All About You

 

What a Week

 "If the door closes, quit banging on it! Whatever was behind it, wasn't meant for you. Consider the fact that maybe the door was closed because you were worth so much more than what was on the other side." (Author Unknown)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

    Hope you all had a really wonderful week. And for Mother's Day, however you celebrated (or just spent the day!), I hope it was lovely for you.

 

    Mother's Day this year was a little different than usual! Instead of the typical brunch or whatnot, we hit the theater to see "The Book of Mormon." You know, that hilarious musical from the guys who created South Park? Yep, that's the one!

 

    This was actually our second time seeing it – it was my pick, obviously! The first time it came through Denver was super cool because it kicked off the tour right here after Tony Awards. We lucked out with front-row seats this time, which was PERFECT, especially since we're both on the shorter side and sometimes struggle to see over folks!

 

    I was totally joking beforehand about it being the perfect Mother's Day show, right? But honestly, it really was perfect, especially for my mom. You guys know how tough things have been and the whole emotional roller-coaster she's been on. Seeing her just genuinely laugh throughout the entire show? Man, that was exactly what she needed.

 

After the show, we headed back and dug into some enchiladas I'd made the night before, followed by some yummy coconut cream pie. It wasn't your traditional Mother's Day, but it was definitely a good one!

 

    So, the rest of the week? Yeah, it was... well, okay, I guess.

 

    You won't believe what happened one morning at breakfast, though. Crunch! Mom actually broke a tooth. Turns out it was one they'd already planned on doing a root canal on anyway. She called them right away, and thankfully they got her in a few days later. The thing is, they still really want to do that root canal, but she'd much rather just have them pull it. As you can probably guess, she was not happy about that whole situation.

 

    But honestly, the bigger thing is her pain. It's really been getting worse. She can barely stand up for maybe five minutes now, sometimes even less. It's just heartbreaking for her because she feels so... helpless, you know? Like she can't do anything. My mom always used to be, constantly up and doing things? Now, something as simple as trying to do a load of laundry hurts and just completely wears her out in no time. So, she's been focusing on things she can do sitting down, like folding clothes. It's just really tough to see her struggling with things that used to be so easy.

 

    So, you know how they say you shouldn't plant around here until after Mother's Day? Well, it's been a week since then, and honestly, I haven't gotten anything done in the yard yet! It's been a mix of being super busy on some days and then, of course, getting hit with rain on the others. We definitely need the rain, don't get me wrong, but I am itching to get out there and just clean everything up!

 

    The good news is, after one more appointment, my schedule is clear the rest of the week, so I can finally get outside. I think I'm going to start by planting some lettuce this week and get that going.

 

    Oh, and my mom got some beautiful flowers from my aunt for her birthday! I was originally thinking of putting them in the front containers, but since she can't get out much, I decided it would be better to plant them in the back instead. That way, she can see them every day!

 

    How about you guys? Have any of you managed to start your gardens yet? I'm planning to swing by the garden center soon to grab some tomato plants and other veggies once I get those containers cleaned out. At least I'm starting earlier than last year – I feel like I was barely getting things in the ground in the middle of June! 

 

    So, that's pretty much the scoop on what's been happening over here this past week. It's definitely been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, honestly, just trying to take everything in. Especially tough dealing with everything going on with my mom and her pain and feelings.

 

    But hey, the weather's finally warming up, which is a lifesaver! I'm really looking forward to getting outside and finding some quiet peace in the yard, just pottering around by myself.

 

    Anyway, I hope you guys are all having a really good weekend and feeling refreshed and ready for a fantastic week ahead!

 

 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 #14

 "Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling." (Kobe Bryant)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

     It looks like its happening, I’m having a brain freeze when it comes to Paula stuff for Friday. I finally figures out what to talk about. This week, the toys that I loved so dearly as a kid.

 

1.  My favorite childhood doll was a small, quirky one! Her body was soft and floppy like a bean bag, covered in bright hot pink material, with a regular doll face and a black and white stocking cap. I called her 'Peppermint Patty.' We were inseparable for ages, and she definitely showed the signs of a well-loved toy! I'm pretty sure she's still around, probably in a box in the basement.

 

2.  Oh, the Sit N Spin! That was pure magic for me. I spent countless hours just spinning and spinning, trying to go as fast as possible. I loved the dizzy rush and how the whole room seemed to swirl when I stopped. It was a sad day when I finally got too big to hop on anymore – definitely a treasured childhood memory!

 

3.  Looking back, it's funny I didn't turn into a baking whiz, because I absolutely adored my Easy-Bake Oven! My parents, the best Santa ever, surprised me with it one year, and they even included a massive box of all those fun mixes. Weekends were my favorite time to pull it out and bake little treats for my mom, dad, and sister. And dad's order was always the chocolate cakes!

 

4.  As a kid, I was all about Groucho Marx and his movies! So, a Groucho ventriloquist doll for my birthday seemed perfect. The funny thing is, this awesome gift turned a bit spooky after dark. It totally gave me the creeps, probably because the horror movie 'Magic' was out at the time and on my mind. I ended up having to sleep with him face down! He's still part of the family, technically, although he's been living in a basement box for a while now.

 

5.  You know, one of my very first favorite toys was a classic corn popper! I was inseparable from it as a kid. My mom still talks about how the never-ending "pop pop pop" sound was the soundtrack to her life back then – I'm pretty sure I tested her patience! There were definitely a few times the corn popper mysteriously vanished for a while, only to reappear later! Because I have such fond memories of it, passing that joy along felt right, so I made sure to get one for my nephew, Cuinn, when he was born.

 

6.  Finally, the Barbie world! My Barbies were such a big part of my childhood happiness. While I loved them dearly, I do remember wishing there was a doll that mirrored how I looked – I even experimented with markers on their hair sometimes! But that didn't overshadow the imaginative play. My Barbie real estate portfolio was strong with both the townhouse and the iconic Dream House, plus the fun Dream Pool. Their rides were pretty sweet too: a cool pink jeep and a bright yellow corvette. I truly cherished playing with them and diligently saved my allowance each week to buy new outfits or furniture pieces, always adding to their little world. Those were truly precious playtime moments.

 

    It's fun to think back on those main toys I loved and played with constantly! It makes me wonder what treasures filled your childhood playtime. Speaking of old toys, my mom just prompted me to look up the "Tiny Tears" doll. Does that spark any memories for you?

 

 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!

 

 

 

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!