50 Shades of Grey Trilogy

I know, I know, this is the book that everyone is talking about.  I had the chance to jump on the band wagon early when I read it in March when it was only available on ebook.  I only heard of the book because as a Barnes and Noble member they send  emails about new books and this trilogy looked interesting.  I admit I did enjoy the books and I learned a few new things, and it definitely is a conversation starter.  The books are poorly written but the content is what keeps the reader hooked.  I admit I read a lot of romance novels, and have even referred to them as "porn" but this trilogy goes way beyond anything that I have ever read.  I even described it as 10 times more pornographic that any of the other romance novels I have read.  It's a definite must read for 2012, but prepared to be shocked!

Baby Gomez

It seems like only yesterday that baby PJ was coming home for the first time, and I remember waiting with Teresa, Jackie, Joey , Jenny & George at Talman for the newest addition to the family.  How in the world do I remember stuff like this?  I swear I have the memory of an elephant! (Supposedly they have great memories!)  Anyways, in a few weeks my cousin will be welcoming his son into the world.

This is only the second time I did pregnancy shots, and I'm lucky that I had some easy going subjects.  I hope they love these pictures as much as I do!  Thanks Lennie & PJ for letting me capture these precious moments!

  

Isn't  the mommy to be just gorgeous!!!! 

Grayson Wolfe Gomez 

Baby Mac!

When I started this journey of taking pictures in manual mode, I never thought I would be adding pregnancy pictures to my imaginary portfolio.  It just so happens that many of my friends and family are expecting this year. So, I thought, "Why not?".
Baby Mac was my first try.  Thanks to V & M for giving me the chance to do this.  I had a lot of fun.  V looks great and I wish I looked that good when I was pregnant many years ago.  Thanks to M for letting me use his Nikon D5100, since my baby (D90) was out for repairs.  It was a great camera and I enjoyed using it.

Birthday Recap

My birthday wasn't until after Labor Day, but the celebrations started that day.  I went out to Aodake with my parents & my brother & of course my kids, who are glued to me on my days off.  This is Ryu's favorite place to eat!  Kira was scared of the guy cooking, so my mom had to put her hand over her face, just so she could sit & eat her food :).  We love this place & it was great to spend time with my family.  Birthdays still mean a lot to me & I'm glad that my family is all here to celebrate with me!

After lunch, we all went to my house so I can open up my present from my mom, a brand new high tech sewing machine!!! It's the coolest thing ever, all these buttons to help make sewing so much easier.  I was able to make a duvet for Kira's bed & have loads more of other projects to tackle.  Weekends are going to be my craft days & boy do I have plenty to do!!!

Don, the kids & I were planning to get the most out of our season passes to Great America, & we were going to call the kids out of school to have a last family fun day.  After I had everything packed & ready to go, I was ready to go to bed & enjoy my YA book, when I just had this feeling to check the website to see what the hours where.  Thanks goodness I did bc the park was f*ing closed!!! Argh!  I was so excited to go & now what do we do???

Well we....Don, suggested we go bike riding on a bike trail near our house.  We just got a bike trailer for the kids & he was excited to try it out.  So we did.   I had fun surprisingly, I enjoyed watching my babies enjoy themselves.  Then we hit up, Steak & Shake, for happy hour, (1/2 priced milkshakes....YUM!!!).

Then, Don bought my birthday gift....YAY!!!

We went home for a bit to freshen up before dinner.  Don suggested that we try this all you can eat sushi buffet.  I was a little skeptical, but when he looked up the menu online, I couldn't resist!  I thought the sushi was laying out there, but it is actually made to order & you must finish what you order or you get charged extra.

It was so yummy!!! Not worth the price of what we ate, ( I should have skipped all meals that day to get the full benefit), but it was so good.  If I had more time I would have had another plate of what you see above!!!  One thing you should know about me, I love DUMPLINGS!!! Korean, Chinese, or Japanese dumplings, I love them all & I could've had like 6 orders of the dumplings & that would have been worth every single penny.  At least the option was there to get more, but we were just way too full!!!

I had a great birthday & I still need to post some pics from out bike ride.  Thank you mom & dad for the awesome sewing machine & Tita Luz, my brother for my early gift (courtesy of  Nordstrom anniversary sale) these awesome Sorel boots, & my husband for my Pandora charm & photography class!  Also to all my well wishers on FB!  Thanks!

Weekend Recap

I have so much more to add to this but here is part of it for now!

My close friends dad had his surprise 59 1/2 birthday party on Saturday. (more pics to follow)  He was totally surprised!  1) it wasn't his actually birthday, 2) his out of town friends were here & he thought he was bringing them to a wedding!!!  The look on his face when everyone yelled out surprise was absolutely priceless!!!  He was pointing to his wife & saying "You did this?!?!  I was totally clueless!!!"  It was great!!!  I was glad to be there & hang out with my old partner in crime, M (we had some crazy clubbing days!! i.e. chugging down frozen mudslides in the middle of winter before we got our dance on!  Hey...we were college students & drinks were hella expensive in the city) , her big sis, N, who's preggo with #2 & her daughter, L, who I cant get enough of!!! I was alone for a change & glad I didn't have my babies to chase after.  I had so much fun hanging out with them & their hubbies!

Before all this fun started, my morning was busy taking Kira to her first dance class.  I was a little worried because I told her that we were going to ballet, she said "No, its too boring".  Apparently, everything is boring to her these days.  But then she saw her outfit & shoes....then she was ready to go!!! She did great & made some new friends, too.

 Today we went to T's Bday party.  The kids had a blast.  I'm glad they had some fun this weekend since I was out partying the night before.  But I did have to chase them around the park & prevent Kira from going home with anyone who had a dog.  I think at one point she even took over a little boys sand castle making & took his sand pail away.  Then a few minutes later Ryu comes & joins in on the other kids sand construction, kicking the other boy out of his inital project!!!  I was too embarrassed to claim my kids, but eventually the other boy went home & took his sand pail with!!!

I have done a lot this weekend that I haven't taken enough pics to show you.  I started back up with my scrap booking & working on my christamas decorations for the house.  (yes, christmas decorations.  It will probably take me awhile to finish, so I might as well start now!)

I will have more fun stuff to post later, after all it is my birthday weekend, & the celebrations start tomorrow!

Nine Lives of Chloe King-The Book

So, it tool me a lot longer than expected to read these 3 books but I finally did it.  That cliffhanger on the show really left me hanging so I just had to read the book.

It was wonderful!!!  I already think that the show is pretty great but the book was different enough that I love both versions.  I like how they only kept the similarities to the basics, like who she is & what not, but I love how they made Brian in the book.  So much more drama in the book!!!  So for all you Chloe King fans out there, pick up the book & give it a try.  Trust me it will satisfy that curiosity from that summer finale!

Weekend Recap

A friend of mine, who got it from a blog that she follows, posted on her blog "Insta Fridays", basically she was posting her mobile photos & recapping her week.  I thought I would do the same.  Yeah, I know I am a total follower!  I admit I am not very creative but I look like it because of my friends & family & of course whatever I find on Pintrest!

Anyways here's a recap of my weekend.

Meet Cesar, my brother's new puppy! He's basically had him for a week, & since he had to go to a wedding this weekend, I was more than happy to babysit him.  Little did we know that hurricane Irene was on its way, & instead of watching him for 2 nights it turned out to 4 nights.  No biggie, nothing I can't handle, until I wanna go out with the kids & my husband who works nights can't sleep cuz the Cesar is barking up a storm.  I will miss him when he finally goes home tomorrow.  He was so much fun to cuddle with!

Here is my Kira.  What can I say about these pics?  If you don't already know she is my little hoarder!  She loves to carry these little toys with her & I finally told her she needed a bag to carry all these little toys in.  Of course I get her a little bag but she has her mind made up that she needs this enormous bag!  She also can't leave the house without her ginormous pillow.  Yes, she did go into the store with it, as many mothers out their know, there are just some battles not worth fighting!

Last week, Ryu had his belt test.  I was so nervous all week, cuz they said if you don't hear from them by Wed night, than your child has passed.  I swear it was like nursing school all over again, waiting for the results.  I do not miss those feelings at all!  I thought I would be done with the worrisome waiting, but now that has just transferred unto my kids.  Arghhh!  I will never get rid of that crap!  Anyways on a brighter note, he did pass!!! ( I always knew he would do well, but if you see how he does his front roll, you would have doubts, too)  He said good-bye to his white belt & now he is a white +( white belt with a black stripe, they also call it half black belt). Since he is only 6, that's the belt he advances to, instead of the yellow belt.  If he was 7, he would've gotten the yellow belt, but with his age they go through striped belts.  Very proud of you, Ryu Kai!

Ever since my SIL introduced me to Pintrest I have been so hooked.  In one of the things my friend pinned, (a old picture frame, with scrapbook paper & hot glued a metal clip, so you can easily interchange pictures), I thought it was a great idea for the wall that Ryu's bed is against.  I am so tired of looking at the plain white wall, (since he has no headboard), & he can also put his favorite artwork up, too.  So that was my project this weekend.

I seem to be doing a project each weekend, which is awesome since I have been so inspired lately ( AKA taking other people's ideas from Pintrest ;) )  I need to post my DIY camera bag!  My dad, (yes, my dad) taught me how to use the ancient sewing machine, & I made my own padding for a camera bag that I can interchange with my other bags.  (Guess where I got the idea from???)  Anyways, after putting the ancient machine through my torture, it finally said good bye. ;(  So my parents, are getting me a new sewing machine for my birthday!!! YAY!

Thanks to terratalking.com, for all your inspiration lately, especially for the Insta Fridays!
TTYL!