Oreo cookie and cupcake fun! 5/17

For wheelie and baby's shower we made a cupcake cake/cupcake tower, and we also had cakepops. Thanks for the inspiration Pinterest! ;)

Nichole, Wheelie and I, spend an afternoon, making cake pops, and then I went home, and baked the BIG cupcake, and all of the cupcakes for the event!  ;)

Getting our started.... 

we had sprinkles, candy melts, sticks, oreo's and cream cheese....

I think we're set!  ;)

Our final products! you can find the recipe for our oreo cookie pops here

.....and then I went home and baked some more.....

red velvet BIG cupcake, red velvet cupcakes, and chocolate cupcakes

YUMMMM!!!  :)

I LOVE baking it really does relax me....  and it's even better and more fun when done with friends!  ;)

Time for more baseball!!!!! 5/16

My "reminder" text came early this time... ;) It was a dang good thing to....  because I had almost forgotten.... It was time for Peter Bourgeous Giveaway Wednesday!! 

I got off work, hurried home, baked some cookies, and then I was on my way to the stadium...  READY for some baseball!!!  ;)

I heard it was "cool" in the OC, and well since it was hot at my house.... I decided to take a picture.....  good thing too, because no one would of believed me when I told them it was 16 degrees cooler in Anaheim and just 45 minutes before it had been 91 degrees at home!

Our seats were upgraded this time.... so we got to sit right below "club level"  :D

Here's to another fun evening at the baseball game!!  ;)

A fun day with the sister!! 5/10

Gaby and I got together for a little quality time and mother's day shopping....  We stopped at BJ's for appetizers and drinks!!  ;) 

Smiling in front of the fountain!!

.....and take 2....  ;)

Here's to a great afternoon, eating and shopping with Gaby!!  :)

Thanks for playin'........

.....BUT we don't NEED YOU ANYMORE!!!

Those words have been playing in my head for the last week.... It was exactly a week ago today that I got the news.... I was being laid off of my job.... AFTER 13 YEARS, the company decided that they "didn't need me anymore," I had been "DROPPED" from the "team I played for, for 13 years.... 2 more weeks and it would of been 14.... UGH.....

Back up to the tuesday before, I got a txt from a friend, all he said was, layoffs, coming we'll know more tomorrow.... WAIT WHAT???

Wednesday, we learned it would be around 2500 people... 10 - 12 people per store, We knew he most likely wouldn't make it, he barely squeaked by the last layoff.... Then I/we did the math, I had a different feeling this time, like I wouldn't make it... We talked about it, discussed what we thought our options would be, we decided what we would do, he assured me that I might/should be ok, you have 13 years he said, I went with his optimism... ;) I came home and told my parents, I sent out a txt to the sister, and the cousin. They all said that I should "trust God and his will," I knew they were right..... I went to the baseball game that night with another friend, I talked it out with him, we discussed my options and what I thought I would do, he also assured me that I would/should be ok... ugh... so hard... I really did feel differently this time....

Thursday we met again for Linner and discussed it again, I said, "I would let it be whatever it would be, "everything happens for a reason" has ALWAYS been my motto... he corrected me and said ALMOST everything... ummmm... ok! ;) Then I met the girls for girls night... I discussed/shared it with the besties, they asked what I would do? I told them what I thought I would do.... I still wasn't sure if it even concerned me... I basically told them and we moved on... I had left it up to God and I was sure it would be what it would be!!!

Friday.... we didn't hear anything, but Ruben and I still talked about it, we thought we had about 2 weeks... Then the call came.... They called him into the office first... he came back and reported that he was being laid off.... he said, it's A LOT OF US, BIG PLAYERS, OH YEAH! YOUR NAME IS ON THE LIST TOO! then it was my turn, Maria to the office... "here goes nothing," ;) and I was off... I went, I was ready, I sat, My store director who I have worked for the WHOLE time, I've been with the company gave me the news... he told me he was sorry, went over my options, I gave him my decision, he said he was sorry again, then he said next week will be your last week... I got up, left the office, and through teary eyes managed a mass txt to the family, and a few select friends, "IT'S OFFICIAL NEXT FRIDAY IS MY LAST DAY!" that's all I could muster... I didn't even reply to the responses, I was trying to make sense of it all in my head....

THIS IS BY FAR THE EASIEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE... I FELT AT PEACE EVEN BEFORE I KNEW MY NAME WAS ON THE LIST.... it's really a blessing in disguise for me...
I had taken the layoff....

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

If I had a dollar for everytime someone asked me that this week, I would have enough for that new camera lens I've looking at! ;)

SUCKERPUNCHED, that is the BEST way I know how to describe it.... I can count on one hand the amount of times I called in sick in 13ish years, ONE HAND... I can honestly say that I gave that job my absolute all EVERY SINGLE DAY!! I worked my ass off from the minute I clocked in until the minute I clocked out... Up until today... My VERY last day! I can pretty much tell anyone where EVEYTHING is at the store... For 13 years I worked holidays and weekends, and came in when they called, worked whatever department they needed me to. I definitely gave it my all... and in turn my store director took care of me, I can honestly say that working for Bruce was a GREAT experience.... I worked hard, and I was definitely rewarded with great hours... and with the chance to run my very own dept. It's not his fault, I know that,l I also know that for the last few years the company has been in trouble, and finally "business" took over!! At least I had the pleasure of working with a great boss... because he really was GREAT to me!! :)

I'm not mad.... I'm mostly hurt... It makes me sad that some upper manager along the way, made some VERY BAD decisions... and now 2500 people have to pay for that!
WHAT'S YOUR PLAN???
again a million dollar question... I have no plan, this came WAAAAYYY too quick, I had a vacation planned starting on saturday, so I will go to work today,and make the best of it, it's my last day, first on the agenda?? file for unemployment, then, pack. and on saturday I will board a plane to SF to meet baby Romeo, and visit with my cousins, then I will spend the weekend in Napa with some friends... Friends I made while working for Albertsons... :) I will come home and figure something out... it may include taking a little time off... and maybe going back to school, or maybe putting one of those degrees I already have to good use!! I'm not not sure... what I am sure of is that the possibilities are "ENDLESS...." Spending quality time with the kiddos, the family, the friends sounds good too! ;) Maybe this is a good time to start my marathon training... that's around the corner too! ;) I am looking forward to the summer, and weekends off, and holidays off, at least for a little while.... ;)
WHAT I WILL MISS THE MOST!
The friends I have made in all the years I have been there.... A few GREAT friendships came out of that place....
I was zlulcky to have met some really great people in the last 14 years, and for that I am grateful everyday! :)
co-workers, there are a few I have worked with from day 1... I will miss them the most! they know all about me, and I know all about them, we're like family!
I will miss driving to work for early shifts and watching the sunrise.
The people, the regular customers that came in, on the same day every single week...
The "breaking down the load" conversations....
My BBF, I think I will miss him the most... how could I not, I worked side by side with the guy for 6 years I think, maybe more... He was my sounding board for everything, we discussed everything from people we were "dating" to friends we had in common, to food, sports, news, anything and everything.... I will miss my monday morning "weekend wind down..." haha... and who's going to eat the second half of my lunch everyday? ;) Here's to a GREAT friendship that came out of all of this... I can't wait to see where we both end up... we both got the swift kick in the ass we needed, and now we get to move on.... I can't wait to see what the next chapter will bring us.....
WHAT I WILL TAKE WITH ME AFTER 13 ALMOST 14 YEARS!
great friends
great experience
Great lessons learned from different managers that crossed my path
knowledge,
a great feeling that I PLAYED MY BEST GAME AS OF YET.... I followed the rules, I was loyal, I worked hard, and I got as far to the top as I wanted/chose to get to,
and now it's time for me to go and find something else to play just as hard at, to excel just as well at,
It was definitely NOT on my terms, but I'm sure this is God's way of "helping" me make my decision.... The BIG A was never my career plan, the hours and pay kept me there for as long as I stayed... I was comfortable and I HATE change.... I'm going to be ok... that part I know... the first few weeks are going to be hard... I'll have to stay busy.... I hope that's not too hard... Not setting an alarm for work is going to be hard, my bank account will miss the paycheck..... Yesterday, was horrible and I'm not sure how today will be... But I will be fine as soon as I get over the feeling of resentment/sadness/and being suckerpunched... and with that I will close this chapter of my life... one that lasted a WHOLE almost 14 years... and I will be openly ready to embrace whatever "changes," God has in store for me!! ;)

I don't believe in Horoscopes, I do believe in finding something in writing that sometimes fits right into what may be going on in your life at the time though.... the other day someone shared this with me.... It was PERFECT!!! :)
"Deal with Life's actual events instead of stressing about the scenarios that might happen. All you can do is handle today's work and trust in the spirit of goodness that guides your tomorrow's!"
Here's to new experiences, and welcoming change!!! :D

Opening Day!! :D 4/6

Angel's home opener was a great friday night date night! ;) The ambiance at opening day is seriously AMAZING!!  I had never been and I am so excited that I got to experience it...  :) 

They had an awesome flyover before the game!  This picture does NOT do the size of that jet justice!

The BIGGEST American Flag I've ever seen!!  :)

....and it was firework night....  :)  This day couldn't of gotten any better...  ;)  baseball, fireworks, and beer, sounds like a good friday night to me!  :)

Go Angels!!  :)

Here's to a wonderful night, with GREAT company....  Thank you Don for the invitation, and for a wonderful evening!  :)

...and to finish the night off, a spooky full moon over by the Big A!!  :)

Angel's were in first place in their division after this game...  too bad that didn't last too long!!  ;)

Oreo cookie, cookie pops! 5/14

My friend Jessica Wheelie, had a craving for oreo cookie, cookie/cake pops.... so we reaserched a bit, bought our ingredients and went to work! :) They weren't as hard as I thought they would be, and they actually turned out to be pretty tasty!!  ;)  I had some leftover peppermint candy melts from Christmas, so we mixed that with some red ones and came up with delicious peppermint oreo cookie pops....  YUMMM!!! 

what "they" said you'll need.....

1 box of oreo cookies

1 package of cream cheese, room temp

sticks

candy melts

What WE used...

26 oz. of oreo cookies

1 package of cream cheese, room temp

sticks

candy melts, 1.5 bags

in a food processor crush the oreo cookies, a little at a time,

in a large bowl mix the cookies and the cream cheese together

then start making/shapping the mixture into balls,

we then melted a little of the chocolate and dipped the sticks into it, then we placed the sticks into the balls, after all the balls are "stuck" we put them in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes...  then we were ready to dip!  ;) 

Good Luck Everyone!  And I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!!  :)

....and while we were busy rolling, forming and dipping we got to enjoy this beautiful sky!!  :)

The last week!

The last week in pictures and in no particular order... :)

I'm going to be completely honest here and say that the last week has been a REALLY rough one...  I don't know why...  I've been sad for really notI know it doesn't make sense to me either... hing at all, and for everything,  all at the same time!   I've been tired, REALLY tired, and forgetful, and that "I must be invisible" feeling came back again....  ugh... 

I feel like I have seriously been holding back tears ALL week...  ugh...  what a horrible feeling...  finally yesterday I just couldn't anymore...  I was at work with tears seriously running down my face ALL day...  It can only get better right??  Geeezzzz I hope so, because this gloomy business sucks!!  ;)

I saw this the other day and TOTALLY LOVED it...  I think I need to have it, it speaks the truth, better than I could ever say it!  ;)

.....and then I saw this too...  I think so many people have the wrong definition of success...  and I love how it is defined here!  :)

....and my mom made us the best cocido EVER...  It was a perfect dinner to be followed by a fun-filled family evening!!  :)  the only sad part about this is that this may of been the last cocido until next winter!!  ;)

....and I woke up monday morning to this...  I'm in first place in my fantasy baseball league...  what do you know..  the only girl in the league is beating all of the boys!!  ;)  I know it may not last...  BUT I have to work it for all it's worth!!  ;)

Everyone swears by retail therapy, I tried it, it did nothing for me...  I think I'll stick to patry therapy instead!  ;)

I met Jaime and the boys at the park one day after work...  It was exactly what I needed that day...  good conversation with a good friend and endless hugs from the boys!!  oh how I LOVE them!!  :)

on their way to meet up with me, Brody picked me a flower...  a sunflower he told me!!  :)  thank you Brody you made Mia's day!!  :)

For Easter I had meant to make all the kids baskets...  I got as far as getting them coloring books, They've been rolling around in my truck for over a month..  I went ahead and gave them theirs...  and then they were on their way home...  I LOVe that picture of Jakey boy..  he was ready to walk with his coloring book in one hand and his milk in the other!!  ;)

Then I met my sister for dinner...  Steak sounded delicious to me!!  We ended up meeting at the roadhouse...  and it was yuuuuuummmmmmmyyyy!!  :)

Here's to the end of a blah week, in which I was thankful to still be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family!!  :)  I hope everyone has a terrific next week!!  :)  I'm on a countdown for a weekend adventure!!  :0 

Angels vs. A's

I'm not sure exacrly how long we've been going to Angel's/A's games....  But I'm pretty sure it's been over 10 years!  :)  This is part of the reason I look forward to baseball season every year...  It's a time of the year when I know I will see Isaac for sure.....  and Tracy and Aunt Sheila, and Uncle Steve too!  :)  Isaac and I have been friends since our first semester in the dorms...  And since they now live hours and hours and hours away...  ok...  maybe it's not that far, but at least we know the stadium is sort of halfway, and it's always a fun place to meet up, catch up, watch the game and just hang out!  :)  Thank you Tracy for humoring us, and at least pretending to enjoy yourself!!  ;)

I guess traffic was ugly for them on the way down, naturally they were late, so I entertained myself by taking pictures and editing them!  ;)  One day we will see the National Anthem from the inside!!  ;)

All I could think of all day was how badly I wanted a beer, A stella was all I could think about.... I ran into a blue moon first though...  and let me tell you it was delightful and completely worth the $12.50...  :)  There's something about a beer and peanuts at a baseball game!!  ;)

enjoying our field seats...  oh how they LOVE their field seats!  ;)

LOVE these guys...  even though one is an A's fan by default!  ;)

These pictures crack me up!!  They're the result of me asking Isaac to take a picture of me and Tracy!!  haha!! 

Me and Tracy

Here's to another fun evening at the Baseball game...  My team didn't do so good, BUT Sheila and Isaac finally got to see their team win LIVE in who knows how many years!!  :)  WHOOHOO for them!  :)

Friday night fireworks, Angels game, take two! 5/13

...and Angel's Baseball take two for the week!!  :)

I LOVE a good ol' baseball game...  I think we all know that...  ;)  and I LOVE fireworks, and I LOVE GREAT company!  :)  Here's to another fun-filled friday night with Don, Richard and Kelly!!  :)  Good way to spend friday the 13th!

....and we beat the Orioles...  WHOOHOO!!!  :)

2012, A year of FIRSTS!!

I really feel like 2012 will be a year filled with NEW FIRSTS!  So I decided that I will keep "updating" this one blog, with one picture from whatever "first" I/we have done, of course there will be a full blog documenting the experience after....  ;) 

We'll start the year with Lulu's first trip to D-land!  :)  She was leery at first, but waaaay into it, towards the end!  ;)

...and at sushi night with the family I tried Sweet shrimp for the first time!  ;)  mmmmm....  sweet shrimp, YES they were raw, and wet, and yes that was the head on the side!!  :)  and YES I LOVED them!  ;)

A Mud Run! my very first one!  This one isn't until sometime in June, and believe it or not I am SUPER excited for it...  ;)

...and my VERY first Etsy Purchase....  I LOVED it, everyone is/was right, etsy is amazing....  and if everything is as cute as this, I'm definitely on board!!  :)

I got my very FIRST FLORAL ARRENGEMENT DELIVERY at work!  and they were BEAUTIFUL!  Thanks guys...  you truly made my day!  ;)

.....and I made a leap into "the other side," by joining the rest of the world, well most of the rest of the world...  I finally broke down and got an iPhone!  ;)

...And I got to attend my VERY FIRST Baseball OPENING GAME!  We had so much fun, too...  Luckily the company was GREAT!!  ;)

My first visti to the Huntington Library!  This place was AMAZING!!  :)  I can't wait to go back!