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

Trip #3 to Santa Monica Airport

Yes yes...#3. It wasn't planned at all, I swear...well at least not consciously.

The day was suppose to be spent by me in a bus headed to Vegas with some Kaiser friends but that didn't pan out. I was feeling a bit bummed since I wanted to do some shopping for me.

Instead decided to take the kids to visit Mom who just happened to have a Dentist appointment near my place. In an attempt to spend more time with her I asked if she wanted to go to Hello Kitty Carnival and she said "sure" while the two kids in the back of me said "YEAY!"

Since I felt a bit unsure how the traffic would be on a Saturday afternoon in the 405, I chose to drive from Torrance to Santa Monica via side streets. This was the perfect time for the kids to snooze a naptime and mom too apparently.

As I turned into the now familiar street I noticed that the parking for the event is a lot closer to the park vs the actual place...tons of people were walking. I asked the parking attendant if I could try to find a place closer because of the 2 kids and a senior with me (sorry just a little white lie). He let us pass through and lucky for us we found the best spot...just across the entrance.

Yes I was excited...mainly because I didn't think I would find myself there again..and on a weekend. Not even the sureness of a huge crowd deterred me from going at least just one more time. This time dragging the two kids and my mom....hehehehe.

First thing we did as we were walking towards the entrance was to take a picture with 

the Hello Kitty-rized Smart car (yes I would totally drive that around proudly)

Just look at Rj's excited face...

Then just as we were finishing up taking a second shot I heard a familiar voice say "Look there's Ate Mahal." followed by a "Hey what are you doing here?" As I turned around to see who it was I saw my cousins April, Ron and Carlo. And I let out my excited scream (the one I've been holding in, yea that one). I remember April messaging me via FB re: admission price for the event and of course I share the info. That's probably how the event got into my"unconscious brain" that morning...yea thats it...

  (hey look April and Mae)

As we got closer I could feel my excitement and anticipation rising as I heard the beat of music coming from inside...and it was like going there for the first time again!!! 

the "kids" couldn't wait to get in there...

The people...they were everywhere, and the music...WOW!! Felt like I was entering a club and was fighting the urge to dance since I was holding two little hands. Mommy mode kicked in and our first trip was the potty room.

Not sure if I've mentioned before in the the previous posts but the porta potties were the the "swanky" kind. Yes I took a picture of it...(from trip#1)

 And no, the pot was not made of gold, but what a cool idea!

On our way to the potty, we came across Yogurtland where they were giving away bags and got a couple of those...perfect for each kid to place their winnings later. 

Those things were gone in like 60 seconds because they were free :)

Second stop was here....

 To get 40 tickets (20 for each kid) now the real smile of Rj shows

did I mention the crowd? Woow! 

The two longest lines were the entrance to go in the Small Gift Pop Up Shop and Face Painting. Good thing none of us were interested in either. I wanted to go into the shop but not a good idea with the two small kids in tow. They would not have lasted the 1 hour wait in line for either one.

So instead I took them to the Mascot Scoop game.

then the Mini Golf 

where they both had so much fun

 to the Carnival type games 

(where everyone gets some sort of prize)

Dough toss

Spin and Win (Celeste got 1st prize)

Rj got 3rd

like the game from Price is Right

Thought about this, but couldn't justify to myself the price

if you got one in red you got to get the pink one too

Celeste's face is classic

Then I spied this

which led to this...

Rj as Badtz Maru

and of course Celeste choose Hello Kitty

 And what character do you think I was? 

You will have to wait a bit longer to see it...a little suspense isn't bad.

And now the Eats  (if you know me then you know I follow food)

Part of the fun (for me at least) in going here is finding out what food truck would be there. I found out that Buttermilk will be here from 1130-130p (probably another reason why I'm here)

But when we arrived at 230pm this is all that I saw...

so close but no cigar...

Alas my sadness was short lived because 4 more food trucks arrived with the promise of other yummy treats to try out...hooray! 

What caught my eye were...

and the winner: Bacon Grilled Cheese & Beef Sliders from Vizzi truck. The popcorn was...interesting

One last picture before leaving