The Family We Choose

Whether we're exchanging stupid IMs at work about Kanye falling on stage, prancin' around like goons on the dancefloor, or offering kind words during life's rough patches, I cherish every minute with my friends. Unlike family, your friends have the option of having you in their lives or not. Your ass is crazy (don't fight it!), so you should feel honored that somebody wants to put up with you and your antics. I am forever in debt to my friends for that reason alone, and I bust my ass to pay my dues.

we enjoy long walks on the beach, how i met your mother, folk music, and cold beer.

I wasn't always this conscientious about my relationships with others. When you're young, life moves especially fast: demanding college coursework, serious relationships, growing families, blossoming careers, and friends are moving across the country. Sometimes we are so concerned with our own affairs that we don't give our friendships the attention they deserve. Does that mean we don't love our friends? Heck, no. It just means we're busy and life gets the best of us sometimes.

there are no words for this one. she crazy.

my favorite travel partner

But I am a firm-believer that being aware is half the battle. If you recognize that nurturing friendships takes time and effort and you're willing to work on that, then you're well on your way to reaching BFF status. Here are some pointers:

1. Make time. This is the most important rule. Make plans with others. Say yes to invitations. Keep your commitments. Don't be a flake. Show up.

2. Be a good listener. Ask questions. Be engaged. Remember things. Give them a chance to talk without coming up with a rebuttal before they finish a sentence. Care about what's going on with others.

3. Speak. Open up and be vulnerable. Tell them your secrets. Tell them how awesome they are. And if you're upset with them, say so. It's not fair to be angry without giving them a chance to explain themselves (then revert back to #2).

4. Support. Show up to their poetry slam. Eat their burnt lasagna. Celebrate birthdays and other milestones. Be that shoulder to cry on when their family member dies or their idiot boyfriend chunks them a deuce. If it's real to them, you need to step up to the plate.

5. Be honest. Don't go giving a harsh opinion on everything, but give constructive criticism when you deem fit, and especially when they ask for advice. And just tell the truth, even when it's scary. If you do this with love, they'll appreciate it in the long run.

6. Accept. Understand that friendships change and sometimes you won't be as close. That's normal and totally OK. Be forgiving and non-judgmental. Your friends are gonna do some Grade A moronic stuff, or things you don't agree with. They're gonna date someone you don't like, have opposing religious or political beliefs, or hang out with the wrong crowd. Nobody takes the same path in life. Mistakes and personality differences add meaning to our lives and give us an opportunity to grow. Make room.

7. Have fun, dammit. Don't be a freakin' drag. Keep an open mind and a light heart. Be interesting! Have inside jokes. Reminisce. Travel. Eat well. Drink well. Live well.

sylvia always encourages me to be myself. and she makes a mean chocolate cake.

this girl. di. her sightings are rare.

ana's responsible for all of my hobby hoarding

professional latin hip-hop dancer, emily

Meddlesome Mondays

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! Here are some links for you to start the week off right! 

From Emily, to you:

Emily Donjuan

Sublime Stitching


From Sylvia, to you:
I WILL one day bake this for a special occasion. 

Mark your calendars! Someone come eat with me!

From Linda, to you:
not everybody can pull this look off, but DAMN, girl!

oh mah gah, those tee-pees and that veil!


From Ana, to you:

Two blogs I visit daily: La Catrina & Betty!


From Diana, to you:

Miss Mustard Seed

Centsational Girl

How involved is too involved?

Recently, I did a makeup look on a beautiful girl and she loved the look, but as soon as her boo came in the door and said he didn't like it, her opinion changed, too!

I’ve seen it all too much: guys being all up in a girl’s business about makeup, fashion, hair, and the like! These are all a woman's concern!

Girls, if you like big hair, pink lips, blue eye shadow, or if you're like me and wear dresses all the time, even if its to the grocery store (what if we see a fellow Blushing Dame?), then do it! Don't worry if the guy likes it or not! Leave the guys at home when you're shopping or getting your hair and makeup done.

And, guys, be nice about it! We love to dress up - and I know this might come as a shock to you - but not everything we do is for you. But at the same time we want you to notice! ;)

For the love of...

A decision some choose to, and not to take. A decision I made with love in my heart and my soul. Not ready for it, because life throws rocks at you sometimes. I made this decision seven years before it happened, shortly after we found each other.

Four years ago, I gave birth to my handsome and super fantastic son. I knew he was going to be awesome because I knew I chose the right father for him. Every time I see him, watch him, play and talk to him, I see, watch, and play with his father, too. Every moment is great with this kid; I wish there were more. I remember waking up in the middle of the night - every night - to tend to him, as he needed me; it almost feels like yesterday. I was happy to make certain sacrifices in my life, I did it out of love and respect for myself and our family. I'm a bit old-fashioned, you see, sometimes I feel I was born from another time.

I know I made the most absolute right decision in bringing this little man into my life. He has changed me in so many ways, he will never know.

For the love of yourself, of another, of life, and love, we should do things for our lives with our hearts and souls. Only then will you have no regrets.

We love making faces and taking pictures of them. My boo.

Things I Love To Hate

Hate is such a strong strong word, but I can't find anything else that will cover that type of impact. "Dislike"... hmm... too weak. “Don’t care for” ... hmm... too proper. So hate it is. This, you might be wondering... cheating (add in a big dramatic gasp and "ooooouuu").

Yes, cheating. That lovely little thing that people like to do here and there, that literally destroys any and every piece of your being! As a woman, I can only speak for my kind, so my opinion will be a bit biased, but I am welcoming any comments.

I recently came to the realization that I had a weird sense of opinion when it came to the “at fault” topic. Group of friends started on the chit-chat, and the question was asked: which cheat should get slaughtered? I said both! In my eyes, the blame is 50-50. I know, I know! “It's not the girl's fault; She probably didn’t know! Aww, she is also being cheated on; She can't help her feelings!” blah blah blah. BULLSHIT!

Look people: POINT BLANK PERIOD, we as women KNOW when shit is going down. On both parts we know! “Hey babe, how about for today’s date you meet me at the park that is located near Waco, and please wear that hat I bought you with those big sunglasses, aight? Oh, and don’t trip when my phone rings and I walk off to answer it. It ain't no big deal that I didn’t call you all last week 'cause you know how I be getting busy with work... What girl you seen me with? Nah, babe, that’s my cousin.”

Didn’t know?

Didn’t know??

Honey, you knew he was spoken for.

And the shittier part is that you stayed because “that’s my man now”, without having any regard for your own kind! So, yes, 50-50! We have all heard the one-liners and the stupid word vomit that these men have played, but you honestly think that after doing his own woman wrong he won't wrong you?! Good luck, sweetheart. And lets not forget the worst of the worst: when women know a man to be in a relationship and they still prowl. *cough cough bitch cough cough*

In my opinion (!!!): Men don’t know any better and women are conniving.

Women, we know better… we have always known better… but yet we still decided to destroy each other. So, I hope the understanding is clear that karma is a bitch and once shit hits the fan, get the fuck off our shoulders because you do not deserve any woman's consoling words.

Like The Great Murs once said: Every bitch needs a dog, so I guess that’s why you want him.

This girl

-di

Family Time

This post is going to be a challenge because my rascal is sitting on my lap, trying to type, too.

The weekend was great. I spent time with my family, which I love doing. On Saturday I went to the soccer game (Barcelona vs America) with my wonderful husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and nephew. It was so much fun to spend time with them. I really love my sister-in-law, Sylvia! No one will ever be able to replace her.

On Sunday I went to my aunt's house for a beauty party. That was so much fun. I got to see my grandma, cousins, aunts, and my mom. We all joked around and laughed at every dumb little joke. After my aunt's party I went to Gloria's with my cousin Erica and her husband. Some of her friends went along as well. Oh yeah, my other cousin Veronica showed up moments later. We all had ourselves a couple of drinks along with some laughs. I had myself a Michelada and a Margarita! It felt so great to get out and enjoy myself. All in all, I had a great weekend. I'm glad I had the chance to hang out with my family.

I Went to Tokyo... and I Loved It

The beginning of 2011 was stressful and fast-paced for me. Work was insane, school was even crazier, and my mental needed a change of scenery - I was desperate. I needed to get out of my head, and what better place to do that than a big city that stimulates all of my senses? New York? Ehh, maybe next year. LA? This ain't the season.  Then a light-bulb went off: Tokyo. Of course!

JAPAN?! Do you even know how to speak Japanese? No? Well, how do you expect to get around? How are you going to order food? Aren't those file cabinets they sleep in uncomfortable? Why do you even want to go there?! Dude. I have a map and know how to use chopsticks. I'll find a way to make it work.

A month and a half later, I was on a plane, headed for the grandest adventure of my life.

You see, a lot of people laughed at this Tokyo pipe dream of mine. They didn't understand how I could possibly want to go there so bad. But I find solace in huge cities; even when everything around me is moving too quickly (both figuratively and literally), there can still be quietness in my soul.  I find an unexpected sense of peace when I'm standing on a busy sidewalk, people zigzagging around me, bright lights in the backdrop. In those moments, I am comforted by my smallness. Little ol' me: a tiny speck in the big, big picture.

bet you never made it rain in yen

octopus balls. beyond. delicious.

gettin' my spiritual cleanse on in yoyogi park

stacks upon stacks

night-time romance in the streets

i ate a lot of ramen

it's true - i do

akihabara! akihabara!

i wore my military jacket far too much. 

all my pictures look like they were taken on the same day. 

tokyo at its best

happiness. best decision i ever made.

My Love Affair!

I have a love affair with coffee! I have had a cup of coffee every day since I was 18! That's at least 2,555 cups of coffee, and maybe more 'cause a lot of days I have more than one cup!

I can't remember the exact date it began, but it started when I was a small child. I would see my mom sit at a coffee shop, The Teak, with her friends talking until late night. My siblings and I would sit around eating a plate of fries we all shared, trying to eavesdrop and play with the antique jukebox! I still remember my sister playing the oldies while we searched the booths for dimes to keep the music going!

As I got older, my first job was a barista at Barnes & Noble Cafe. I loved that job! This is where my curiousity about this drink turned into an obsession! My co-workers and I would make ourselves all types of coffee drinks that didn't exist! We'd try different flavors and different syrups! We'd sneak to the kitchen and read books during our down time with our custom drink.

Now, I take my coffee very plain: just a spoon of sugar and some milk. But every time I take a sip, I remember the the conversations my mom used to have at those booths at The Teak. I remember my barista friends and I sneaking the books and reading them in the cafe kitchen. Coffee for me is nostalgic, it calms me like nothing else by reminding me of my mom and books.

A Lifetime...

What would take a lifetime to accomplish for some has happened for me within the last 5 - nay - 6 years, and counting. I was never much of a girly-girl, girl-friend type, not one to think of girls as trustworthy, or worth my time. I love getting proved wrong, especially when the overall outcome is positive. Having met three of these four girls for the first time (all at the same time) was pressure, to say the least. I remember that night vividly: what I wore, where we were, and where we went. Since that night, those outings were more forthcoming.

Over the years, our friendship grew as one and within each other. We have shared moments that no one knows about, countless hours of laughter, talking, shopping, eating, and the like. Whether it is two of us, four of us or all five, we make our gatherings happen, when possible. There is no one word to place on these girls and what I think of them... well, to start: SUPERFANTABULISTICARAWESOMELYSUPERBLYBEAUTIFUL!!! 

Let’s keep the ball rolling, girls. I wanna take those yearly trips when we’re 60 and can get the senior citizen discounts on everything!!

For us, 5 is not a crowd, it’s a random, unique, fun group of girls! Yee-haw! 

 

At the Wonder Years show at Rising Gallery

P.S. - Check out our video from Friday's Wonder Years show: 

Keeping the Grass Green

Recently we thought… "Hmm... homeowners sounds like it fits us." So these kids did it and bought a house!

A little piece of our very own. But now what? Wait a minute… what do you mean it doesn’t come furnished like the shows on HGTV? I have to paint what wall? How much is that whole kitchen??? What were we thinking? Were we even thinking at all?

Its been a roller-coaster of crazy here lately. Moving was pure joy <<< sarcasm. Now having to unload our one-bed/bath apartment junk is madness to say the very least! In my mind, things were running so smoothly, but I just couldn’t make it into reality. Even finding a place to put my toothbrush took me an hour to figure out. AN HOUR!

Then comes the designing task in trying to make this place warm and fabulous. So far: complete frustration and fail. Design is one of my joys, but it does have its hair-pulling moments that make you scream out loud… I HATE THIS HOUSE!! I have had to continuously remind myself that nothing great was built in one day. Time is my friend and I must find love in every corner. Because it is OUR home now with its never-ending cleaning, trash-emptying, clothes-washing, lawn work (thanks babe), wall-hanging crap, painting, decorating, and organizing. It's our piece in this world that we must make into our haven. Slowly the light has been trickling in and letting its magic be seen. It will come together… slowly… but it will.

progress

So for the homeowners out there, I say, I feel yalls pain and thanks for being punk assess and not letting us know this mess before we took that pen to paper! Thanks!

Well, now I'm off to water the grass, 'cause apparently that shit doesn’t stay green by itself.

This girl,

-di