Wish List Wednesday! BonVoyage!

Wish List Wednesday has turned into something entirely different than what I had planned it to be. But that's ok. Because I like it. And I hope you do too.
Dresses and shoes and jewelry will no doubt pop up on my Wish List Wednesday from time to time. But so will dreams, and memories and wishes for bettering my life.
Today is one of those days.

Last Monday my parents left on a week long cruise. My brother, sister and I had given the trip to them as a gift for Christmas. A gift that we hoped would give them some time to spend alone together and reconnect.
Life kind of takes over sometimes. There's no time. To spend time. To remember why we do things in the first place. Why we go to work everyday, why we decorate for holidays, why there is a Santa Clause. It's because of FAMILY. Without it, what do we have? Not much.

My boys and I drove my parents to Long Beach early the Monday morning of their cruise. I really was jealous that I wasn't the one taking off on that beautiful boat!

But off they went! The two of them. And when they were gone from sight my boys and I gathered to say a prayer. To wish them well and for a safe return.

A couple days later my mom called from the ship. And when I heard the sound of her voice I knew in an instant! She was HAPPY. There were not much words exchanged. It was a very quick call. But when she hung up I was so HAPPY too. More happy than they could ever know. That they were together on that boat. Having fun TOGETHER. Making memories TOGETHER.

When I told my brother that my mom had called his first question was "How did she sound?". My answer? "Happy".

So today on Wish List Wednesday my wish is for a zillion cruises! A zillion trips to send them on! A zillion days that they can be free from stress and worry and all the things that this crazy life can bring. A zillion trips to make memories on. A zillion days to be HAPPY.

♥ Elena


"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing" ~ Unknown

The Big 4

I'm driving myself crazy. No, I mean really! Literally insane! The party planning has begun for Dominic's 4th birthday!

I've always, always had a passion for planning parties. Baptisms, baby showers, bridal showers, you name it, I've done it. But not until I entered the world of REAL event planning via Tina Molina Events could I truly grasp the vast selection of options when it comes to throwing parties. No longer am I able to go down to Party City and buy the plastic tablecloths and matching plates.  Tablecloths are now called "linens". No longer, is the typical Baskin Robbins ice cream birthday cake like the one my parents used to buy for us, sufficient enough for a 4 year old's taste buds. Not when I have seen the work of artists in the wedding world who use fondant to create characters from the Wizard of Oz. Things now are "different". They must be. Because I'm crazy.

As I reveal more and more details to my husband about my plans for Dominic's coming of age, I'm met with more and more looks that are really meant to say: "I really love you because your my wife, but this is getting out of hand". And yet he lets me. Because as much as planning parties is fun and well, what I DO, it's something else.

He's turning 4. And then 5. And then 10. And then 15. And then pretty soon, mom's party planning ideas are silly and not cool. I'm hanging on, for dear life! Because sooner rather than later they will go to parties that won't be planned by me. And so I plan to create as many memories as I can RIGHT NOW. Even if they are crazy, or overboard or time consuming. Because crazy and overboard when it comes to parties equals smiles and laughter for my photo album.

And anyway, overboard is my middle name isn't it?

Here's a sneak peak of one of my DIY (do it yourself) projects for Dominic's birthday.
It will be a Luau so get your grass skirts and coconut bra's ready!

♥ Elena

"A smile happens in a flash, but its memory lasts a lifetime" ~ unknown

Your MUA Elena

I'm happy to be able to post the first of my MUA entries on my blog. And of course, who other than Ms. Emalou would have the pleasure of being Numero Uno?
This past Saturday my sister Emalou woke me up bright and early for a makeup job!
Her shoot was at The Planes of Fame Airshow in Chino.
Here's one of my favorite shots!

Photo by Tim Hunter


Enjoy!

♥ Elena

"We are sisters. We will always be sisters. Our differences may never go away but neither, for me, will our song" ~ Elizabeth Fishel

Wish List Wednesday!

For the past 2 weeks Wish List Wednesday has been a little difficult for me. I mean, how boring would my blog be if I posted about wishing for fabulous dresses every week? Make no mistake though! I do have a couple cute little numbers on my "Need this so very badly" list. But I've been thinking about different ideas for my Wish List. Waiting for something to happen during my mediocre day that will put a spark in my brain! And today it happened. It may be a little different of a wish, but its STILL a wish. And it started with Andrew. MY Andrew ♥.

 He came home from school and as I started to ask him about his day he sat down next me at the table. And then he said "Mom, if you could go back and relive any day you wanted to, what day would it be?"
I know he's my son because I've already thought of this question many, many times in my head and so I was prepared with an answer: "I would love to go back and relive 3 days, not just 1. And I would relive the day that each of my boys was born".
Now I know that sounds like a corny, typical, mom answer but its SO true! If I could go back and relive a day, just for the sheer joy and blessedness that it brought, it would be the days that my children were born. Those were honestly the best days of my life. It saddens and scares me that I may never feel that way again.

It occurred to me though, that if given the opportunity, some people might wish to go back and relive a day not to enjoy it again, but to change it. A horrible mistake was made, something was said that you wish you could take back, you missed a chance at something that will never come around again.  I have those days too. Days I wish I could relive so that I could do them over for the better. But, then I think and I have to remember, good or bad, each day got me to exactly where I am today. And for that I'm grateful.

So today, on this Wish List Wednesday my wish is to go back. To relive those 3 amazing days! To take them in, to feel those feelings, to smell that sweet new-baby-smell again, to capture a little piece of the day that I didn't see before................

What day would you wish to relive?

♥ Elena


"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending" - Maria Robinson

Thanks to HIM

This blog post is dedicated to MY mom. The woman who taught me how to be a good mother.

I'm sure most of you know that a couple months ago my family and I took some family portraits. Every couple of years myself, my husband and our boys along with my brother and sister get together and take some pictures for my mom and dad. We usually give them as a gift for Mother's Day which most of the time also falls on my dad's birthday ♥. Two birds with one stone right?
This year instead of the typical Sears portraits I decided to book an actual "photo shoot" to get some different kinds of pictures. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted our photographer to be Nataly Lemus.

I have worked with Nataly before being that she is an outstanding wedding photographer. Not only did I know her work was awesome but I knew that my family and I would be comfortable with Nataly and her husband Art. I was right. Our shoot was amazing.

 A couple of weeks later Nataly blogged about our family photo session and when I read the words she wrote about our family I was so touched and honored. But something specific she wrote got me thinking.
And if you know me, you know that sometimes I need to take things in. I'm not quick-witted. I'm not fast with comebacks. I take in words and actions and I think long and hard about them. It's just me. I'm super sentimental.
So when I read Nataly's words:

"I have always told Art that if I had to choose between having all girls or all boys, I would choose all girls. This session totally changed my mind! Seeing the way the boys interact and love their parents made me say "I would not mind having all boys, at all." If you know me then you know that is a huge statement because I always talk about wanting girls when I have children".

I was taken aback. Surprised and grateful that my little family could have an impact like that.

Like I said in my previous post I'm a girly-girl. A glitter and sparkles kinda girl. A hate-camping, love-to-dress-up, cross-your-legs-like-a-lady kinda girl. So of course I always imagined the day that I would have a little girl of my own. A little "me". To dress up in cute frilly outfits. To put ribbons and bows on every strand of hair imaginable. I had the nursery all planned out in my head, pink crystal chandelier and all.

When it came time for my ultrasound during my 3rd pregnancy I just knew it was gonna be a girl. Third X's the charm right? Plus, I had taken every online quiz imaginable! Even the Chinese calendar said I would be having a girl! This time my pregnancy was "different". It had to be a girl!

And then the ultrasound wand scaled over my tummy and found that little "something" between my baby's legs. It was a boy. ANOTHER one. It was Dominic.

Over the years I've realized that having all boys has opened up my eyes to things I never saw before. I never knew the wonders of looking at spiders and bugs through magnifying glasses. I never thought about how trains, or planes or boats worked. I never knew how to understand all the plays in a football game. I never knew what it felt like to be the number one lady in the eyes of a little boy.
And then, just like that, it hit me. This was God's plan all along.

HE gave me my boys. HE wanted me to see the world through different eyes. HE wanted to open me up to new experiences. HE wanted to bring out a whole different side of me and give me a whole different view on life. And HE did. And I'm SO grateful. For MY boys. That I was given this grand opportunity to be THEIR mother.
So yes, I have 3 boys. And no, I'm not gonna "try" for that girl. Life is just the way it should be. Thanks to HIM.

Happy Mother's Day!

♥ Elena

"I'd rather be a mother than anyone on earth
Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth
I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed
than twine a chain of diamonds about my carefree head
I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes
Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise" - Meredith Gray

Wish List Wednesday!

I'm going to be honest. My mind was blank on what to post for today's Wish List Wednesday. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't have a lot of things to wish for but I wanted THIS Wednesday to be different. Why? I dunno, because Mother's Day is coming up and well, I'm just in one of those sentimental moods. I wanted my wish for this Wish List to be meaningful. To not be about material things. And as I was moseying around my house today doing the normal everyday stuff, I happened to turn on the news and saw this:




And I knew that SOMEONE had sent me the answer to my meaningful post.

To say I was moved by the story of Jessica and her mission with Project Blanket is an understatement.
I mean c'mon, I'm posting about wishing for dresses and Louboutin's and there are people out there who sleep on the street at night, on CARDBOARD.
So, on my wish this Wednesday is blankets. Gently used blankets that you can spare to give someone else a little warmth for the night.
Don't have any blankets? Then how about recyclables? Jessica not only collects blankets but recyclables that she can trade for cash to buy more blankets, food and water.
I have contacted Jessica and will be donating all the blankets and recyblables I have here in my home. If you would like to donate you can email me and I will collect your things to give to Project Blanket OR you can contact her directly at: (323) 334-5080.

Some of you might be thinking, how is giving blankets related to Mother's Day?
Oh, but it is. Because every homeless person out there is someone's dad or sister or brother or friend.
Someone's CHILD.
This Wednesday, lets give back!

♥ Elena

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."  ~Albert Pike