Tuesday

Is it Friday yet?

I've been working on Jenna's birfday party. I ordered her princess cupcake cake yesteray. It is super cute. I also ordered a ham and cheese platter from Publix. We still haven't decided what we're going to have for food. I just don't want to spent too much money on small birthday when we're going to Disney next week. I prefer to splurge on the kids there. We also have to buy costumes for both kids so that they can do the "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween". They're going to love that.

Other than that, nothing much going on with me.

Can I tell you that ever since my mother started taking care of the kids at my house she's been doing all the chores around the house. All that I have left is to do laundry. Everything else she does while the kids are napping throughout the week. I've told her on more than one occasion that she doesn't have to do it - but she says that she's bored. I feel so bad. I've even started to give her more money because I no longer need a cleaning lady. My poor mom - I don't know what I'd do without her. She's my person!

Current book-in-progress: The Gargoyle
Current movie/tv obsession: Dancing with the Stars
iTunes Loop: Early Winter - Gwen Stefani

Monday

that's it. nothing more today.

Sunday

So to my daughter's much anticipated delight, we decorated the house for Halloween. My dear husband got up in the attic and brought down the crates holding all the Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations. Not that he was happy about the whole thing - but mama always has secret ways of making him do her bidding... (insert evil laugh).

I took pics of all the fun things we put out as well as our Halloween Cake. Yes, the much anticipated cake was baked and decorated by Jenna and yours truly. You can tell by the pics that she was thrilled. She really thought Halloween was last night but I had to explain that it was basically a little over a month away. Obviously she has no concept of time as she asked me this morning if it was Halloween and then when I said "NO" she asked if it was her Birthday - LoL. Everyday from now 'till the Birthday and Halloween I will get the same question asked.

Here are the pics:

here is Jenna sitting among the decorations. she just wanted to touch and feel everything. look at those teeth - the excitement was thick in the air.



here is the outside entrance to the house. very halloweeny don't you think?


our Halloween "Welcome" sign


a close up of our big light-up pumpkin... I love that thing! and our doormat - yes she kept trying to stomp that spider.


our foyer table and close-up of the pumpkin trio


the guest restroom



our candy dish


miscellaneous Halloween and seasonal candles


I even found orange dish soap - I couldn't help it =)


my Halloween Scentables - courtesy of Bath & Body Works


my October calendar!


the only pic the baby let me take of him all night - he was in a grumpy mood before his bath.


my hubby - the chef! he was cooking dinner while I decorated... that's why I luf him!


and of course, last but not least, our Halloween cake

not bad considering - and it was yummy. There is less than half left already.

Current book-in-progress: The Gargoyle

Current movie/tv obsession: 88 Minutes

iTunes Loop: Some Mistakes - Brad Paisley

Saturday

We saw Nights in Rodanthe last night... and considering I never tend to like a movie based on a book that I've read - because the book is always much better, I really liked it. I thought it stayed true to the book. It had a few subtle changes and I can understand they did what they did to keep the viewer enthralled. I liked it - go watch it.

Well, Saturday is over. I just got out of the shower and am laying down in bed already... super tired as I wasn't able to nap with the kids today. My little one is snuggled up to me just staring at me... he makes me laugh.

I spent the day today shopping and cleaning house. I did groceries and bought a few things for Jenna's B-day get-together. I still need to order a cake and maybe some snacks for the adults to munch on. We also have to decide what we're giving the kids parents to eat. Pizza or Pasta? Decisions. Decisions. It's just going to be about 5 kids plus our 2. We wanted to keep it small and simple.

I still want to decorate the house for Halloween tomorrow. And in honor of our Halloween decorations, Jenna wants me to bake her a cake shaped like a pumpkin. I bought all the ingredients, icing, etc. She's super excited. In between the fun stuff, I also have to wash, dry and put away clothes and finish shopping for b-day and disney trip. Fun Times.

Current book-in-progress: The Gargoyle
Current movie/tv obsession: Heroes
iTunes Loop: Cascada

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

My first book by Kresley Cole and it was fabulous! I couldn't put it down. Characters are well developed; the depth of the lore in this world she created is amazing and detailed. One of the most original paranormals I've ever read! Valkyries, werewolves and vampires, as well as other things that go bump in the night. Yet through it all there was a great sense of humor. I actually laughed out loud at some of the things Emma said. I thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely read the ones that come next.

Friday

It's Friday baby! woot!

I plan on going to see Nights in Rodanthe tonight. Can I tell you how excited I am about this? I REALLY AM SO EXCITED! I've been excited about this movie ever since I saw the preview when we went to see Sex and the City - and it's finally here! I fell in love with the book when I read it 2 years ago and have been excitedly awaing this release. I already confirmed baby sitter and I am just waiting on Julio to get home early tonight so we can go.

I am also super excited because I just found out that they are making a movie of The Time Traveller's Wife. I know movies always suck compared to the book - but I absolutely love both Eric Bana (yum) and Rachel McAdams. I can't wait - it comes out in December.

Actually, there are a lot of books that I love that they are making movies of within the next couple of months... Twilight, The Secret Life of Bees, The Lovely Bones, The Road, etc. Super exciting. I am so dragging my hubby to all of them - he doesn't know what he has coming... lol.

I am a bit tired today but only because I stayed up 'till 2a reading. I just kept saying one more chapter and one more chapter and next thing you know it was 2a. bleh

No plans for the weekend though. I have to buy a few knick knacks for the Disney trip because I don't want to wait 'till the last minute and I still have to confirm with Julio to see if he actually wants to have a little get-together at the house for Jenna's birfday. She knows it's right around the corner and she asks everyday when she wakes up if today is her birthday. She can't wait!

And well, that's it. Nothing more going on at the moment

Current book-in-progress: A Hunger Like No Other

Current movie/tv obsession: Nights in Rodanthe

iTunes Loop: Same Mistake - James Blunt

2008 Reading List (cont.)

32- Acheron - Sherrilyn Kenyon (8/19 - 8/22/08)
33- The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski

(8/25 - 9/12/08)
34- The Duchess - Amanda Foreman (9/03 - 9/7/08)
35- Dark Curse - Christine Feehan (9/08 - 9/11/08)
36- The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

(9/14 - 9/17/08)
37- Second Glance - Jodi Piccoult (9/18 - 9/24/08)
38- The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch (9/24 - 9/25/08)

Current book-in-progress: A Hunger Like No Other

Current movie/tv obsession: Grey's Anatomy

iTunes Loop: Untitled - Simple Plan

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A quick read that will stay with you as inspiration to live each day to the fullest. Watching the lecture on YouTube is fantastic, but the book expands on the lecture in subtle but important ways. It really makes you think about how you can live your life in a fuller way and think about what your dreams were and are. There were parts where I was actually sobbing. It was very emotional and touching.

Wednesday

Today I am sharing some of my favorite fortune cookie sayings that I have ever gotten. Yes, I know, call me lame, but I keep them. Here goes:

Your smile is a curve that can get a lot of things straight.

Do not let great ambitions overshadow small success.



To love and win is the best thing; to love and lose the next best.

You shouuld be able to undertake and complete anything.

I have many more - including Julio and my first fortunes when we first started dating. Yes, I am a succer for a good fortune what can I say.

I have nothing else today. It's been boring lately. Julio comes home tonight but if I'm not mistaken he leaves again tomorrow - bleh.

Current book-in-progress: The Last Lecture

Current movie/tv obsession: Dancing with the Stars

iTunes Loop: I Want You to Want Me - Letters to Cleo

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

Initially I found this book a bit hard to read since Jodi was introducing so many characters all at once. And then, to make matters worse, when reading a mystery I believe that all dates and little details are CLUES on which the mystery can turn, so I always try to guess what the outcome could possibly be. I also tend to do the math instinctively of ages and dates. It’s hard to stop that terrier-like reading mode. So to be honest, I was always one step ahead of the story. The twists and turns just didn’t work on me so well as I had already guessed what would come next. But other than that, the story was definitely a good one and as always I got sucked in.

Tuesday

Up
Down
Left
Right

No matter what... I'm madly in love with this man!

Current book-in-progress: Second Glance
Current movie/tv obsession: Dancing with the Stars
iTunes Loop: Gravity - Sara Bareilles

Fall Begins!

Today is the first day of Fall. Although living in Florida kind of skips you out of all the splendor of the Fall season... I still love Autumn. It's my favorite season. I love Halloween and Thanksgiving - and just the orangey and brown colors. The scent of Pumpkin Spice... feels so homey. I guess it mean Christmas and a new year are right around the corner. I'm not really sure what it is... but I love the FALL!

With that said, Julio is out of town for the next 3 days, so I'm all on my lonesome. Luckily, I've gotten the kids into the habit of helping mommy out since the surgery, so they can pretty much get in and out of the shower on their own as well as on the changing table - so that limits the amount of carrying I have to do (considering the doctor said I shouldn't carry them for 8 weeks) - which to be honest is unrealistic with a one and two year old... but anyway.

I'm still reading Second Glance - which just got really good. So I should be wrapping it up tomorrow at the latest. The first couple of chapters always take me longer than reading more than half the book. it's annoying!

One more thing, MONDAY'S SUCK! Tootles.

Current book-in-progress: Second Glance

Current movie/tv obsession: The Air I Breathe

iTunes Loop: Everything I'm Not - The Veronicas

Sunday

Today we went over to Ronald & Raquel's house for Gillian's 4th Birthday party. It was super cute. Nothing fancy, just a little get together at the house. But the kids had a blast. Since there were only 6 little kids, 3 of them girls, Raquel had a princess costume for each of the girls. Jenna was the Little Mermaid and she loved it. She had the costume on most of the party until she got itchy. Here are some of the pics:

Gillian obviously needed help blowing out the candles! She couldn't resist herself. After this shot they actually had a fight with their blow-outs (they would poke eachother in the eye) it was hilarious...

The princesses:


Princess Mommy and the Prince Daddy:


Cake

and toys!

The party was a success!

Current book-in-progress: Second Glance
Current movie/tv obsession: Prom Night
iTunes Loop: Alcohol - Brad Paisley

Saturday

We went to our first Disney on Ice - and it was a smash. The kids loved it so much. Can I tell you what incredible seats we had. We were first row facing the stage. Spectacular seats! The kids were so excited. Jenna had been counting down for a week. It was awesome. Here are some pics:






First there was Mickey, Minnie & Friends:


Then there was the Lion King:



The Little Mermaid:



Lilo & Stitch:



and Peter Pan:


From there we had dinner at the Macaroni Grill and then headed out to Toys R Us to buy gifts for Antonio and Gillian. Then we headed home. By the time we got there both kids were already passing out. Luckily I showered them before we left for the show. It was an eventful day for them but they loved it.

Current book-in-progress: Second Glance
Current movie/tv obsession: The Fall
iTunes Loop: The Absence of Your Company - Kim Richey