Baby Jesus has been born! Christmas is here!
I know I'm writing a day late. But Christmas was such a great day for me beginning with Christmas Eve, when my family celebrates. This year was a nice, low-key year with no frills of only my small immediate family, eating good food, and sharing lots of laughter. We ate our traditional Panes de Pavo or Gallina rather (hen) and my mom's Spanish Rice,which has been passed down from my grandmother's recipe. My brother Raf became the life of the party reminiscing about when we were kids and reminding us how far we've come from when we celebrated our first Christmas as a family with my Dad back in 1988! He has the BEST vivid memory ever since childhood. Our family has since grown to include my two little sisters who aren't so little anymore and our angel in heaven, my little brother Gordo. May he continue resting in peace watching over us. On Christmas Day, we went to cut what would have been his 24th Birthday Cake at the Cemetery. He's our Christmas Baby and we will continue cutting him a cake as has been our tradition for every birthday for all of us. After the cemetery, we were off to see Christmas decorations hanged throughout the city and take even more pictures! One of my favorite things to do. We ended the night with a Round Two of eating Christmas leftovers. The BEST! I got exactly what I wanted this Christmas, quality family time which doesn't happen so often for us to all get together in one room like that. I also got to speak to my family in Canada in El Salvador. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!
Before CHRISTMAS, we travelled back to BETHLEHEM A.D., a live re-enactment of Jesus' nativity and the reason we celebrate CHRISTMAS!
Baby Jesus and the Three Kings bearing his gifts
Mary and Baby Jesus
CHRISTMAS DAY
Xiana cutting her Uncle's cake
Niner Pride! Playoff bound!
Group Shot
the SIBLINGS
I paid a visit to my childhood friend and fellow December birthday boy: Roberto.
I always remember you as my first crush in Elementary School!
Christmas tree in Noe Valley, we paid a visit after learning the story behind this tree on the news. I had spotted it one random night with friends almost three years ago and wanted to pay a visit with my family this time. The tree was planted as a baby pine tree when the owners first purchased the home and it has now grown into a full grown PINE TREE. The decorated house draws large crowds every year. I think it's so beautiful for the homeowners to share their Christmas spirit with everyone in this way!
With my Mami
Sisters
We love our baby sis!
Currently listening to: CHINESE CHRISTMAS CARDS: "Welcome to Life" from Barcelona, Spain!
2011 is ending soon. We are 1 day away from Christmas Eve and it's time to start thinking of the year ahead. New Year's means new opportunities, new life, and time for Resolutions. I have never been the biggest fan of doing New Year's Resolutions, mostly because I think everything is a work in progress no matter what time of the year it is, but also because I never can keep track of them. I'm not very good at following through. Well I am trying something differently this coming year. At my age, I have come to terms that some things will need to change in my life in order to feel more like an ADULT and also be more contempt as well as challenged on a daily basis. The other day someone told me I didn't look my age, they thought I was 18 years young, which I am not complaining about. I have my family's genes to thank for that. I may be a kid at heart and a very giving person at that but inside the truth is I am not a pre-pubescent Teen. I am set to make these changes starting with what makes me happy and keeps me going every morning. Cheers to 2012 everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =)
These are my 2012 Resolutions.
1. Run a Marathon!
2. Learn FRENCH
3. Join a Dance Group and live out one of my PASSIONS on stage.
4.Take a cooking class. As much as I love FOOD, I'm not the best at making it. Need to make better use of my hands.
5. Grad School (i.e.) Career Change
6. TRAVEL is always a must on my list! First place I want to visit: back to my beautiful homeland: EL SALVADOR.
7. Make my very own Pie & Souffle.
8. Finally get my DL
9. Take a pilot class, I want to Fly!
10. Go to the Great Outdoors, it's long overdue: Rock Climb/Hang Glide/Zip Line/Camp!
11. Go Fishing!
12. And finally Love and be loved. (A puppy will do ;-) )
the smell of pine trees, Christmas lights, Santa and his reindeer,
fake snow, earmuffs, hot cocoa, Ice Skating, Cuddle Buddy's
and for Baby Jesus to be born!
Let the Holiday Cheer begin!
Ho Ho
Ho!
Something about this time of the year that makes me anxious and gets me excited. It might be the anticipation of a New Year or the warm, cozy feelings that Christmas brings of sitting by a fireplace and spending time with those you love. I don't know what it is but its meant to be a jolly good old time. I don't have a lot planned for the holidays, just staying put at home with my family. Instead I wish I could be part of Art Basel in Miami going on this week, the most prestigious and biggest art show of the Americas with over 2,000 artist participating. I also would like to spend Christmas somewhere tropical for a change. I've always had a dream of spending my birthday or Christmas in Australia or Hawaii, since at least in Australia when it is their summer it's our winter. Santa Claus on a Surf board? I'm down! Will have to plan for that for next year.
And just a friendly reminder no matter what always be:
Here is a glimpse I found from VernissageTV of some of the exhibitions happening right now at Miami Art Basel. The video includes some of my favorite artists like Takashi Murakami, the large Panda-like Bear towards the end of the video. Also one of my favorite photographers, Andreas Gursky is there, whose "Rhein II" is the world's most expensive photograph which sold for $4.3 million recently at an auction. Wowzahs! Take a look for yourself.
I'm a TURKEY BABY! Another Thanksgiving has passed us and I have been blessed with another BIRTHDAY! Another finger to add to my count of two sets of hands + 6 =)
This birthday was a memorable one. I spent it this year doing the simple things that I love and sharing it with those closest to me over the long weekend. I had dinner at one of the newer San Francisco dining establishments, Boxing Room, with a group of 13 of my closest friends along with two other birthday gals: Laura and Susy. They serve their own Southern Food flair and I am now a fan. We munched on fried gator, oysters, gumbo and fried chicken! And since we were stuffed when it came time for desert I couldn't say if there beignets were on point! Instead I was surprised by my dear friend Sabrina who had baked my very-own mini homemade berry pie all just for me! This was such a lovely touch and I love you Sab for making my day that much more special. I totally wasn't expecting that halfway through figuring out the check. I got me some yummy pie with my very first birthday wish!
The next day on actual Thanksgiving, since I'm a Turkey baby, I not only ate Turkey both the Salvi and traditional American way. I also had Cake and Flan. My new favorite cake is the "Derby Cake" from Mazzetti's Bakery in Pacifica, CA. It has both a strawberry and banana filling with a layer of both Vanilla and Chocolate cake. It's the best of both worlds all in one cake. And because I special requested it, my brother's girlfriend Brenda and fellow November baby made me my very own flan. Which I am still enjoying my leftovers. Afterall, that's what comes after Thanksgiving dinner not only Black Friday. Which I didn't partake in, instead on the itinerary on my actual birthday was: get a haircut, pamper myself at the spa (had my first facial, yay!) along with my mom and sister Aless, and end the night doing my favorite past-time activity: Dancing! I saw Axwell from Swedish House Mafia spin at The Warfield, in what was a nice old theatre backdrop setting to this new explosion of House music. I shared the night with one of my favoritest persons in the whole wide world: my sister Aless who flew in for the holiday. Like someone had commented at the club, they said I was Eva Mendes and she was Penelope Cruz. LOL! I said, that might just be the first latina girls that came to mind that guy could name from the top of his head. Hehe. Though I always do get Eva Mendes as my celeb look-a-like. I gladly take it as a compliment, especially since she's dating my man, Ryan Gosling, what a lucky gal!
So in Thanksgiving fashion I say Give Thanks! Not only on this holiday but everyday. I want to say thanks to everyone who shared my birthday with me, each and every one of you. It didn't start off as my best birthday off the bat. Earlier in my day I was feeling overwhelmed to say the least and also worried. I guess that comes with all birthdays the older you get. It becomes a time of reflection and also recognition for yourself in figuring out who you are and where you're going. Yeah I had my moment, but that quickly went away as I sat down for dinner and gazed around at all these special people in my life come together to share this special moment with me. I finally felt content and at ease seeing everyone smile and in conversation ready to share a good hearty meal together. Not only that but I am happy to say this year has been the fastest year where my birthday wish came true! A couple of weeks ago my grandma in El Salvador had an accident and had been in the hospital awaiting surgery from a broken hip-bone. Ouch! I know. I can't fathom the pain and putting myself in her place, but I know she's a strong women! She's my favorite grandma who also helped raise me until I moved to the United States. I was dead worried about her health because of her old age and the fact that I couldn't be there with her at her side. But I am happy to report that her sugery went well and she's now in recovery. I'm a firm believer of birthday wishes and because of the outcome I am currently in a loving state of mind. I am determined to make this new year a memorable one as I continue on this journey of life and am itching to go visit my grandma and help her with her recovery. These events in life are huge reminders that we must make the best of our time here as we do not live forever. I leave you with this track from the Breaking Dawn soundtrack by married couple and musicians Angus and Julia Stone "Love Will Take You." I saw Breaking Dawn today for the 2nd time, yes I'm a fanatic. It was better the 2nd time around!
Off to bed. Xoxo
Make a wish...
Panes con Pavo...I waited all year for this!
Derby Cake + Flan
Stuffed Turkey
Time to eat
Sisters
Thanks Brenda for the flan!
Cake time!
Woke up to this: Birthday Card
The final product: Haircut at Oxenrose
My sister Aless
My first Birthday drink: Mimosa!
Brunch Time!
Custom Omelette: Tomatoes, Mushrooms topped with Avocado
Scrambled Eggs, Hash Browns, and Bacon! for the Win, oh yeah and TOAST
Live @The Warfield
Birthday Outfit
Axwell killed it!
Yay or Nay? My only non-Black Friday participation
A Dancing Queen at heart and a fashion lover and Shoe-Addict. I love adventure as I am always on the go whether its on foot or through the thoughts traveling inside my head. I enjoy pleasant dinners with artsy food.
Please contact me at:
paws.play.repeat@gmail.com
