. I think Trina is just so amazing. I read her blog. And watch her YouTube videos. Just like my bestie, I like her accent. It's just fun. OK, I'll admit it here. After living in the south, for over 13 years now, I have an accent too! So there. Anyway, I think this is a fun video. I hope you enjoy it too!

How YouTube Has Changed Me

Years ago, I spent many, many hours, watching YouTube videos. My ex husband and I traveled 50% of the time. For his job. I wasn't too close, to many of the guys, we traveled with. Many of the wives traveled later in the week. I was on my own. So I watched YouTube.

I got ADDICTED to YouTube videos. I learned how to cook. Yes, there are some good cooks on YouTube. I tried to learn about makeup. And style. Mostly, I was just looking to be entertained. I pour over hours and hours of videos just like the one below.

Now my days and nights are full of the hospital. My daughter, and her health issues. But I'm still drawn to a few YouTube channels. I don't watch many. But I try. And now, I read blogs. Kandee has always been a favorite of mine. Her positive attitude has always been something that I've enjoyed. I enjoy her makeup blog, her daily blog, and of course her YouTube videos.



Yes, there used to be a time when I watched these videos to fill up my time. Now I watch them, in the middle of the night. When I'm too stressed or worried to sleep. When all those dark thoughts start to creep into my mind. Yes, I'm grateful for Kandee and so many others. Many times, these videos keep me going. No matter if they are about makeup, or cooking. It's just a nice break from my reality.

I Want to See This.....

How Does She Do It. I want to see this movie so bad! It looks like a hilarious movie. One of those movies that I was instantly drawn too. Yes, I just want to watch this movie!

Yum!

I didn't get into YouTube until I began dating my ex. We were on the road all the time. While we were on the road, I'd find myself alone for 6-10 hours at a time. With absolutely nothing to do. I got into YouTube. I watched all sorts of videos. Makeup, hair, cooking, hilarious, vlogs, you name it. I watched it!

During this same time, I wanted to learn how to cook. I wanted to at least be able to cook something, for the man I was dating. Did I mention I had no clue how to cook. None! I had moved out of my parents' house, into an apartment with my friends. I bought the groceries, they cooked. I got good at cleaning up too. But I couldn't cook to save my life!

That's until I found Betty. She had some good videos. Lots of different recipes. Not just desserts. All sorts of food. I watched. I took notes. I made lists. I called my bestie. Then I ventured out. The first few times were horrible. I burned the dinner twice, I almost killed us once (the chicken wasn't all the way cooked,) and I just gave up, half way through another meal. But I was determined to cook at least 3 dinners a week.

I continued to watch Betty. I learned. I enjoyed all of her videos. And the easy way of her cooking. When I was single again, I tried it all. I'd try all sorts of recipes. I'd add in Betty's recipes to the mix. It was wonderful! Thanks Betty! You made me a cook. And I'm very happy about that.

This recipe, I want to try it out. Doesn't it look yummy? All I want to do, is make this Dirt Cake. Yes, Betty is also responsible for me gaining a few healthy pounds. But at the time, I was pregnant. I think that was a good deal.

Not Skilled

There used to be a time when I was semi-skilled in makeup. My high point must have been, my freshman year of high school. But I'm thinking, it was only because my mom didn't care when, or if I wore makeup. I began wearing it young. Not a lot. Not like a clown. But I was ahead of the curve.

I played a lot with makeup, at home. I wore very little out. But I knew what I was doing. Then somewhere along the way, I lost it. Maybe everyone else just caught up with me. Maybe I stopped caring about such petty things. I don't know. I just lost my skills, and stopped caring about it.

Then I met my ex. I was supposed to "look" a certain way when we were in public. I relearned all sorts of things about makeup. I started to care about my appearance again. Doing my hair. Trying to do nice makeup. You know, slopping on more than one eyeshadow, and not forgetting the blush.

Again, after me ex and I split up, I just didn't care. My skills were weak to begin with. Honestly I was only making an effort for him. When we split, I just didn't care anymore. I didn't wear makeup for a long time.

Then I began working. Going out in public. That's when my friends whisked me away to NYC. Did a complete makeover on me. Hair, makeup, clothes. I got lessons on these things. I learned how to make my strawberry blond curls flirty. I perfected my makeup application. I was having fun. Things were becoming more natural.

Life had a different thing in mind. My life completely stopped. For 10 months now, I've worn only comfy clothes. No makeup. I barely manage my itty little ponytail. Yes, I've lost it all. I wish I could be like Kandee. I wish I could get it together. But I don't have the time. Honestly, for sitting in the hospital, I don't need all of that.

For the mean time, I watch Kandee's videos. I imagine a time when I can give myself 10 minutes, to put on an effort. To make myself look better. To do something that makes me feel good. That gives me more confidence. You know what I mean. I'd love to be able to do something like this.....