It's Okay

 

Happy Mother's Day to All You Wonderful Women

 

Just the Facts #13

 "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." (Judy Garland)

 
 Hello, my lovely friends!

     This month, it's all about embracing the beautiful tapestry of my own heritage! After last week's delightful exploration of my Mexican side (we might just have to do a Part Two soon!), we're shifting gears. This week brings us into Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and guess what? My Polynesian heritage fits perfectly here. Ready to learn more?

 

1. Let's talk about the family tree on my dad's side! My grandpa, the adventurous soul, kicked off his story in the Philippines. Now, which island exactly? That's a fun little unsolved puzzle in our family lore – maybe it adds to his mystique! Anyway, in his vibrant twenties, he decided to trade island breezes for the American dream, venturing across the Pacific with one of his brothers. California was their first stop, but it turns out the big buzz (and a fantastic Pacific Island community!) was right here in Denver, which is exactly where he decided to lay down roots. And the rest, as they say, is family history.

 

2. My name's a bit of a family heirloom! My first name, Paula, is a charming tribute to my grandpa, Paul. And just when you thought it couldn't get any more familial, my middle name, Rachel, swings in as a nod to my mom's dad, Raymond. So yes, I'm pretty much named after a couple of awesome grandpas!

 

3. Growing up, the hula wasn't just a dance in our family; it was practically in our DNA! My dad's sister, the legendary Auntie Nancy, swayed with such grace she could make the very palm trees jealous. She then passed that magical hip-swiveling torch to her daughter, who now brilliantly carries on the tradition, teaching the art of the hula. Seriously, if you're a female cousin or a daughter of one, chances are you've got a lei around your neck and some serious moves. Me? I dabbled in the rhythmic swaying as a kid, but alas, my hula career was a short-lived, albeit adorable, chapter.

 

4. My grandpa wasn't just a musician; he was a one-man orchestra, a maestro of mayhem, and a firm believer that every kid should at least attempt to tame an instrument. So, when fifth grade rolled around and our elementary school offered the thrilling (and potentially ear-splitting) opportunity to join band, I knew exactly what I had to do. With the boundless logic of a ten-year-old, I chose the violin – mostly because the school was handing them out like candy.

But when word reached my grandpa that his little prodigy-in-training was tackling the strings, his eyes lit up like a concert hall. He didn't just applaud my choice; he upgraded me from school loaner to family heirloom. He gifted me one of his own violins, a beautiful old soul with stories whispered in its wood. And guess what? That very violin, passed down from a man who lived and breathed music, is still with me today, a tangible echo of his wonderfully musical spirit.

 

5. Get ready to don your leis and grass skirts, because in this family, a "big celebration" isn't just a party – it's an excuse for a full-blown, over-the-top luau! Whether it's a wedding that's tying the knot, a shower showering blessings, or another year around the sun for a birthday superstar, we pull out all the stops.

And yes, that absolutely means we're talking about the star of the show: a succulent, slow-roasted pig, plus a whole delicious island of other Polynesian delights. But the feast is just the beginning! Our entertainment is as vibrant as the aloha spirit itself, featuring dazzling hula dancers, ready to transport you straight to the shores of paradise. It's not just a party; it's an unforgettable, pig-roasting, hip-swaying, lei-wearing extravaganza!

 

6.  Get ready to dive into a linguistic lei of paradise! The Polynesian islands are practically overflowing with incredible languages – we're talking Tahitian, Tagalog, Samoan, Tongan, Māori, and Hawaiian, just to name a few of these beautiful tongues. My family, though? We tend to hang out in the Tagalog and Hawaiian corners of this language playground. Confession time: I'm still very much a beginner, just dipping my toes in, but oh, do I dream of swimming laps in these vibrant vocabularies! And speaking of Tahitian, that's the melodic language that mostly echoes through French Polynesia, which makes perfect sense since that's exactly where my awesome grandpa hailed from!

 

 A huge thank you for your lovely visit! Sending you all the cozy and delightful vibes for your morning/afternoon/evening. Until our stars align again!

A Big Huge Hug of Thanks

 "Never underestimate the healing power of a long, deep breath. Not only does it create inner calm, it gives you space to acknowledge and appreciate that this breath is not your last one." (Lori Deschene)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

Thank you for all the comments, well wishes, and suggestions. It means so much to me to have our wonderful little circle here.I’ll be back tomorrow with Friday Funday! Love you ladies so much! 

                                      

A huge thank you for your lovely visit! Sending you all the cozy and delightful vibes for your morning/afternoon/evening. Until our stars align again!

I Have Some Explaining To Do

 "Life is a road. You'll get over the potholes, even if you have to pull yourself out. Yes, those hills go up and down, but you'll always level out." (Author Unknown) 

 Hello, my lovely friends!

                                        
    It’s been quite a couple of weeks here. When I told you about how emotional things have been here oh it was going to get even more emotional.

    My mom’s pain has been hot and cold for her. She does what she can, but waiting for Kaiser to do anything is almost impossible. It upsets me that she just suffers now and they don’t want to do anything for her. It only happens when she emails them, but it should have to come to that.

    The two of us still butt heads, but I think we’ve come to an understanding because of the last disagreement we had. She was upset about my dad and we talked about it. Then out of the blue she just said he was having an affair with her sister when we were kids. WHAT?!?! She went into detail and then talked about another one at his job. She went into details about things she knew and just kept talking. The more she talked about it, the angrier she got and then upset.

    The two of us talked for hours and she told me a lot of things that I just couldn’t believe, but they made sense. You could see the pain in my mom’s face, but she also felt like huge weight was lifted from her/. We talked the whole day and she cried through most of it. That night I was in such shock with everything that I was upset, but never showed that in front of my mom. She has enough to go through. 

    That night in her bedroom she had me take down all his pictures and put them in a drawer in another room. She said she was done with the shrine to him. 

    The next morning she told me she doesn’t want to be buried with him. He couldn’t honor her so she doesn’t want an eternity with him. She want to go see him one more time and tell him how she feels and then no more. I guess I’ll go by myself when I want to see him. 

    The past week has been hard, she cries daily about it. She thinks she did something wrong and I told her it’s not about her, it was him. He did this. I’m not sure how I feel about everything. On one hand I’m so angry at him for doing this because what she’s going through. Her heart is so broken right now. Then it makes me so sad because its my dad and he was a great day, but a lousy husband. 

    My mom wants my sister to come out, but I have to tell her about it first. I’m not sure how she’ll take it, but I know it won’t be easy for her. We agreed that no one else in the family needs to know.

    The talk has now switch to she wants to move out of this house. She wants to be closer to my sister and has something that is hers without my dad attached to it. That makes me sad, but I get it. So while all that was happening my mom asked if I could tell Mike to postpone coming out in June until autumn. I told him and he was upset about it and then we got in a heated discussion about everything. That led to almost a week without talking. I just didn’t want to deal with it because I had so much going on with my mom. Finally we talked on Friday and now everything is good with us.

    So its been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks here. Some days I’ve been so exhausted from emotions that I can’t get anything done. So, again sorry for the lack of blogs this past week. I’ll be better. Thanks for letting me let that out.
                                            

A huge thank you for your lovely visit! Sending you all the cozy and delightful vibes for your morning/afternoon/evening. Until our stars align again!

Happy Cinco de Mayo Amigas!!!

 "There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." (Albert Einstein)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

Today is Cinco de Mayo! I'm probably going to have some kind of Mexican food for dinner, but not sure if I'm going to make it or pick something up. 

 

Ten Cinco de Mayo Fun Facts:

1.Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale in the United States than in Mexico.
    
2.Chicanos celebrate this day in appreciation of Mexico’s culture.
    
3. General Ignacio Zaragoza was born in Texas when it was still part of Mexico and is considered to be a Chicano hero.
    
4. Cinco de Mayo is often confused with the Mexican Independence Day, which occurred on September 16, 1810, about 50 years earlier.
    
5. Cinco de Mayo is one of more than 365 festivals celebrated by people of Mexican descent.
    
6. The holiday was popularized in the U.S. in part by Chicano activists in the 1960’s and 1970’s who identified with the Mexican Indian and mestizo soldiers’ triumph over European conquest attempts.
    
7. The Festival de Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles is the world’s largest Cinco de Mayo event. More than 600,000 gather to celebrate with food and music each year.
    
8. Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.
    
9. Guadalajara is Mexico’s second largest city and where the Mexican Hat Dance, sombreros and mariachi music originated.
 

 10. Mexico’s capital, Mexico City (one of the world’s largest cities) is sinking. Some of its buildings are sinking by as much as 4 to 12 inches a year. The city was once an Aztec capital on an island surrounded by a shallow lake. When the Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes captured the city, he drained the lake. Today, Mexico City rests on soft land that continues to sink.
(examiner.com)

A huge thank you for your lovely visit! Sending you all the cozy and delightful vibes for your morning/afternoon/evening. Until our stars align again!

Just the Facts #12

 "Pardon me if I grow moist-eyed and slightly mystical, but there is something about Mexican cooking that is akin to the essence of life." (Lawrence W. Cheek)

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

    With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner on Monday, I'm feeling inspired to dive into and share a little about my Mexican heritage!

 

1. Yep, I'm proudly Mexican through and through! Both sides of my family have roots deep in Mexico, with great-grandparents on my mom's side and a great-grandpa on my dad's side born right there.

 

2. My Spanish journey? It's less a fluent highway and more a charming, slightly bumpy side road. Like countless others in our community, Spanish wasn't the soundtrack of my childhood home – the focus was firmly on mastering English. Over time, I've absorbed bits and bobs, enough to understand more than a little, but my speaking? Let's just say it's still shy!

 

3. Bring on the chili goodness! I'm all about that pepper flavor, but let's keep my tongue for tasting, not just surviving.

 

4. Okay, confession time: I'm absolutely obsessed with Tajin on fruit! If you haven't met this glorious stuff, it's a vibrant spice blend straight out of Mexico. Picture the perfect mix of zesty lime, mild chili peppers, and savory salt. You can usually find it in the international or spice aisle at the supermarket. While I pretty much sprinkle it on anything fruity, it reaches legendary status on watermelon and juicy melons. It adds this amazing bright, slightly spicy, tangy pop that is just * chef's kiss * perfection!

 

5. Okay, okay, call me cliché, but my ears tell a very specific, very circular story! As a Latina, hoops aren't just an accessory; they're practically my uniform. I've got three holes per ear, each with a role to play. Leading the charge are the big, bold hoops in the first hole. Next up, their slightly more modest hoop cousins in the second. And holding down the fort? A trusty stud in the third. The only rule? It must be gold or silver. No colorful distractions allowed – just pure metallic power!

 

6. Get ready for my media faves! On the film front, I'm all about the classics like Mi Vida Loca, Zoot Suit, Tortilla Soup, and Like Water for Chocolate. And my music tastes? ¡Pura música en español! Seriously, Spanish music is my jam. Even if my translation skills are, uh, lacking, the energy and feeling are everything. It instantly zaps me back to being a kid, waking up on weekends to the sound of my dad's favorite Mexican tunes.

 

 A huge thank you for your lovely visit! Sending you all the cozy and delightful vibes for your morning/afternoon/evening. Until our stars align again!

Look for the Joy

 

Everything That Could Go Wrong Did

 "When you lose touch with your inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world." (Eckhart Tolle)

 

Hello my lovely friends!  

    How are you all doing on this lazy Sunday? Yesterday felt like a script written by the universe specifically to torment me. If there was a day for everything to go wrong, that was it. You know about the Twilight Zone marathon I host on Twitter – and yes, I'm sticking with that name! Our usual routine involves nominating and voting on a monthly theme, then gathering on the last Saturday to stream 11 episodes and chat. But yesterday? The wheels didn't just come off; they were actively sabotaged. Absolutely everything that could have gone wrong did.

 

    Starting at 2 PM EST, noon my time, meant my morning routine was already in full swing. As always, I set up my command center: both bedroom computers on, one for the main event, the other for everything else. I'd been up since 8:30 AM, showered and in the kitchen by 9:30 AM, aiming to get dinner prep out of the way. Tostadas were on the menu, requiring a pot of beans to cook on the stove. While the beans simmered, I prepped the fixings – chopping vegetables and grating cheese. With dinner well in hand, it was finally time for breakfast.

 

     Since my mom was still sleeping, I got her breakfast ready to the best of my ability. Then I made mine: a bagel with cream cheese and coffee. After that, I checked the time – only about 20 minutes until it started. I decided to eat my bagel and coffee in my room. Mom woke up and I checked if the breakfast was okay, which it was. She asked where I'd watch, and I said my bedroom, like always. However, she had things to do upstairs, leaving the downstairs TV open. Since I was making a pot of beans, I could watch there instead.

 

     The problems started here. The show I normally stream free on Prime was gone, now requiring a Paramount+ subscription – something I wasn't willing to pay for. My next thought was PlutoTV, which I knew carried it with ads, but that simply wouldn't load for me. Already five minutes late and frustrated, I'd been trying to fix the TV issue while working on my laptop. I decided to try an older laptop with some free streaming sites I knew, but then the internet itself became the obstacle. Now an episode behind, I finally got the show to play, only to be plagued by constant buffering and freezing, making it impossible to actually watch.

 

    By the third episode, the situation had devolved into a chaotic mess. I was relegated to listening on my laptop, simultaneously attempting to keep up with online comments and a television stream that was relentlessly buffering. I think this is where the sheer absurdity took over; everything was going wrong, and all I could do was laugh at the technological disaster unfolding before me. Relief finally arrived two hours into the marathon when I discovered PlutoTV through my cable apps, and it actually worked. At that point, the accumulated frustration had me feeling the intense, almost destructive urge to take aim at the TV, the laptops, and the computers. 

    By that time, my frustration had completely vanished; all I wanted was for the marathon to end. Still, I did get to watch the last two and a half hours with everyone, which was just pure craziness.

 

    Switching gears to something more solemn, we watched the recorded Pope’s funeral last night. It was an amazing and deeply moving experience to witness. As Catholics, we found ourselves naturally participating in the service along with those on screen.

 

So, how's your weekend going? 

 

 Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

 

Just the Facts #11

 “What is a mom but the sunshine of our days and the north star of our nights.” (Robert Brault)

Hello, my lovely friends!

    Welcome to another Friday Funday! This week, our focus is on my mom. With her birthday having been on Tuesday, it feels like the perfect time to dedicate this post to her, especially after featuring my dad a couple of times.

 

1. She saved my life, truly. I was maybe six or seven, visiting a neighbor's cabin with a pool. I'd been taking swimming lessons in a pool that was only three feet deep, and we didn't realize this one was marked at three and a half feet. I stepped down the stairs and immediately went under, the panic overwhelming me. My mom, still dressed, dove straight in and pulled me to safety. I was trembling afterwards, but I was okay.

 

2. Before I reached junior high, my mom was a stay-at-home mom, and her special touch was evident in every classroom party. She was the go-to cake artist, always creating and decorating the most incredible cakes. I remember one year, I was home sick on the day the class chose party contributions. That afternoon, my teacher called, ostensibly to check on me, but the real reason soon emerged: the kids had voted for me to bring the cake! It wasn't a surprise, though, because everyone knew my mom's cakes were legendary.

 

3. My first taste of heartbreak came in 6th grade with my first boyfriend. When he ended things, the thought of school was unbearable. Tears streamed down as I confessed to her what happened, and she understandingly allowed me to stay home. We spent the day together, our hands busy making tortillas. The simple act brought a surprising sense of comfort and helped mend my fragile heart.

 

4. Halloween meant one thing: witch. My mom was the costume architect, and each year she'd conjure a new twist on the classic. One year, my hair was a wild, frizzy tempest, braided and untamed. Another, long, black, wicked nails completed the transformation. And then there was the year of the green oatmeal concoction, slathered across my face – a truly memorable, if slightly lumpy, special effect. Those were indeed good, fun times filled with creative Halloween magic.

 

5. My mom's Christmas shopping strategy has always been a marathon, not a sprint – she'd shop all year long (and bless her, she still does!). Her process involved a rigorous system of buying, wrapping, and then employing top-secret hiding places around the house. The only kink in her otherwise brilliant plan was her uncanny ability to forget where those top-secret places were by Christmas morning. One memorable year, the main gift-opening was done, dinner was eaten, and I was waist-deep in suds at the sink. Mom was chatting away when her eyes suddenly widened. She zipped off and reappeared moments later, triumphantly holding a forgotten gift she'd clearly hidden even from herself!

 

6. My mother was my first culinary instructor. Growing up, dinner was her nightly ritual, and I was her curious shadow in the kitchen, a whirlwind of "Hows," "Whys," and "How longs?" that she patiently answered. Later, when she took a job as a grocery store cake decorator and I was about twelve, the roles shifted slightly. I became the after-school chef. She'd lay out all the ingredients before heading to work, and my initial microwave creations gradually transitioned to oven-cooked meals within a year, guided by her voice on the phone each evening as I called for instructions.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

A Little Chit Chat

 

 

"Rest but never quit. Even the sun has a sinking spell each evening. But it always rises the next morning. At sunrise, every soul is born again." (Anonymous)

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

     I hope you all had a lovely Easter, however you chose to spend it. I was truly saddened to hear of the Pope's passing; I admired him greatly. We've been watching the special coverage about him and I plan to record the funeral service on Saturday to watch later.

 

     Our weekend was a real test of endurance and planning! Between two plays, Wrestlemania, and making time for Easter, our schedule was completely full. It's hard to believe we pulled it off, but despite the packed itinerary, we managed to have a lot of fun.

 

     We spent our Friday preparing a delicious Easter dinner, complete with homemade fried chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, and a delightful caramel apple no-bake cheesecake. This allowed us to enjoy a special meal without the rush and avoid having to buy dinner out both nights of the weekend.

 

     On Saturday, we attended a performance of "Gutenberg! The Musical!". It was a hilarious show with some delightfully cheeky moments. The intimate theater, which seats just 225, was a new experience for us. It felt much like a dinner playhouse, as drinks and snacks were served right to your seat throughout the performance. The entire cast consisted of just two talented men playing all the roles. I'm so glad we went; I found myself laughing out loud consistently throughout the play.

 

     Guess what I finally saw this Sunday? "The Wiz"! I've been counting down to this show since we got our season tickets. You guys know how much I adore anything connected to Oz – "The Wizard of Oz," "The Wiz," "Wicked," all of it! So, I had high hopes, and let me tell you, this production knocked it out of the park. It was just amazing! The whole cast was fantastic, but the Scarecrow totally stole my heart; his voice was out of this world good. Seriously, the acting, the dancing, the singing – everything was absolutely first-class. We went on the very last day, and my mom was bummed she couldn't see it again, which tells you how good it was! It was also really sweet seeing all the little ones dressed up in their Easter best. If "The Wiz" tours near you, promise me you'll go! You won't regret it – it's pure joy and you'll definitely leave with a huge smile.

 

    Looking forward to the beautiful weather this week! I'm planning to take advantage of it by getting out in the front yard – the grass needs a cut, and I need to get some weed and feed down to battle these persistent dandelions. We also finally received our new compost bin from the city, which is fantastic for handling all the yard clippings and such.

 

    Still working through spring cleaning, though I definitely feel like I'm the main one chipping away at it!

 

    Shifting topics a bit, Mom is exploring the possibility of getting her knee surgery done relatively soon. We're really hoping that helps alleviate some of her pain. She also has some health goals she's working towards – specifically getting her numbers lower and losing some weight – which is necessary before she can resume her back treatments.

 

    Keeping busy with everything happening! What's new with all of you?

 

 Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Happy Earth Day

 “Mother Earth is very near to man. From her we get food; upon her we lie down. We live and walk on her. We could not exist without Mother Earth.” (Katharine Berry Judson)

Hello, my lovely friends!

    Happy Earth Day! I always remember this day because it's my Mom's birthday as well. In honor of Earth Day I thought I'd post something that you can do to make the Earth a little bit better than what it was yesterday.


Here are some things I found that you can do to help Mother Earth out.
1. Swap out your light bulbs. Why? Compact florescent light bulbs use less energy than regular old light bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to ten times longer. They also save money in energy costs. Another reason these bulbs are super cool is that they generate less heat than other bulbs; making home cooling costs significantly less in the summer. How? It's easy! Most stores are carrying them now, right next to the old kind of light bulbs.


2. Plant a tree or three. With Arbor Day (April 29th) just around the corner from Earth Day (April 22nd), this is your chance to practice planting a fruit tree or any other kind of tree! Why? Trees remove CO2 from the air and help fight global warming. They produce oxygen, give us shade in the summer, and provide a home for your neighborhood birds. Need another reason? Plant a fruit-bearing tree and you'll have a yummy reward for doing so! How? Check out your local nursery. They will be able to help you pick one out and give you planting advice. Within a few years you may have enough shade to drastically reduce your home cooling costs and some tasty fruit to boot!


3. Curb your junk mail. This not only saves tons of paper, but you'll save time by not having to fish through a sea of junk mail to find your personal mail and birthday cards! How? Pull out the pre-paid stamped envelope in your junk mail, write "please remove" on the envelope and send it back to them - on their dime. In the long run it helps everyone -- they don't have to pay for future mailings and you are no longer buried in piles of junk mail.


4. Turn off lights and unplug cell phone chargers. This one couldn't be simpler. Walk around your house, notice any unnecessary lights that are on and turn them off. Don't forget to unplug cell phone chargers, mp3 player chargers, etc. Your chargers are using electricity even though your electronic devices are not connected to them.


5. Try doing "conscious" laundry. Instead of saving those piles of laundry for your Saturday or Sunday afternoon, do it at night when energy costs are lower. If you have to do laundry during the day try hanging your clothes outside in natures dryer. Also try some eco-friendly laundry products.


6. Drive the speed limit. This one may be the hardest one. Driving the speed limit increases your miles per gallon, in turn saving you dollars at the pump. You can also minimize unnecessary miles by stacking errands in one trip. This just takes a little bit of planning, but with rising gas prices your wallet will thank you!


7. Carry your own water bottle. Reduce the amount of plastic water bottle waste in the world by carrying your own. Stainless steel and polycarbonate drinking bottles are both non-toxic and super-durable. 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!

Finding Joy