Tuesday, October 31, 2017

It's the Great Eye Ball, Niko Man

Tuesday, October 31, 2017



Happy Halloween!!
I love Charlie Brown and my sister calls my little man Niko Man, hence the title. 
I decided that I wanted to make cake pops for Niko's class, OMG! So I made them. I've made cake pops before but I never really cared what they looked like a whole lot because they were mostly covered in sprinkles.  This time I decided to make creepy eyeballs.  So . . . TA DAAAAAH.  I was able to make about 13 "ok" ones but though not perfect I am still happy with how they turned out as I am not a professional baker at all.  I've decided to show you pictures of behind the scene.  No one shows you the behind the scene pics, lol.
I hope the kids like them, they were yummy.  I ate one of the ruined ones, whoops.  Whenever I make the cake pops I kind of just wing it, so I bake a box cake, cool it, crumble it and add 1/4 of a jar of frosting, mix it, squish it and mold it.  Dip the lollipop sticks into the melted candy melts and attach to cake pops and let cool, this acts a glue to hold it together.  Dip and decorate.  I have a candy melt pot that I bought at Michaels, even though they are never perfect I make them enough to where I think I need one.  This was my first time using it.  I think I still need to perfect the actual cake ball, the weight and size is important so that they are not too heavy for the stick otherwise they'll fall off . . . see science, math and physics are all important kids! Stay in school!  
Hope everyone has a safe Halloween!
Go 'stros!

xoxoxo

Final product

These broke off and fell inside candy melts

Ruined

My first attempt the night before using a different brand of candy melts um no . . . these DID NOT make the final count.





Clean up

A MESS!

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Today

Thursday, October 26, 2017

I feel like maybe there was a time in my life when I was truly happy.  It's hard to remember that now.  I am happy, I've always been a happy person, but after the death of my mom something inside me was irreparably broken.  Living my reality is hard.  I miss her so much.  My mom was kind and funny and full of life and she's gone and when I really think about it, it makes me really mad.  I don't think I'll ever understand it and I don't think I'll ever get over it.  It's hard to explain how I feel.  I wonder if this is how I will feel for the rest of my life.   Am I sad? Do I just miss her? Can I miss her and not be sad? I can't tell.  Today marks the second anniversary of her death and I am feeling especially vulnerable, but I know that this too shall pass.  Is that what people say to make themselves feel better? I guess that's all I can say to myself.  I'm not sure what else to feel or expect.  Will I ever feel like myself again? Mind you myself is a hot mess to begin with but . . . . don't get me wrong, I am happy and very grateful for the life I live but it's hard to imagine the rest of my life without my mom and yes I know eventually I would have lost her anyway but it's one thing to lose your 90 year old mom vs losing your 53 year old mom who happened to die a very painful death.  I just wasn't ready.  People that I had known who died from cancer died within months of being diagnosed, my mom lived for more than two years and surely I thought: all this suffering wouldn't be in vain right? "God" wouldn't let her go through all this and not save her? I wasn't ready.  So just give me today, one day, to just mope around and be sad . . . and I just have to remind myself that this too shall pass, right?

My friend Moni said I should write about my feelings and it truly does make me feel better, it's like I am releasing the longest breath of air after holding my breath for a long time . . .

P.S. Don't cry for me Argentina, I'm fine and tomorrow is a new day . . .

Tootles

xoxoxoxo

I love you mami, always and forever . . . .


Monday, August 14, 2017

cake, cake, cake

Monday, August 14, 2017

I spent my Sunday afternoon baking a cake and eating it too . . . actually, I just decorated a cake.  It was so much fun . . . but work.
My friend Monica invited me to a cake decorating class yesterday and I am so happy I went! We made an ice cream drip cake.  I am definitely not a pro but I learned some techniques and I am excited to put them to good use. The cakes were already baked for us, I picked vanilla and it was so delicious. Renee Main was our instructor and she was amazing and so patient.   I look forward to attending more classes and learning new techniques.  I found it extremely relaxing, now I understand why some people love to bake.  Maybe I'll start baking as a stress reliever.  I probably won't make any money off my cake decorating skills but I'll be sure to use them for our family parties.  Ok, that's it for now . . . I hope to not leave my blog so neglected but it's so hard with two little men running around!
til next time . . .
xxoxoxoox










Sunday, June 11, 2017

Weekend update

Sunday, June 11, 2017
. . . . that's not trademarked right? I love SNL, but I don't want to owe them any money.

So, it's been a while since I've updated you on my life.  The last few months have been hectic to say the least.   A lot of life changes.  Mostly good.  Some uncertainty but such is life, right?

My boys are doing great! Growing fast.  A few weeks ago we made a trip to Toys R Us.  I'm ashamed to say we still had gift cards from Niko's first birthday party.  Who are these people that don't take their kids to Toys R Us? So we went looking for one thing, I forget what the thing was because we did not walk out with it, instead we walked out with items we weren't even planning on getting.

Houston summers are hot to say the least and even though our neighborhood pool and splash pad are open for the summer we decided to get a small pool for our boys to play in our backyard.  We finally set it up this morning. It was a perfect morning. A bit overcast and windy but hot enough to be in the water.  My boys had so much fun!  I feel like this was the best $28 I have ever spent.  We had no problems setting it up and it held up pretty well I guess we'll see how it does over the next few weeks.

The The Sizzlin' Cool Jungle Play Pool was a big hit with our boys. It was a bit more expensive in store but they matched the online price.  Maybe in the future we'll get a "real pool" but for now this will do.  All the little things that make my boys so happy always amaze me.  They had such a good time splish splashing all day long.

til we meet again . . . .

xoxooxo



Thursday, February 16, 2017

Pura Vida

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Last weekend we took a trip Costa Rica for a friend's bachelorette.  It was a short trip but a lot of fun.

We went ATVing which is a big departure for me.  I am not big on the outdoors like at all. I am not that adventurous.  My idea of adventure is looking for parking at the Galleria on a Saturday afternoon.  You want to make it extra adventurous? Go the week before Christmas.  Needless to say after some careful consideration I decided to partake in the activity as everyone else was doing it.  So . . ..  I couldn't do it.  The look on my face must have been enough as one of the guides told me I could ride with one of them.  I assured him I was fine but as I made my way onto the road I realized hey, I am not too sure about this and I have two kids at home and I just don't really want to die today.  It sounds dramatic I know but I am so happy I didn't do it.  The route included busy streets and going up a mountain.  No thanks.  The other ladies did it and I was so proud of them but I didn't need anymore accolades on my resume.  I'm going to be alright if I am not an expert ATVer.  Despite not riding on my own the tour was a lot of fun.  It was still a bit stressful but not as much as if I would have been driving.  We stopped for lunch and it was delicious and then we went to a waterfall.  It was a good day.  Our guides Johnny and Ramiro from AXR Jaco were really good, it was a good time.

We celebrated by relaxing, being adventurous and going out.  We stayed at the Crocs Resort and Casino.  It was nice and new.  The spa is cool, I had a relaxing massage.  The hotel breakfast was so good and it was included with our stay and it wasn't a continental breakfast, it was a full blown breakfast.  Costa Rica was pretty chill and I actually really enjoyed my time there.  I usually don't like being outdoors as much but the weather was so nice and the locals were very attentive.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Those crocs were no joke though.  We stopped by the crocodile bridge over Rio Tarcoles on our way to Jaco.  I was scared.

Ok, that's it.

'til we meet again Costa Rica.

xoxoxoxo

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

#staywoke . . . it's not always black or white

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Sometimes I have so much to say but I can't seem to verbalize it or there's so much running through my head that when I do say it I feel like no one understands "the words that are coming out of my mouth". Today, however I do have just a little bit to say.  I may come off a bit narcissistic at times or a bit self righteous and my friends can attest to that but I feel like I'm a good person and I try my best to be open minded and kind but I what I really try to do on the daily is to look outside myself which can be really hard to do. Just because something doesn't affect me it doesn't mean it doesn't affect millions of other people. Just because I can do something doesn't mean everyone else can do it and just because I have an opinion doesn't mean everyone else shares the same. I've learned that and it's become apparent now more than ever . . . but if there were 3 million women marching in DC, don't you think that's worth looking into? Why were they marching? If gag orders have been placed on federal agencies that are only trying to educate the public, don't you wonder why? If corporations don't want GMO labeling, don't you wonder why? Why? WHY? So you can hold on to your opinions and speak your truth but I ask that we all take the time to educate ourselves, a little research can go a long way.  I mean if 8 out of 10 people tell you that How to get away with murder is good, aren't you going to at least watch the pilot and see for yourself?! I don't know everything and sometimes people ask me something and I'm like "uh, I don't have enough info to formulate an opinion" . . . it's true, I cannot comment on everything that's going on in the world because I don't know half of it . . . but I try to educate myself and learn as much as I can because honestly that's all we have.  I read an article years ago that implied that DJ Khaled could be the solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because DJ Khaled is Palestinian but Israelis and Palestinians like him alike.  I mean that was a pretty far stretched thought but who knows, I know nothing about Khaled aside from his snapchat stories, he posts a lot, but it's a thought right . . . a hopeful one.  Everyone says that all we need is love but honestly all we need is a little bit of empathy . . . just because you cannot relate or because you don't agree with something, it does not make it wrong.  Our forefathers fought for the freedom of speech . . . it would be a shame to silence us.

Now onto something that is literally black and white . . . my outfit . . . deets below . . .

xoxoxoox



Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Home is where the heart is

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

This year's family photos were taken in Washington, D.C.  We took them over Thanksgiving break so I guess last year's family photos were taken in D.C.  We love D.C., it is one of our favorite cities.  My hubby was born and raised in the suburbs and I lived there for 6 years before moving back to Houston.  I love the seasons, I love the food, I love the shopping, I love the history . . . I just love it all.  We love spending as much time as we can in the area. We try to visit a few times a year. We were so lucky to find a photographer, our friend Jackie, who did such a great job.  It's not easy to get a 2 year old and an 8 month old to cooperate but somehow she did it and the photos came out beautifully.  We concentrated in the national mall, alternating between our favorite monuments, the Washington monument and Lincoln memorial. We love spending time here! Always something to see or do with so much culture and history. Make sure you visit one day. 

Don't forget to check out outfit deets below. 

xoxox




OOTD
Zara faux leather dress, similar here and here
French Connection coat no longer available similar here and here
Christian Louboutin Nicobar caged sandals, similar here and here

On Niko
Jacket no longer available similar style here

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

New Year . . . new me

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Not really . . . the fundamentals are pretty much the same right? Like innately I am a certain way and will probably be that way forever . . . I do try to be better every day and I do try to get rid of bad habits.  I am constantly saying how hard it is to be me . . . and it is!!! The constant inner battle that goes on is insane . . . the need to be better every day, worrying if locked the door . . . constantly worrying about saying the wrong thing, constantly worried about being misunderstood . . . it is exhausting I tell you.  This year my new year resolution is simple . . . send out Thank You cards on time.  You guys don't know how stressful it is for me to send out Thank You cards.  I still have Thank You cards from my wedding, baby shower, birthday and Liam's sip and see.  I love to write them but somehow never manage to send them out probably because I take them way too seriously . . . so for example for Niko's first birthday party I sent out like 7 thank you cards.  The premise was cute and easy enough.  I was to write the thank you cards as if  Niko had written them.  Do you know how long it took to write one? It took like 18 minutes so I gave up.  For his second birthday I was to send everyone a picture of Niko, well apparently I just can't go to CVS and order wallet size prints so I had to order them from shutterfly . . . I still have 40 2x3 wallet size prints of Niko that I will probably never send out.  For Liam's sip and see I wrote out all the Thank You cards but I for some reason they are still in my desk.  What is wrong with me? Why is such a simple task so hard to accomplish? I feel that Thank You cards are so important.  I want people to know I appreciate them and everything they do for us and the gifts they give our little men.  So why can't I just do it? Why? SO this year is the year that I shall send them out but for now I would like to thank everyone for being such important and active members of our lives.  Thank you!

I love buying Thank You cards.  I usually get them at Home Goods or TJ Maxx but if you want to get fancy you can try Minted.com or tinyprints.com.  I love tiny prints but never manage to order anything on time!  This year I will be better.

This little guy came from Greetings Island



xoxoxoox
AlmaKnack © 2014