Here's What's Been Happening. . .

I'm sorry I've been so M.I.A from my blog lately. I've been busy and haven't been super inspired to post anything.

I went to Phoenix over the weekend and had an absolutely amazing time! I attended a very good friend's baby shower, a song-titled themed party and several fun lunches and dinner with old friends.

Here's a little taste of what's been happening since my post last week:









Last Monday my sister invited me to go to Disneyland with her and some of our family. Despite it being super hot, we had a really good time. I definitely love Disneyland and need to go again soon. We even got on about 6 different rides! My nephew Lucas loved it and enjoyed meeting a few characters. I loved getting a picture with Minnie!

Thoughts on Moving...

Last night I had an interesting conversation with my sister about the pros and cons of moving. She moved yesterday and of course has mixed feelings about it. Take a look at her sweet and thoughtful post yesterday about the big move. It certainly got me teary eyed.

Sure, there are so many wonderful things about moving to a new place but you certainly can't ignore all the memories left behind at the old residence. Sappy as this may sound, it can be very hard to leave that behind.

Places have such strong emotional attachments for me. As I looked around her house and took one last look at it before I left her house last night, I felt like I was saying goodbye to those memories as well. One very big event took place in that house; my sister's beautiful and intimate wedding was in August 2007. It was the last time my sister saw my parents alive and it was the last time we were altogether. I guess it was the last time I saw my parents happy. They were so happy that day. I'll never forget the dance party we had in the living room after most guests had gone home for the night. I've always felt comfortable and happy being in that living room. I am sure this memory is the reason why. Thankfully, we took plenty of pictures that night.

I dread the day that my sister and I finally sell our parents Summer home in Arizona. Talk about memories! Whew! Ok, enough about that....

When I moved here from Phoenix almost a year ago I was more excited than anything. Not only was I ready for a change of scenery but also a change of life. I was incredibly sad to leave all my wonderful friends in Phoenix but was excited for a whole new batch of LA friends. Living alone was fun but I was looking forward to having two roommates to spend time with. I was definitely over Arizona in general. I had lived there for 6 years and was dying to get out of that hot desert.

A lot of really great things have happened to me all because I moved to Los Angeles. Here are a few things that come to mind:

• I started running. I really don't think that I would have if I had stayed in AZ. I also ran my first event here in LA, the Disneyland Half-Marathon.
  
• I made two new best friends-my wonderful roomies! Ladies, I love ya!
  
• I have traveled a ton thanks to my roommate Gina and her project, Pin-Ups For Vets.
• I've been nannying/babysitting for a few adorable kids that I adore!
• I've spent a ton more time with my family here in So Cal.
• I have been able to meet up with several middle and high school friends here.
• I've reconnected with two high school friends that live here in LA as well.
  
• I've gone to several very cool concerts and a couple Broadway shows.
  
• There have been some neat celeb sightings here.
• I've had a lot of delicious dinners.
• Spending time at the wonderful beach.
• I truly believe that I've become a better driver since moving here.
• I started this blog about my life here! My blogoversary is coming up next month! Yay!
  
• A fancy/awesome job in the music industry-currently working on this one! : )
  
• Being an audience member on Oprah's Favorite Things Episode..Hello?! Need I say more?!
  

Looking Back on AZ

So this past weekend, as I was driving back into the Phoenix city limits, I couldn't help but feel pretty happy that my life was no longer there. Phoenix is a very large fast growing city made up of freeways, lots of cactus, sandy dunes and many cookie cutter housing developments. Of course it has a lot more to offer. The sunsets for one thing are amazing and I do miss them a lot. Yet the desert landscape is just not for me anymore. Perhaps after I'm married, I'll move back to AZ to raise a family but I highly doubt that I'll ever want to leave California. Tucson, Arizona will always have a special place in my heart since that is where my family and I would spend our summer vacations and that is where I went to college.

My biggest qualm with Phoenix right now is that the ridiculously hot days of summer vastly outnumber the pleasant ones. I was only back in Phoenix for about 48 hours but I was hit very hard with the excruciating heat. At one point it was 117 degrees!!! That's just not right! I think they should just close down the city in the summer and everyone is forced to leave for cooler states!

All that being sad, I certainly can say that I totally enjoyed my time living there and my visits back are always enjoyable. My residency in Phoenix was short and sweet and I made some incredible friends whom I am grateful for. They all need to come visit me in much cooler Cali soon! Anyway, this past trip was my first time being there that I really didn't feel like I was home. I guess that means that I am finally feeling comfortable in LA. Finally!

I'm Back.. Sort Of...

I know that I haven't blogged in a few days but I've been traveling and just haven't had the time to sit and think. I don't really have the time right now either but I wanted you all to know that I'm still here and always thinking of things to write about. I have several ideas right now but I'm headed to a concert soon so I can't blog now. Here are just a few of my favorite pictures from this past week and weekend to keep you entertained.

Go Phoenix Suns!

I've always been a big fan of watching sports, my favorite being basketball. I really enjoy supporting my teams, through the wins and the losses. I'm usually pretty good at finding a team to 'adopt' wherever I live. When I moved to Phoenix, I immediately started watching the Phoenix Suns games with all my friends there. Yet now that I live in LA, I can't betray my team. I can't go over to the Lakers side.

Tonight, the highly anticipated Western Conference playoff games began between the Los Angles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. Of course I had to go out and watch the game so I met a friend in Santa Monica at a chic sports bar to watch it. He is a huge Lakers fan so I was all alone representing the Suns. Sadly, the Suns lost tonight but there are 6 more games in the Playoffs so there is plenty of time for a comeback!

Who knows, maybe after living here a few years, I'll support the Lakers but I really doubt that..haha Until that day, I'll go on cheering for the Suns, the Celtics and of course all my college sports.

All You Need is Love

This past weekend, I ventured back to Phoenix for a friend's wedding. Actually, her wedding was about an hour west of Phoenix in the glorious city of Buckeye. That would be sarcasm there... Let's just say that what Buckeye lacks in population and culture, my friend Rocio's wedding made up for.

The wedding was beautiful and I found myself quite teary eyed throughout the ceremony. They wrote their own vows and they were incredibly touching and sweet. The groom, Dane, kept winking at Rocio which I thought was the cutest thing ever! I also really liked that right before the pastor started the actual wedding ceremony, he said a few words about Dane's dad who has died and then asked for a moment of silence to honor him.

I'm still not sure I want a wedding now that my parents can't be there.. but there was something about the way they handled the groom's father's absence at this wedding that I really appreciated. It was discreetly addressed and then the pastor moved on to the fun stuff. I don't know though.. the idea of not having my mom and dad at my wedding literally makes me feel sick to my stomach. I know that my sister will give me away and do all the things that my parents would have done at my wedding but it's just not the same and I just cannot imagine getting through a big day like this without them. That's why, I think a fun, destination wedding might be better. I would want to grab a few close friends and head to Mexico or even Vegas... I don't know..Luckily (?!) , I don't even a boyfriend currently so I really do not need to worry about it yet.

Anyway, back to this wedding.. The reception was a lot of fun-plenty of dancing, champagne toasts, reunion with friends, good food and yummy candy. Yes, there was a candy bar-complete with Snickers, Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, lollipops, Starburts and much more. Check out the picture below.

Rocio and Dane's first dance as husband and wife was the Beatles classic, "All you need is love". I loved it and was slightly jealous that I hadn't thought of having that be my first song to dance to as well. It was cool that everyone formed a circle around them and began singing along to the song and swaying back and forth. For that moment, we all seemed to really believe in the song.

And just because I love the song so much, here are the beautiful lyrics to "All You Need is Love":

Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It's easy.

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.
It's easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love (All together, now!)
All you need is love. (Everybody!)
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need (love is all you need).

Yee-hai!
Oh yeah!
She loves you, yeah yeah yeah.

She loves you, yeah yeah yeah.

Home Sweet Home

Before I begin blogging about my fun weekend in Phoenix, I wanted to share with you that today for the first time since moving here, I finally felt at home. As I was driving back into the LA city limits this afternoon, I couldn't help but feel relieved and happy to be back....home. Phoenix is certainly no longer my home and I felt overwhelming like a visitor there this weekend. I've been waiting for this feeling to arrive so I am really glad that it came after being back in Phoenix for a few days. Stay tuned for posts about my trip!

My Day in SD

Well, I'm back in San Diego now with the family on my way to Phoenix for a friend's wedding. Today was pretty busy and we did a little bit of everything.

Tonya and I got to spend some time just the two of us in the morning and early afternoon. We ran a couple errands, saw the new "Alice in Wonderland" movie, had a yummy lunch, picked up some new running shoes for me and dropped something off at my brother in-law's. Then we picked up Lucas for a visit to the Easter Bunny at a nearby mall. That was really fun and he was totally comfortable sitting on the bunny's lap! He was in such a good mood after that, that we decided to do a little shopping in the mall. Then we totally had an impromptu photo shoot in the couch section of JC Penny's! It was awesome and the pictures turned out great! I mean, just look at that photo above! Could my nephew be any cuter? I think not!

Stay tuned for updates on my weekend back in Phoenix!

Bachelorettes!

Well, I got back from my barely 24 hours in Phoenix this evening and I must say that I am absolutely exhausted. After a crazy busy weekend, I am now babysitting tonight.

I'm just glad I don't have weekends like this all the time because I would surely never make it. For only being there about 24 hours, it was very eventful and I managed to find time to hang out with most of my favorite people still living in Phoenix. After the Bachelorette party on Saturday, I met a few other friends for lunch this afternoon so it was certainly time well spent. While I do miss my friends in Phoenix very much, I am still happy I moved to LA.

The Bachelorette party was a blast! It was my first one aside from my sister's and I definitely hope it won't be my last. The scandalous pole dancing class was certainly one of the highlights of the day. It was so much fun and something that I've always wanted to do. I couldn't believe how much of a work out it was and how much we all were sweating throughout the class. I am really sore today from using those muscles that I don't usually use. After this class, we headed back to the maid of honor's house for a quick bite to eat and to get ready for a night out in Scottsdale. We were taken by an awesome stretch limo to a karaoke bar. There's really no group of girls that can enjoy themselves as much as this group can at a karaoke bar. People kept walking by our private room and commenting on how awesome we sounded! We were even harmonizing and everything! I loved that we all wanted to sing the same good ole faithful songs from Britney Spears to Celine Dion to Whitney Houston. We ended the night by going to a few nearby bars.

It was a fabulous night and I am so glad that I was able to be a part of it.

"The man of her dreams has swept her heart away and soon it will be their wedding day so I have a suggestion, if I may... One last weekend full of play!!"

Back to the Valley of the Sun

Tomorrow morning I'm headed to Phoenix for a friend's bachelorette party. She is getting married next month. Her maid of honor, Bailie, is one of my good friends and kept me in the loop since I moved. She has really organized quite a fun-filled day. We are meeting at her home at 2ish tomorrow and then heading to a pole dancing class!! I cannot wait for that! I'm a little nervous but I think it will be a lot of fun. Then, we are going back to the maid of honor's house for a catered lunch and then we are hitting up a karaoke bar! I love karaoke! We are even going to be in our own private room. After a few hours of singing, we will go to a couple nearby bars for some dancing with the bride to be! All in all, it will be a great girly night and I cannot wait for it!

I haven't been back to Phoenix since early January when I was on my way to Jamaica so I am really excited. The weather will be amazing (not unlike LA right now) and I cannot wait to see my friends there. Despite it being a super short trip, I've made plans to have lunch with most of my friends on Sunday so it will be a jam packed weekend.