Celebrate the Season

It is the end of the year and with it, come all of the thoughts about what has happened in 2010 and what I expect to happen in 2011. Thinking back, there are a few things that have changed over the last few years. Some of which I regret, some of which I am still learning about. Hey, all is fair in love and war, right? ha!

I am happy though that I have made and kept some of the most amazing friendships this year. And on that note, my eyes have also opened to how others can be. I thought that in my last few jobs I had met the silliest people, but I guess, there are many yet to be met and dealt with.

2011, BRING IT ON!!!

Living MY Teenage Dream!!

Katy Perry did not know how much this would be true to me today. I just feel excited and unbelievably happy. Who would have known I would be meeting and hanging out with some of those people I had up on my walls.

Going to eat with my MRB girls this past Thursday just added a big "PLUS SIGN" to my already placed little star. I almost cried, but laughed the whole time. It is just amazing how real everything has become. And a bit wicked, all at the same time...

Perfect

Did you think that I was perfect?
Did you ever have faith in me?
Do you question all the answers?
What little there's left to believe.
Don't you know that you are perfect, just like me.
--Danny Wood

When I Grow Up I Wanna Have Boobies

Everyone says they have their own twin double right?

Well, I become extremely flattered when people tell me I look like Nicole Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls awesome dancer, great singer!!

A page from Britney's book

Notice me, take my hand
Why are we strangers when
Our love is strong
Why carry on without me

I make believe that you are here
It's the only way I see clear
What have I done
You seem to move on easy

I may have made it rain
Please forgive me
My weakness caused you pain
And this song's my sorry

At night I pray
That soon your face will fade away

And everytime I try to fly, I fall
Without my wings, I feel so small
I guess I need you, baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, you're hauntinig me
I guess I need you, baby.

But I do love you

It is another day.
But it just doesn't feel the same.
I wanna laugh. I wanna smile.
But my heart doesn't hide the hurt.
I want to say I'm here for you.
But how can I when I am not there for myself.

Mushy stone

So what do you do when you have lost touch with reality?
When you really don't know where you belong?
When you think you have lost the essence of who you are?
When you no longer recognize those around you?

Its not that I've changed, it is that in the process of learning and living, I've realized who is ready to commit and who is not. This does not necessarily mean I am actually learning from what I have come to realize; nor from what I've lived. Maybe the slap in across my face is not moving fast enough.

Things I used to hate and despise in others, I am beginning to find in myself...in who I am. Some people I love, others I just love to hate.

Are those qualities that I despise, the same as those I despise in myself?

I am letting those people get to me and I shouldn't. I am stronger than they are...I am who I am.

But its not true, I pretend to be tough, but if you knew me, if you really knew me, you'd know I'm mush. That I melt in your hand. That you can do as you please and for that, I am still angry at.
I let you in, and the layers keep peeling. You keep asking and I keep letting you in. You keep pushing but I never tell you no.

Well, guess what, it is my turn. I will tell you no. I will tell you that you are being unfair. I will tell you how I feel, because if you don't give a shit...then I shouldn't give a shit either. It is because I am tired of caring more about you than you care about me.

Fight Breast Cancer!!! #FightBreastCancer

Did you know that every 69 seconds, a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world? #fightbreastcancer at http://69-seconds.org.

Today is not about raising funds. It’s about raising virtual voices around the world to take action in 69 seconds or less. Visit http://69-seconds.org, post #fightbreastcancer to Facebook and Twitter or blog about it before midnight and help turn the virtual world pink.

How do you promise to #fightbreastcancer?

Breast cancer DOES NOT care, that is why we have to.

Spread the word.

FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!

October 16, 2010 will mark my second year in my efforts to fundraise and support the Miami Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I want to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

I am dedicating my efforts to my mom, Ana Maria, who is a breast cancer survivor. With no history of breast cancer in my family, we were in shock as she was diagnosed at a younger age than most women are. My mother, a strong-willed woman, never let us see her cry or suffer as she struggled through surgeries and numerous treatments. Her strength and courage is what made our family see it through.

The team I am running with has come together in memory of Betty Wood. Betty lost her battle with breast cancer 11 years ago. Betty is Danny Wood's mother, a member of NKOTB and a dedicated Susan G. Komen supporter who has been fighting breast cancer for several years. Let Betty's passing and that of many others, not be in vain.

Our goal is to fight against breast cancer, to remember the lives loved and lost, and to honor those survivors that continue to give us hope. They remind us as always to "Hang Tough!"

I hope you can help me reach my fundraising goal. You can donate online securely by clicking my Komen page: http://miamiftl.info-komen.org/goto/andieremembersbetty

Jem is truly truly outrageous!

In one of my visits to Miami, while I still lived in Peru, I managed to find and totally love JEM!!!!

Kid Sister! Kid Sister!!!

Gosh, she may be the only one I have, but thank GOD I have her!

My very own KID SISTER!

I love driving her nuts, but hey, if you can only take yourself seriously...

that's what I'm here for, for -ish and giggles!

And below, a dedication to my Lil' D.

Big Changes Come FAST!!! Are you ready?

Wow...A phone call can change your life. I should know this, but on August 2010, it was for all the right reasons.  Less than two weeks ago, I received a phone call that answered my prayers from March. Better late than never I say, but I was offered an internship in my county! I was AM excited! This was on a Thursday night, but on Friday I walked in to work and had to break the news. Literary break them, I had to give them short notice.

I had to take it, my post grad program does not guarantee you an internship. If I did not take this opportunity, then I would have to wait until the following year to re-apply. GOD was listening, it was last minute, but it was done.

Watch out world...I will soon be official!

I Love Miami Spice

Every year I make a point of going to at least one restaurant sponsored by Miami Spice. Through the years I have not been very successful. I am hoping that my dear hubby will get inspired and want to try something new. Who can say no to quality restaurants and affordable dining for 2 months at the best Miami eateries!!

My pics to try: Gotham, DeVito, Michy's, Mercadito, Hakkasahn, and Mia.

Three cheers for another year of less hoping and more eating!

I Can See Through You

I’m on the outside
I’m looking in.
I can see through you,
See your true colors.
Cause inside you’re ugly,
You’re ugly like me.
I can see through you,
See to the real you.

            Outside by Staind

Don’t ever think you are better than me.
Don’t ever think you can step all over me.
I am that girl with the big heart.
I may appear naïve, but I can see who you really are.

Sure, I try hard with you.
But I try hard with everything I do.
You are not the only one I care for.
You are not the only one I adore.

Did I tell you I see right through you?
You are not perfect. You are just like me.
I can really see you. Why don't you just come down with me?

Free Hugs

Just when you think life's got you down and you are hanging by a thread...

...just remember that I will always be here for you to give you a big hug so you don't fret.

Hugs are free, give them away!!

"Photog" for a night...

It has been a few years now since I purchased my little dear Cannon SLR. Wherever Andie's traveling pants go, I usually annoy the shit out of my husband and whoever is with me and my SLR.
Friday was the day that I was actually asked to be the person behind the camera for the entire night. Although the photos were not necessarily creative, it was a "job" I was willing to do. All night long I told different peeps to "pose for me" and I did my job doing the "Click, Click, Click"!!
Amateur photog looking for experience...right here! Thanks to The Penny Back Boyz and Score!

That Fat Cat

Whether he is sleeping, eating, scratching, or rolling on the floor, my dearest orange tabby is the cutest cat I know. His name, Nibiki. Why? You have to ask my brother. Apparently it was the name of a Japanese cartoon character.

Nibiki may resemble Garfield, but he is more like a dog. You see, he fetches his toys and brings them back to you. He rolls over his back so you can scratch his belly. And if you pet and scratch his ears, he may nibble (or bite) your hand. In the mornings, he won't let you sleep because he wants food. Whenever he does something "bad" he will run as fast as he can away from you and hide underneath the bed. This is no cat my friends, this is my dog.

He is now 11 years old, but like his owners, age ain't nothing but a number! Well, that's if you don't really count the fact that he spends his days sleeping like big ol' baby in his kitty couch.

Memories to last a lifetime...hard drive, EPIC FAIL!

I never thought it would be me. I mean, why would it happen to me? I'm smart and so is my husband. We may not be computer nerds, but we are savvy with techs and gadgets. Just remember, it could happen to you too!
Hubby and I decided it was time to get to know a Mac computer, so we purchased the MacBook Pro and with it some bells and whistles. Once home, he opened iTunes to updated our iPhones; I reminded him to plug the external hard drive into the computer since that's where all the songs are stored.
Oh boy, what happenned next it was complete and epic fail! The computer asked him if he wanted to convert it into the "Time Machine." Unknowingly he pressed "yes" or "continue" or "do it"...whatever! The point of the matter is...my little 500 GB hard drive with all of my songs and pictures was reprogrammed to Apple and in the process, erased all of my files. Yes...you read it right, erased ALL OF MY PICTURES!
The last two years of my life, gone! The time I spent editing all of my photos from my travels to Italy and D.C., gone!
I am a picture person, but I have come to the conclusion that a picture is just your visual memory, but in reality, we carry the best memories in our hearts. Treasure yours moments and make them into memories.
Lesson #2, have a back up for your back up...you never know when you will need it!!!

Ceviche for the soul

I may not love sea food, but Ceviche..oh yum! A dish from the coasts of Peru that is super delish! In Lima, we make it with raw corvina (I still don't know if it is sea bass or flounder), onions, garlic, and it is marinated in lime juice. We also add a little bit of "canchita" or roasted corn, baked sweet potato, and of course a bit of aji or chili. The Miami version? well, my father makes it with tilapia.
Either way, the taste of it so crisp and so tart just takes over and I'm transported to summer and my visits to Peru. Going to the beach, taking in some sun, hanging out with friends and family. It just never gets old.

To be 30

It is difficult to predict where life will take you. Just 10 years ago, I had it all planned out. Get my masters, get married, have 2 kids, all before age 30. Wow! Was I wrong.
Today marks 30 years and 6 months of my existence in this little world we call Earth. I cannot even think of the different twists and turns life has taken me!
To sum up the last 10 years, I have met and worked with a bunch of nutty individuals that have made me realize, there are crazier people out there than me. I have also met some of the most caring and most beautiful souls in this world in the process. Midway through my teens, I got engaged and after 2 years, I finally set a wedding date and married my high school sweetheart. Like I said earlier, it's hard to predict your partner for life, but yeah, we are still married! And 6 years later, I am almost done with my Specialist Degree, its taking so freaking long, I might as well just get my Ph.D.!
The last two years have been the best but at the same time not as pleasant in some areas in my life. The changes brought on by my tween idols is what made that pot get shaken up and stirred more than I thought. Above all, I've made some great friendships through it all!
I thank God for my adventures and the people I have met. I also want to thank you, because if you would not have walked into my life, I would not be who I am today. I truly believe that the experiences in your life is what makes you who you are today.
All in all...I celebrated my 30th year with a bang!

According To You...

“According to you I’m stupid, I’m useless, I can’t do anything right…but according to him I’m beautiful, incredible, everything he ever wanted.”  -Orianthi

Don’t you love it when the soundtrack of your life decides to play on the radio? Bad times or good times, whichever the case, there is something about the lyrics of the song that grabs you and takes you to that place.

Surprisingly, sometimes even followed by “a sign.” I don’t know. It was for me, at least that day. It may be coincidence, but it happened to me. Sign and all.