Family Vacation: Hawaii 2011

Family Vacation: Hawaii 2011
6-17-2011
Happy 39th Birthday to me!
Spent the day traveling & finally arriving to a place I've only seen in my dreams-Hawaii!!
After deplaning Rj kept saying "I'm so hot!" - that's tropics weather for you. I just thought it was perfect.
Upon arrival to the baggage claim area- we were met by surprise Leis from my family. How awesome is that! Well THEY are awesome!
No wonder my brother kept saying/texting "keeps watchful eye for your names"...well there were 2 signs...one for the Leis & one for our transport to our home the next 7 days...Hilton Waikoloa Village.
After about 30 mins we enter Waikoloa - there's the Queen's market, some villas & King's Shop (high end stuff). Our resort is at the end of the road. After checking in, taking the tram to our tower, checking out the view & the room (Celeste already claimed the $15.95 Dolphin on the bed), freshening up we headed to Queen's shop to have dinner & buy milk at the local grocery shop. Of course you can never buy JUST milk...but first dinner. We chose to eat at Sansei's: had sushi and the usual stuff. Feeling a bit adventurous I wanted to try a new drink-so I had the Hawaiian Shaved Ice drink...nasty as cough medicine...I'm sticking to what I like...at least with the drinks.
During dinner Rj's slippers broke so we HAD to buy him new ones.As we left the restaurant we were met with rain...tropical rain...you know the wet & humid kind...the kind most people just walk through-but not us! We were shaking like leaves...hahaha! Ended up buying a hat for Celeste, new crocs for both kids (Rj's broke & Celeste's was just nasty looking & old), found a Hawaiian Hello Kitty ( of course I got it-it's my birthday) then headed off to the grocery store. With milk we got breakfast stuff, souvenir stuff (Rj is collecting keychains) and I found more Hello Kitty stuff!!
Returned to the resort & settled in for the night - by this time it was 1230am LA time & kids were exhausted - I did not hear one complaint from either one.
What a wonderful & memorable birthday it has been...more to come.

Sent from Mae's iPhone

Nurses are every day heroes 2011

 

May 11, 2011:  

Kaiser held their Nurses' Week Dinner held at DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance.

I was joined by many other nurses who have all been Angels in a patients' care. Tonight we were reminded that we have a purpose. Dr. Bertice Berry was our main speaker, sharing with us her stories about her first hand experience with nurses. She made us laugh and at times made us tear up but most of all she reminded us of our purpose-that the everyday things we do at work have a purpose. "It's a thankless job"- I've heard other nurses say, but its not. Even though our patients might not remember our specific names-they remember the care that was given to them during their lowest point of their health & that is thanks enough.

And Thank You Florence Nightingale for paving the way for us...Thank You

Happy New Year 2011

The past 2 weeks I've been on vacay mode and so glad for it. I was able to enjoy the Holidays with family-especially my kids & Ryan with no stress of having to go to work. Yeay!

So what did I do on the first day of the year...made Creme Brulee! Yup I surely did but it was from a box.  

( I've been thinking about the Creme Brulee from Bellagio and well I just had to try. )

all mixed up and ready to wait the 1 hour suggested time for the "skin" to form

Ready to be put in the oven for caramelizing the sugar

Looks burnt but still smelled good.

It came out a bit more mushy than what I remember from Bellagio Buffet. I think its because of the ramikin being too deep, only got cooled off in room temperature and maybe just maybe I used the wrong cup to measure the whipping cream in and might have added a little more than what's asked for. I put the second container in the fridge and see what it comes out to be later tonight.

 Happy New Year!

7 years ago...

I wore the white dress & stood next to my love to promise to God and
all our families and friends ... Through thick and thin, for richer or
poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad, through
dirty diapers and sleepless nights ... What a beautiful wonderful
adventure it continues to be.

Sent from my iPhone

Christmas 2010 part 1

The month of December started off with Christmas already in our minds.
The four of us jumped on a plane to Washington DC to celebrate with my
Maranan family. From Thursday to Sunday it was nonstop eating &
laughter. Surprisingly Celeste did well with her first airplane trip
to anywhere.
I started off my 2 week vacation with a 3 day party marathon. Friday
was party with my 4000 Angels @ Santha's house. Fun times with them as
always. We work hard together & apparently we also party hard.
Saturday we partied like Rockstars celebrating Russell's 6th birthday
with handpicked friends from school. He then had his best friend
Collin sleep over. Sunday was the Annual Baked Goods Exchange with my
Nestie Girls. Good times, good food & great laughs. Came home with 15
different yummy treats plus my Holiday Ornament Exchange from Syl (my
Santa) with Hello Kitty gifts galore!! Jackpot!!
Sunday afternoon inspite of the pouring rain Ryan & I headed off to
Las Vegas sans kids until Tuesday. Vdara was our welcoming home for
those days. Christmas Eve was celebrated at Belmar joined by the Lee
Family. Xbox Kinect Dance Game was the "it" game of the night. Finally
got Celeste's kitchen & Russell's big boy bike. The look on their
faces...worth going to Toys R Us in those unreal hours of the night.
As the kids were spreading out the reindeer food, they looked up the
clear sky and saw something red flying across the sky...must have been
Rudolph's nose.
Off to bed ... off to bed ...

Sent from my iPhone

Post Thanksgiving 2010

After coming down from my high from celebrating and putting together Celeste's 3rd birthday bash, I checked my holiday schedule at work and saw that I was off for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. I was ecstatic! I've been checking out these blogs with printable decorations that barely cost anything and at times free! I was so excited to have the chance to use them for Thanksgiving Dinner.
As the holiday got closer and I checked my schedule again just to make sure...and sure enough it was changed...I was now scheduled to work Thanksgiving day...yes bummed as I was, I still wasn't about to give up in making at least something fun for the kids.
I went around town in search of the ingredients for the Oreo Turkey that I've been eyeing online. I managed to get everything from one store except the ever most important part of the whole thing...CANDY CORN!!! Its going to be the feather's of the turkey...and no where to be found in my town of Torrance...heck I even ventured out to Rolling Hills and still...NADA! Surrounded by what seemed like all the candies in the world...I wrecked my brain trying to figure out what would be a good replacement. I grabbed what I thought was the second best choice.
I showed sister-in-law Aileen the picture and she was in charge of having the kids make it. I came home early from work and found these little beauties...my niece Belle made them...And Celeste ate 2.

the cutest Oreo Turkeys!!

Thanksgiving 2010

This past year there has been many ups and downs, good and bad and I am thankful for each of them because there is a purpose for both.
Many times I forget why I am stuck behind a slow driver while I am running behind schedule.
Or why the person in the one and only working stall in the ladies bathroom is taking so long while my bladder continues to be full.
There is a reason although I am not fully aware of it yet...I just have to believe that there is one.
God is all around us...watching us,guiding us, reminding us.
This Thanksgiving although I am going to be spending most of it working I AM THANKFUL that I have a job to complain about, a family to wash clothes for and a warm roof over our heads. And when I come home after a long day of feeding, cleaning and caring for other people's family members...I am thankful that there will be two sets of little arms waiting for me to wrap them around my neck.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2010 TO YOU AND YOURS!!

11.20.2010 PhotoBooth @Sanrio Small Gift L.A., Santa Monica, California