Vlogmas *Christmas*

And after a long night of wrapping, we come to the morning we've all been waiting for! While most of use were still trying to rub the sleep out of our eyes, Cora had hers set on the pile of presents surrounding the tree. She just couldn't wait to tear into it all!
I loved seeing how excited she got over getting a bunch of fox accessories (especially since we share the same favorite animal!) and all her books! I love my little nerd! And Milli's of the age where she understands wrapping presents, but her reactions are always mimicking those around her. "So CUUuuTe!" Lol But besides all of our little ones, what we were all waiting for was Nicky's big gift: a Nintendo Switch! He kept talking to me about how he wanted to save up and buy himself one; little did he know, we all already pitched in for the thing..! Mum and Carlos bought the Switch & Breath of the Wild & I went in for a case and Pokken Tournament. He had the BEST reaction and definitely had a GREAT Christmas!


Per the norm, Mum slaved over the kitchen stove to create our wonderful dinner. A classic hispanic meal to close out the night with the family. But when they suddenly walked out with a cake and started singing me "Happy Birthday" I did all I could to not cry. I'm a sap when it comes to these things. I was leaving for Florida the next day and wouldn't be home for my birthday, so this meant so much to me. I had no idea they had planned it. These people are the most important part of my life and every chance I get to spend with them is the best. I love them.

Happy Christmas from my Familia to Yours this Holiday Season!!

Christmas Eve! |*Vlogmas*|

Here's a pro-tip: Do your Pictures with Santa on Christmas Eve to avoid the crazy lines!!
We learned this a few years ago on accident and since then we only go on the 24th. Most people stay ahead of the game and do their photos weeks in advance, but when you have a large family that's spread all over the place, it makes it hard to schedule such things. And now it's great because when we do, no one's ever there!
I did prepare, however, by buying a super cute Christmas dress! I bought it just for the photos and when I saw how everything came out in the end, I love the photos! Everyone looks so great! Most likely the best we've done in years..! Lol
We have a lot of traditions for the holidays so Christmas Eve is always super busy. We always start with Santa pictures,  playtime, cookies, prep for Christmas DAY, seeing the christmas lights, family exchange, and of course- wrapping the presents! Traditions are always important to me, so I made sure to document all that I could.



I love and appreciate my Cora. She takes after me with her love for the holidays and spending time with the family. I love my Cora with all my heart and miss her everyday when I'm away..! She was such a wonderful Elf this year! She went with me and Mum to grab a couple of extra gifts and to grocery shop for dinner. She was very hands-on and especially eager to make her cookies and to keep everything in order in her kitchen..! Haha
This year my younger brother, Nicky, started working! He was so excited to have his own money to get everyone's gifts! I loved being able to take him shopping and to see his face when everyone opened the gifts he picked out specially for them.
I've finally made it this far! My *Vlogmas* journey has made it to the big day- my favorite day of the year: CHRISTMAS!!

'Tis the Season |*Vlogmas*|

I love my nieces so much. Milli is almost 3 and Cora is 6yrs old which means that they're both such wonderful bundles of joy!! I love spending time with them and playing games and dealing with their crazy. Haha This also means that they're both finally of the age to really get into the Christmas spirit!! They just make the holiday so much more special.

After the wedding the Harkiewiczes came for a visit. The family is too sweet- I was surprised that they brought Mum a gift. A great gift, too! I'm so glad I have such great friends in my life. If only I lived a little closer and could see them more often.

And speaking of friends and family, DATP had our Annual Christmas Party!! This little group of pals are my absolute favorite. I have my sister and I have Kim, Kassie, and the Harkiewiczes, but the DATP Crew holds a very special place in my heart. I'm able to really open up to them. Every year I look forward to seeing them during the holidays. I finally got to meet some of their luvers and to catch up. Things got a little weird after some of the girls had a little too much to drink, but that's normal..! Lol



The ladies dealt with some wedding stuffs and we finally ordered our Bridesmaid Dresses for Mum's wedding! It really looks like everything is starting to come together now! The dresses are so beautiful and unique, I can't wait to see how everything ties in the end.

And we close the night with a few traditions of building a Gingerbread House! Cora loved the decorating and Milli loved snatching up the candies... Lol And although I didn't want to do it, I ended up being the one in charge of most of the assembly. Hah. Isn't that how it always works..?

I really looks forward to spending the last few days with my babies and my poopers. It really is the little things that keep my heart warm.

Cramped in California...#tbt

Seemed that everyone wanted to visit California this past summer... For 3days we were housing 15people under one roof. Sure, Dad may have a big house, but still..!

My Aunt Sharon and Uncle Jesse, along with my cousins (Michael & Laurel) and two of their friends (Alissa and Anna) were in California to visit and go to Disneyland; my step-mom (Jennifer) had invited her sister (Sherry) with her husband and son (Michael & Rysland) to stay since they would be moving to California in the fall; and eventually we were joined by Suzette and Coraline, and of course my dad, brother Richie, and myself make 15! They all flew in on separate days but for 3days their visits overlapped- interesting how it all worked out... 

It was, as my father said, "like we were housing a military camp, with all the bodies sprawled out everywhere..!"

It certainly sucked after having the place to myself for weeks then to suddenly be kicked out to a couch, haha, but it was definitely fun. Dinner was always an interesting adventure. Not gonna lie, though, I love my family, but when we're all crammed in close quarters like that, you get tired real fast... I was pretty happy when they all left & it was just Suzette, Cora, and me..! (-u-)

Terrifying Threes... #tbt

My Cora turned 3years old this summer! 

 Although Coraline is my niece, not my child, I always think people on my Instagram assume she's my daughter. Just because I post a million photos of my Princess Coraline doesn't mean she's my kid! But, still, Cora is my absolute favorite model- she's always doing something weird/ funny/ cute & I just can't help myself! (>v<) 

It's kind of become tradition for Cora to have multiple birthday celebrations- 1 in California with my Dad and the rest of our Cali familia, 1 small little celebration on her actual birthday, and then a 3rd one with my Mom and all of us in San Antonio. Guess those are the benefits of being the first grandchild! 

Last year, while in California we celebrated at one of my favorite locations: Ariel's Grotto! Although it's super expensive and the selection is very limited, I still think the food is great and it's always fun to meet the princesses!  

The last time we were here Suzette picked out Cora's Belle dress (since she's her mother, I guess it was ok..!) But this year it was my turn! And the best part- Cora takes after her aunty with Ariel being her favorite Disney Princess! As soon as she saw her Ariel dress she started stripping down, and was so ready to transform into a Princess! 

The dress just happened to also match Suzette's hair, haha. 

And, as always, I was sure to take tons of pictures of my Cora's Princess Debut (again)! 

Every time we celebrate at Disneyland, I get super excited. I hope this can stay a tradition of ours! And it's funny because my dad is always saying that Suzette and I seem more excited to meet the princesses than Cora does... And, honestly, I wouldn't deny that, haha... I truly just love being able to share my passion for Disney with my Cora! She loves the Wonderful World of Disney almost as much as I do! 

And continuing with the Disney Theme! This was the cute little cake my mom got Cora for her actual birthday! Although we have parties on a different day, it's always nice to have a little sweet something in honor of our day of birth! 

Cora really is lucky, like me, and gets to celebrate her birthday several times over. Since my birthday is during the holidays, I usually get multiple celebrations, too, just so I can feel extra special, haha. (^-^)

For the San Antonio birthday party, Suzette and Billy wanted to celebrate in their new home! Since they had just moved into their duplex a couple months earlier, it was also their first party- what a nice way to break it in!

It was lots of fun, as always, and pretty laid back. Friends and other little ones were invited to come enjoy our home-made sweets and all the water games! I helped make a couple of our little snacks- there were so many, I wish I could put all the pictures on here! And not only were they super easy to make and really yummy, they were healthy too! These little clams were mine and everyone's favorite! They went out within the first hour! 

 

As a person who's not into big parties and such, I always love little celebrations like these. You can relax in your natural environment and enjoy the company of your friends and family. The Harkiewiczes were able to come too! I made sure to invite them- firstly because Sarah and Cora share the same birthday (7/11)! And secondly, since little Stevie is around the same age as Cora. I really hope they enjoyed the party, because I certainly loved having them and I really hope they'll be at our future parties! I can't wait to watch Cora and Stevie grow up!! <3 <3 

Attack On Titan Addicted... #tbt

Just as the title says: I've become Attack On Titan Addicted...!

  It all started one summer day when my brother and I were looking for a show to watch together. We kept scanning through the various titles available on Netflix and when we passed by this show, "Attack On Titan," I figured why not?? I had heard a lot of great things about the show in the past year and had been told several times over that I NEEDED to watch it. 20minutes later, as the credits began to roll, I sat in awe. I looked over at my brother who was in control of the remote and said, "NEXT EPISODE!" and that was it. 

 I completed the whole 1st season in just two days. Poor Nicky (my brother) wanted to watch something else but I just kept saying, "NEXT EPISODE" over and over. Around 1AM when he disappeared off to his bedroom, I remained behind to keep watching. I was so annoyed when I had to "spend time with the family" because I just wanted to watch my show! (haha) After the 1st Season was over I was ready for the next one, too bad there wasn't one..! I searched and searched all over the internet only to be disappointed. There was only the 1st season and season 2 wouldn't be put into production for another couple years! WHAT THE HELL!? I couldn't stand it. That night I watched all of the OVAs and even downloaded a Manga App for my phone JUST so that I could have more Shingeki no Kyojin in my life!
  To this day I've seen the whole 1st season 5times over. After I finished it by myself I completed it with Nicky, then again with my sister, Suzette, back-to-back. After a couple months I couldn't stand the lack of Attack On Titan in my life, so I rewatched it... again.... And only a couple months ago I introduced the show to one of my best friends, Kim. I've watched the first episode several times over, whilst introducing the series to others, and I've read the manga from beginning to end twice over, as well as all the spin-offs. I'm completely caught up, even, and I can't stand it!! Plainly put: I'm just a little, kinda, obsessed with Attack On Titan.... (>____<)
  Don't ask me why, it's just such a damn good show! It's one of those psychological, action-packed, horror, thrillers that really makes you think. In the beginning it's all about the blood, the gore, the Titans. The farther along you get in the series you really start to wonder: "What are these 'Titans'?" and "Where did they come from??" And it's those questions and your own curiosity that fuel your need for more! The series continues to feed you more unanswered questions and you drive yourself crazy trying to find the answers. Another major aspect about the show that I absolutely LOVE is the fact that no character is safe. It's very much like Game Of Thrones where you may grow attached to a character for several episodes and then suddenly- bam- they're dead. And although it's heartbreaking, it drives the story on so well and I can never get enough! And don't even get me started on those fucking amazing 3-D Maneuvering Gear!!
  I'd rather not sit here and give a synopsis/ review of the show, because I'm sure to spoil it. It's just one of those things you just have to see it for yourself! Just take my word for it, I've watched a lot of shows, like a LOT, of all types and genres and this one has jumped into my top favorites so fast, it's quite ridiculous. I know it took a good year for me to finally watch it (I hate getting into things when the hype is so high- what a hipster thing to say, haha), but now I see why it's so popular!
  All-in-all, I fucking love, love, LOVE this show. I've been thinking about it a lot more recently, and I've realized that I have yet to rewatch it in English Dub. I'll most likely do that soon...! If you haven't seen this show, and you love crazy awesome shows with action, blood, and a fucking wicked story plot- WATCH IT. Whether it's in English as Attack On Titan, or in Japanese as Shingeki no Kyojin, it's an amazing show and I absolutely can not wait for more!!

P.S. my favorite characters are totally Levi and Armin... and maybe Eren and Sasha... Just saying... <3

Throwback Thursday...

I realized that I have a lot of incomplete posts from last summer, many that I would love to complete! SO, I decided to go ahead and complete and post them on Thursdays as a sort of Throwback! That way I can still post the stories as well as keep myself disciplined in making sure I am posting AT LEAST once a week! (^-^)
And for a quick update, since I haven't posted much recently: I've been super busy and will soon have plenty to post about! On top of Graduation and Disney College (vlog being renamed to Pooh's Corner), my Movement II class has been AMAZING! We had field trips to the circus and to a pole dancing class, and so much more! My sister is having her baby THIS weekend, &&& I no longer work at Subway! So, ya, plenty to post and catch-up on, so stay tuned! (^-^)