Baby Ryan: 1st Birthday Today!

My baby is 1 today.

One.

A whole year ago I gave birth to him. I still can remember it. Vividly.

He survived his first year. I survived the year. And yet when I look back, it went by way too fast. Like I was just holding him for the first time, and *blink* there he is walking around the house and blowing kisses.

They weren't lying when they all told me to cherish every moment... not to say that I haven't, but it does flash before your eyes.

Literally. I just watched a slide show of Ryan's pictures: March 30, 2011 to March 30, 2012.

Now he's a toddler, but he will always be my Baby Peanut.

My lovebug.

My Ry-Ry.

Dear Ryan,

If for ever reason when you're older and you look back on these posts, always know that you were the best thing to happen to me. Maybe the most stressful at times, but I would NEVER trade any part of it for anything in the world. You are my everything and I am blessed to be your Mom.

I wish I could keep you this small but lets have another great year, and many more to come.

With Love Forever,

Your Mommy

Happy 1st Birthday to Ryan!

Hey Everyone!

It's Ryan's 1st BIRTHDAY TODAY!

We think that's pretty awesome!

He made it a whole year! Now on to the next!

#43 DZP: Make Sushi

#43 DZP: Make Sushi!

{& we sure did!}

I went to the Japanese market and bought all the necessities for making rolls!

I only got salmon & tuna for the fish... I couldn't find real crab so we had fake crab haha!

It's fun making sushi, a little difficult to us beginners, but fun nonetheless!

Shoe {Love}: Toms Part Deuce

Ok. I know Toms shoes/apparel/accessories have been out for a while.

And yes. I know I just bought my first pair at the end of January.

And yes. My second pair came to me at the beginning of March.

I'm happy to say, after all this time, I finally understand what Toms is all about. It's turned into real love.

I'm not so happy to say that my wallet is gonna hate this.

*sigh*

I've been looking on the website, and on Nordstrom's too, and there are so many to choose from it makes it hard to shop, either for myself or someone else. Just lately I was out buying Alex's birthday gift, and if you knew her, you'd know she's got it bad for Toms.

So I bought these pretties for her...

Natural Natalia Linen Ballet Flats

... and had to buy these necessities for me.

Black Canvas Women's Classics

Now, I'm back online and looking through and making a *wishlist and these cuties are on it!

Chocolate Canvas Women's Gabriel Lacktman Spiral Classics

Blue Canvas Women's Classics

Pink Women's Glitters

*I have no reason for a wishlist. My birthday isn't till June. But it's nice to wish!

Tuesday Taste Buds: {Homemade} Twix Bars

{Homemade} Twix Bars

Or Thousand Dollar Bars as King Arthur calls them. Either name they still look delicious!

{Recipe summary}

Hands-on time: 20 mins. to 30 mins.

Baking time: 35 mins. to 45 mins.

Total time: 2 hrs 5 mins. to 2 hrs 25 mins.

Yield: One 9" x 13" x 2" pan

Shortbread layer

·         cup (2 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature

·         1 cup confectioners' sugar

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·         2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Caramel layer

·         2 cups caramel, cut into small chunks

·         3 tablespoons heavy cream

Chocolate layer

·         3 cups chopped milk chocolate or dark chocolate, melted

·         1 tablespoon vegetable shortening (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1)      FOR THE CRUST: Preheat your oven to 300°F. Spray a 9" x 13" pan lightly with cooking spray, or line with parchment, and set aside.

2)     In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add the flour. At first the mixture may seem dry, but will come together as you continue to beat at medium speed.

3)     Take the dough (it will be somewhat stiff) and press it evenly into the pan. Lightly flouring your fingertips will help with any sticking.

4)     Prick the crust all over with a fork. The holes will allow steam to escape and the crust will bake evenly with fewer bubbles.

5)     Bake the crust until it's lightly golden brown on top and the edges are deeper golden brown, about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately run a knife around the edges to loosen the crust. Set it aside to cool completely.

6)     FOR THE CARAMEL LAYER: Melt the caramel and cream over low heat in a small saucepan. Pour the caramel over the cooled crust and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill and firm up.

7)     FOR THE CHOCOLATE LAYER: Melt the milk or dark chocolate slowly in a double boiler or over very low heat. If it seems very thick, add a tablespoon of shortening to thin it. Pour evenly over the chilled caramel layer and spread to cover all of the caramel. Return to the fridge until the chocolate is well set. Cut into 2" x 2" squares to serve. It's best to store these bars in the refrigerator.

8)    These bars can also be cut and dipped in milk chocolate to resemble Twix bars. After the caramel layer has chilled firm, cut down the length of the pan, splitting the bars into two long, narrow bars. Then cut each long strip into "fingers". Dip the chilled bars into melted chocolate and place on parchment paper to set for several hours.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

{Love}

This Little Happa

Thirsty Thursday: Green Leprechaun Smoothie

Now I know most of us do NOT drink something that is green, especially a smoothie. Some of us do take wheat grass shots, or drink spinach out of their juicer... but that's not me.

I caught this recipe from Pinterest (where else right!) and it actually sounds good.... hence why I'm sharing!

Green Leprechaun
Thank you Alkaline Sisters!
Yield: 1 serving approx 10 oz

1 green apple
1/2 pink grapefruit
1/3 bunch fresh spinach
3/4 large English cucumber or one small
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger
1 stalk celery

Method: Run all ingredients through juicer, stir, test for flavor, enjoy. Garnish and make look pretty!

Tuesday Taste Buds - Margarita Cupcakes

¡Salud!

A while ago, I found this recipe and seeing how I just came back from Mexico (and not to mention that I also drank my fair share of margaritas there) I felt that these cupcakes were perfect to make!

It's simple and doesn't take that long to make. Just prep, throw in the oven, drink your share of a margaritas in your favorite margarita glass, take a shot of tequila, and take out cupcakes to cool.

For the icing: not complicated either! Whip them together, take another shot, pucker up lips for sour lime juice, and lick frosting off the spatula!

But here's the recipe adapted from Homemade By Holman

Cupcakes:
1 box white cake mix
7 1/2 ounces margarita mix
2 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce orange juice
3 large egg whites
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Zest of 1 lime

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 24 muffin tins with paper liners or spray with baking spray. Mix together margarita mix, tequila and orange juice in a large measuring cup. Add cake mix to mixing bowl and add egg whites, oil, lime zest and tequila mix. Beat on low speed for about 30 seconds until dry ingredients are incorporated and then beat on medium high speed for 2 minutes. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups, filling about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center cupcake comes out clean. Cool about 5 minutes in the pan and then cool completely on wire racks.

Icing:
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2-3 tbsp lime juice
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp lime zest
3-4 drops green food coloring

Beat cream cheese and butter on medium high speed until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add 2 tbsp lime juice and lime zest and beat until combined. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed until incorporated. Add more lime juice if necessary. Add food coloring a couple drops at a time and beat on medium high speed until desired color is reached and icing is smooth. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes as desired.

Lime wedges, straws, and sprinkles all make festive garnishes. Refrigerate cupcakes in an airtight container if not serving immediately and bring to room temperature a couple hours prior to serving.

2/5 Done on #88 DZP!

Ryan's Weekend Recap: Spaghetti Friday night & Saturday Swings

Friday Night

My Auntie Alex and Mommy had a great idea to have a spaghetti night this last Friday night.

So they made spaghetti, veggies, and white rice

(yes, rice: thanks to the special request/birthday gift to my Uncle David)

Needless to say, I got it everywhere but it was all super yummy!!!

Saturday

Daddy had to work so it was Mommy and me alllllllllllll day!

We played with blocks, she made me sopita, and when Bachan (my grandma) came over we walked to the park! And you know what they have there? SWINGS! Yeah buddy!

Bachan and Me swinging

I walked on sand... new experience

My first time down the (mini) slide!

Nail {Love} - St Patty's Nails

I wish I had the time, the energy, and the nails to paint/color/decorate my nails every DAY! Most who know me also know I have a ton of nail polish. Not enough to paint my nails a different color everyday, but maybe paint each color 2 or 3 times in a year, if I painted them everyday.

I probably got that from my Auntie Debbie. She had beautiful nails and painted them (mostly reds) all the time, whenever she had down time at work... which was usually when she was staying late. She had those "tough as nails" nails. I wish I was like her, and in some ways I know I am.
But needless to say, I love nails. I love the smell of nail polish. Polish remover. The feel of filing. The designs at the nail salon. Scratching my head with my nails... just my head now, nothing else.
My actual nails are short, brittle and don't grow worth a sh*t. Urgh. They did a good job while I was pregnant with Ryan, but after that... meh. So I go to a nail shop to have fake ones put on. I've been going to a nail salon ever since I was about 16, maybe 17. It was for the Prom (of course) and my Mom let me get acrylic "pink and white" nails. Now a days, I'll get regular ones, just because I love the colors and I have several to choose from.... choosing from my own collection.

Now seeing how it's St. Patrick's Day (almost) I went with these cuties! It was compulsive but I love them nonetheless.

Pin It

On the iPod Today: Tighten Up by The Black Keys

I'm loving this song right now and can't get enough of it. And the video is super cute too with true love all around! Enjoy and Happy Friday!

I wanted love, I needed love,
Most of all, most of all
Someone said true love was dead
And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall
For you
Oh, what can I do?
Yeah

Take my badge but my heart remains
Lovin' you, baby child
Tighten up on your reins
You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild
It's true

Sick for days,
So many ways
I'm achin' now,
'M achin' now
It's times like these I need relief
Please show me how,
Oh show me how
To get right,
Yes outta sight

When I was young and moving fast
Nothing slowed me down,
Oh slowed me down
Now I let the others pass
I've come around,
Oh come around
'Cause I've found

Living just to keep going
Going just to be sane
All the while live knowing
Such a shame

I don't need to get steady
I know just how I feel
Telling you to be ready
My dear

Word of the Day 3/9/2012

Winsome (adjective)

1: generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence

2: cheerful, lighthearted

Examples: Darryl's winsome nature made him well-liked in the office, and his cubicle was a popular destination for co-workers looking for a conversation partner.

"Faina, a winsome blonde child with a fox for a friend, emerges from the woods to bewitch them both." — From a book review by Lydia Kiesling in Slate, January 31, 2012

Did You Know?: "Winsome" began as "wynsum" a thousand years ago. It was formed from "wynn," the Old English word for "joy" or "pleasure," and the suffix "-sum," an older form of the "-some" we see today in many adjectives, such as "awesome," "irksome," and "lonesome." "Wynn" later became "win," meaning "pleasure," but we haven't used that noun since the 17th century. We do, however, use another word that has a "pleasing" connection and is related, albeit distantly, to "winsome." "Winning" ("tending to please or delight," as in "a winning smile" or "winning ways"), the present participle of the familiar verb "win," is from Old English "winnan," meaning "to struggle." Both "winnan" and "wynn" are thought to be related to Latin "venus," which means, among other things, "charm."

Merriam-Webster Online Word of the Day

The {Cure}

Pin It

agreed.

thank you isak dinesen.

zRyan's Sunday Pool Day!

Sunday Funday with the Kiddie Pool!

Now I never was a fan of the water when I was younger. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate my baths, and I don't mind getting water on my face, but I was ready to be washed and taken out of the tub.

Oh how I've changed my mind. Bath time is my favorite!

And this last Sunday, the weather was hot and sunny... Mommy said "perfect for a pool day!" So we walked over to Grandma and Grandpa's to borrow the kiddie pool. Mommy filled it up with some water and even though she said it was too cold for me, I walked over and stepped right in!

I splished and splashed and loved every minute of it!

And once I was done, I stepped out on my own and walked around in the grass. I didn't like grass before, but it feels great on the bottom of my feet now that I can walk!

Word of the Day 3/5/2012

Felicitate (verb)

1: to consider happy or fortunate

2: to offer congratulations to

 

Examples: The other swimmers politely felicitated the winner of the race.

"The rising music stars, all of whom are first-prize winners of the All India Radio Competition 2011, will be felicitated in the morning inaugural session."—From an article in Screen, January 13, 2012

Did You Know?: "Felix," a Latin adjective meaning "happy" or "fruitful," is the root of our English words "felicity" and "felicitate." The former is the older of the two; it dates back to the 14th century and refers to the state of being happy or to something that makes people happy. When writing King Lear, William Shakespeare was probably pleased when he thought of the word "felicitate" as an adjective meaning "made happy," but not everyone took a shine to it and it fell into disuse. However, people were happy to pick up "felicitate" as a verb meaning "to make happy." That meaning is now considered archaic but it was the seed for other meanings of the word. "Felicitate" eventually grew to mean "to consider happy or fortunate" and "to congratulate."

#92 DZP: Go Snorkeling

#92 DZP: Go Snorkeling

Another shore excursion I booked during our vacation down in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The BF and I snorkeled at Santa Maria Bay where there were plenty of topical fish. So I took my handy waterproof camera and snapped away... until it died on me HA!
Some photos I took of our trip...

#28 DZP: Go Horseback Riding

#28 DZP: Go Horseback Riding

Yes I finally completed this goal: in Cabo San Lucas....

ON THE FREAKIN' BEACH!

While on vacation with the family, one of the shore excursions through the cruise line was to go horseback riding on the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. So I jumped on this opportunity and the BF and I went early in the morning. It sold out on the first day, so we had the early morning on the 2nd day.

It was beautiful out there, and even though the horse only walked/trot and never ran, it was still beautiful. We also spotted a heard of whales breaching out of the water!

#63 DZP: Go on a Cruise

#63DZP: Go on a Cruise

For my Grandmother's 85th Birthday, my Mother took the family on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera.

We cruised on the Sapphire Princess out of San Pedro, CA and stopped at Puerto Vallerta and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Heading towards the sunset leaving Puerto Vallerta

Day at Sea: the pools in the back of the boat

Awesome that we were on the "Dolphin" deck