Coming up...

I have been so busy and so out of it lately, that I just noticed that I have not blogged recently. Bummer.

Here are a few blogs I'm working on:

-My New Year's Resolutions list

-Christmas

-Shopping

-Reading update

Until then.... :)

Guilty Pleasure: Television! Fall Schedule

Today is the first official day of Fall!! And with that in mind, I decided to put my list together of the Fall television prime-time lineup that I am so looking forward to! I have listed my favorite shows that I have watched year after year, some that I have recently become a fan of, and new shows that I look forward to watching. Now keep in mind that just because I have listed them does not mean that I have all this free time and I just sit around watching TV... sometimes I miss an episode here or there, or I catch the rerun or the full online episode. Also, some nights have more than one show on at the same time which means I either switch back and forth between the two or decide on one and catch the rerun or online episode of the other at a later time. With that said, here we go...

Monday:
Dancing With The Stars, ABC 8pm
The Rachel Zoe Project, BRAVO 10pm

Tuesday:
The Biggest Loser, NBC 8pm
Dancing With The Stars Results, ABC 8pm
90210, CW 8pm
Melrose Place (new), CW 9pm

Wednesday:
America's Next Top Model, CW 8pm
Cougar Town (new), ABC 9:30

Thursday:
The Office, NBC 9pm
Grey's Anatomy, ABC 9pm
Real Housewives of Atlanta, BRAVO 10pm
Project Runway, LIFETIME 10pm
Ace of Cakes, FOOD 10pm

Friday:
Ugly Betty, ABC 8pm

Saturday:
nothing specific except maybe reruns if I happen to catch them on the TV guide

Sunday:
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC 8pm
Desperate Housewives, ABC 9pm
Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami, E! 10pm

Other shows that I like to watch:
The Jay Leno Show (new), NBC Monday-Friday 10pm
Chelsea Lately, E! Monday-Friday 11pm
House Hunters, HGTV Monday-Friday 8pm

What are your favorite television shows?

Hair Essentials

I recently walked into a beauty supply shop, that was right next door to where I was having lunch that day. I was browsing around, simply to kill time during my lunch hour, with no intention of purchasing anything. Well, the sales person knows how to sell because I walked out with a new curling iron... the Hot Tools Pink Titanium curling iron.... which I love! ... and I also purchased this hair oil that I had never even heard of, but was totally pushed to buy, by the sales rep... it's called MoroccanOil. I got home later that evening and put both items in my hair tools bin, not even thinking about them. A few days later I remembered that I had purchased a new hair oil that I had not yet used... so I decided to wash my hair that day and try it on for size! The directions are to apply a small amount to the palm of your hand and work into your damp hair, then style as usual. I did just that. And I fell in love! I could not believe how wonderful this oil was! It not only smells great, it also seemed to have cut my blow-drying time by a few minutes, and my straightener (CHI) seems to be doing a much better job now as well! My hair now feels so much smoother, silkier, shinier, glossier... everything I love my hair to be! I am so glad I bought this MoroccanOil and I know that it will be something that I continue to use and buy for years to come! Go to their website and check out all of their products. I know you will love them! And as for the curling iron, I have been using Hot Tools for years, so I knew it was going to be a great curling iron! And I just love the color!! =) I love finding new hair products... my hair is something I love to take care of and help it look its best... it is a woman's glory!! :)

CG LashBlast & Basis Face Wash

I usually don't write about this kind of thing... but I just have to share it with everyone! I recently gave in and purchased a new mascara, I had been using Maybelline for years! I bought Cover Girl LashBlast... and I love it!! My lashes look longer and more curled with just one coat of this mascara! I guess it's the new application brush... it's made out of some type of plastic... so different from the application brush I had been using all these past years! And this is the first time I actually like a mascara that is not waterproof! I love it!! I had been using waterproof mascara for ever... and my lashes would fall out when I would use my make-up remover! No more! This mascara stays put all day long, yet it's so easy to take off at night without having to use some fancy eye make-up remover! And speaking of which, I just discovered this inexpensive face wash that I fell in love with the first time I used it! I recently stayed at a co-workers house and when I showered I forgot to take in my face-wash with me, so I used the one that was in the shower... and I loved it! I loved it so much that I went out looking for it and bought it right away! It's called basis cleaner clean face wash... it is so easy to use! Just wet your face, apply a small amount on your hand and apply it to your face, all over. It removes all make-up, oil, dirt, build-up, and leaves your face/skin feeling super clean! Honestly, I would not be telling you about a product if I did not honestly use it and love it!! =)

I hope you have a chance to try these products. And if you do, share what you thought about them with me. Are there any new products you have tried and want to share about them? Let me know!!

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

O-M-G!! I have been so busy lately! It's not even funny!

• I work full-time at the radio station office, and besides my normal job duties, I have been recording quite a few commercials lately. I go in to record one and they ask me to stay and record a few more! But I have to admit, them asking me to record radio commercials is flattering in its own way! lol

• I then go home and continue working on my contract-basis job that I have, transcribing, translating & typing court reports - very rewarding, financially!

• I go to church a few times a week

• I organize the kid's lessons for church since I am the "teacher"

• and to top it all off, I am trying to get away this weekend with my husband, whom I have not seen in a couple of weeks because he has been working out of town!!
  

I just pray for time, patience and organization!! lol :) I hope I can do everything I have to do this weekend and not leave anything undone, cause then I won't be able to relax and enjoy my weekend at the coast! ugh.

Are you busy? What are you up to these days? :)

No Soda!!

Okay, so far the past few weeks my brother, RJ, has cut out soda from his life and replaced it with water, orange juice, etc. In the matter of about 3 weeks he has lost 14 lbs!! So I finally said to myself, um, why not try cutting out soda?? So I did!! I did not have one drop of soda at all last week, Monday-Friday (I had one ice cold Coke on Saturday and one during a bbq on Sunday) and lost a little over 2 lbs!! TWO POUNDS!! All from cutting out soda for a few days!! So I'm back at it again... NO SODA for me!!


I think that leaving the soda behind and losing a few pounds by doing so is totally worth it! Don't you? So, I know I have asked you to join me on pledging to become a vegetarian for 30 days, now I am asking you to join me in cutting out soda from your diet. This is all about living a long, healthy, happy life!

So CHEERS (with a glass of ice cold water) to you & your health!! :)


P.S. my favorite bottled waters are: Dasani, Aquafina, & Fiji
(Arrowhead has a bad after-taste. If you drink Arrowhead water and have never noticed it, take a drink of it and "savor" it, pay attention to the taste and will you notice the bad after-taste! Sorry, I just had to share that!)

Vegetarian 30-Day Challenge!

Okay, so I joined my mom on a quick trip to the local market just about an hour ago... it was going great. We picked out some fresh produce, said hi to some people that we ran into, and then the horror began... (cue suspense music) we walked to the meat section!! aaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! There I was, pushing the shopping cart, with no where to go, no where to turn, nothing to take my attention from what was in front of me... the nasty meat section! There I was, looking directly into it, dumbfounded, wondering what compelled us, the human race, to do such a horrible thing! I was starring straight into a cow's head, its eyes looking straight at me!! A head that belonged to a slaughtered cow!! I am not being dramatic, I am not exaggerating, tears really started to form in my eyes and when I least expected it, my mom turned around, saw the look in my face, and asked me why I was crying! I had tears rolling down my eyes, down my cheeks! I could not understand why we do this to the animals! There I stood with a cow's head, tripe, hoofs, tongue, stomach... all in the meat section refrigerator for sale.. for human consumption! What ever made a human think that eating an animals tripe, stomach lining, hoofs, tongue or any other body part was healthy for us!? I don't understand. What I saw a few moments ago and the emotions I felt at that moment made me realize that I made the right decision a few months back in becoming a vegetarian! I am so proud of myself and now I know I will continue in this path, with this commitment! If you want to find out more about becoming a vegetarian, please visit the PETA website and find out more... also, please take a moment and consider joining me on my vegetarian path; click here to pledge to be a vegetarian for 30 days! Also, please take a moment to watch the video on those sites.

And if you do decide to join me, please let me know, I would love to hear from you!

Love The One You're With

Last night I finished reading "Love The One You're With" by Emily Giffin. I really enjoyed reading this book! I have also read her "Baby Proof" book and previously wrote about that here. I will check around for other books by her to read next!

Anyway, back to this book... I really felt that it was speaking to most women, most married women who had a serious relationship before the relationship they married into. It was about loving the one you are with, hence the title, but perhaps still loving your past love, even if just a little bit. Your past love is in your past, yes, but what happens when that person crosses you in the street, per say, what do you do then? What if that encounter triggers old sparks, feelings you thought you had taken care of and no longer felt? What do you do then? Do you risk everything you have in your marriage to find out why that relationship had ended or if it was a mistake even ending it? Or do you say hi and just keep on walking? What do you do? Do you give up on your current love for a past love in hopes that it will be better? Well, to find out what Ellen does, you will just have to read the book! I am telling you, it's a great story with a lot of background... and I totally was able to envision everything as it happened!! I loved it!!

Love The One You're With...

Life Happens...

Totally random, I know... I saw this video that somebody sent to me in an email and it just goes to show that sometimes, things are just out of our control and life happens!

I bet this bride planned, planned and planned some more to have the perfect wedding, not knowing that something out of her control was going to ruin her wedding ceremony!

And you know what, we have to learn to live by the moment... because not always will everything be under our control; not everything will always go as planned! Like the "Facts Of Life" show's theme song said, "you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have, the facts of life!"

So I just wanted to share this video with you and remind you that life happens... and if it hands you lemons, make lemonade!! =D

LOVE, A Very Beautiful & Artistic Video

I was emailed this video this morning and it is seriously a beautiful video. I have never seen anything like this. This person is a true "sand artist" that expresses love so beautifully with its sand art designs. If you have not seen it before, please take a moment to do so. It is about 3 minutes in length.

It really touched me in a very deep way. Perhaps it was the beautiful saxophone music, which I LOVE; perhaps it was the awesome sand art that this person was creating; perhaps it was the fact that I'm a romanticist; perhaps it was the fact that I am very in love with my husband; perhaps it was a combination of all these things! Whatever it was, I loved this video... and I hope you can enjoy it as well!

<3

sTORI telling...

In my continuing effort of reading a new book per month, I decided to finally give in and purchase “sTORI telling” by Tori Spelling.

Let me tell you, I couldn’t put it down; I read it in one sitting! I just kept on reading and reading. I was hooked reading all of her stories and feeling like I was getting to know her a little bit more. Silly, I know, but true! Anyway, I enjoyed reading her book and now I am her “friend” on MySpace as well!

By the way, when I went in to Borders this past weekend to buy the book, the cashier was telling me that Tori’s mother, Candy Spelling, had a book signing there at that store location for her own book, and that only 11 people showed up! Seriously! Anyway, I enjoyed reading Tori’s book… now on to the next one! :-)

Become A Vegetarian, Save The Animals, Get Healthy

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a little something with everyone… Like I have mentioned before, for the longest time, I considered making changes to my eating habits, which included taking out meat and other animal products from what I eat; essentially becoming a vegetarian. I thought about it for a very long time, but never had the courage or the will power to take that step. I finally decided it was the perfect time to make the change and read “Skinny Bitch”. Reading that book helped me realize I was making the right choice. I thought that becoming and being a vegetarian was going to be so hard. But you know what, it has been the easiest thing I have ever done! I am not doing this to lose weight, though I have lost a few pounds, it’s an added bonus! I am doing this because of the cruelty to the animals, all so we could have a delicious steak, burger, fajita, etc. I have to admit, my first weekend as a vegetarian was hard… I forgot!!! And I ate some delicious tacos al pastor. Yes, they were delicious. I haven’t said meat isn’t delicious!! But then I realized what I was doing and the decision I had just made; I let myself eat the tacos anyway and enjoyed them as my last non-vegetarian meal!! That was about a month ago, for my sisters’ graduation party!! I haven’t gone back since!! I have found healthy, animal-free meals that I am truly enjoying. Believe me, it’s easy! For example, I made spaghetti last night. My husband hasn’t joined me in becoming a vegetarian, so when the pasta was done I separated some into a different pot for me, I added the marinara spaghetti sauce to both pots of pasta and then added the cooked ground meat to my husband’s spaghetti and mixed it up. He loved it and I loved mine, without meat! I have discovered new snacks, fruits and vegetables and tried different salads!

I listed some websites here that you can take a look at and perhaps join me! Copy and paste the links into a new tab or window:

• http://www.peta.org/
• http://www.goveg.com/
• http://www.vegcooking.com/makingthetransition.asp
• http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp - video on animal cruelty, watch and you’ll become a vegetarian as well!

Also, here is a link if you would like to pledge to become a vegetarian for 30 days!
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2055
I'm excited to try healthy, delicious foods and help save animals from the horrible cruelty of the meat industry. Would you join me in pledging to try a vegetarian diet for 30 days? You will be sent links to delicious recipes, restaurant reviews, and product recommendations as well as the 'Top Six Tips for Making the Switch'.

My wish would be that you all join me… but I thank you ahead of time for reading this far, looking into it and perhaps considering it. If you do decide to make the switch, let me know. Together we can save thousands of animals and become healthier along the way!

Thanks! Much love,
Estrella Castillo *Star*

P.S. - I also recommend that you read "Skinny Bitch"

Weight Loss

Today I started a little friendly competition at work with one of my manager's. He has recently put on some weight and has had trouble getting focused and serious about losing weight. We had a nice little chat the other day and decided to start this little competition between the two of us. We weight in once a week, for four weeks. On the fifth weigh-in we will calculate the percentage of weight lost for each one of us. The one that loses the least percentage has to treat the other person. Next week we decide what that treat will be. I have been eating healthier for the past few weeks now, but now I have to kick it up a notch and add some workouts. Some cardio would be best. I know I can do this! Just by eating healthier, alone, I have dropped 7.5 pounds in the last 2 weeks, so I know that if I add some cardio into the mix, I will lose even more! Wish me luck!

And speaking of losing weight, don't forget to watch The Biggest Loser season finale tonight at
8:00pm on NBC. I'm rooting for Tara. I know she can win this!!!!!

The Undomestic Goddess

Another book that I read in the month of April was another Sophie Kinsella book, The Undomestic Goddess. This story was about a young lawyer that just ran away from a problem at the law firm and ended up in a parallel world. She was now living so differently than before. But she found something she did not have before... LOVE.

Honestly, love just happens to come when we least expect it, doesn't it?! Love changes you, it changes your life, your plans and your future. So do you try to go back to the comfortable life you had before and risk losing that love that you finally found, or do you go with it and make all of the life-changes that come with it? It's up to you, but if you want to know what happens in this book, you're going to have to read it, lol!!

For My Mom, I LOVE YOU

I love taking a look at the Kardashian sisters' blogs. Today I was on Khloe Kardashian's blog and she had posted this one great blog about the 5 traits she got from her mommy, so I decided to do one as well!... In the spirit of Mother's Day I have listed the top 5 traits I inherited from my mom, here they are:

1. My beautiful dark brown eyes! I love them! And my husband loves them, too. He always tells me I have the most beautiful eyes... thank you Mommy!
2. To compliment my dark brown eyes, I also inherited long full eyelashes from my momma. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love my eyes, and it's all because of my great mother!
3. I love shopping! And I KNOW I inherited that from my mom! It's crazy how much she likes to shop! Don't believe me? My mom has her closet jam-packed of clothes, she also has clothes in my sister Maria's closet and in my brother's closet. And I have so much clothes, shoes and handbags that I had to take down a wall in one of my spare bedrooms and make it a walk-in closet! Thanks mommy for passing down the "love to shop" trait!! lol
4. I think my strong character also comes from my mom. Is that a good thing or a bad thing, I don't know, but it's true! I am very persistent to prove my point. My husband often tells me that I am just like my mother in arguments. lol Thanks, mom! lol
5. Faith! My mother has such a strong faith in the Lord!! My father does too, of course, but I have always noticed my mother's faith. No matter the situation, she has faith! And I know that my faith has been strengthened by knowing that my mother has had faith no matter what it was that she was going through. My mom has helped me so much, especially in strengthening and solidifying my faith! I want to think of myself as a faith-full woman, just like my mommy!

My mother and I did not have the best of relationships when I was growing up, all because I was trying to be very rebellious. But she knew how to have patience with me and faith in me. And it all turned out a lot better. Now we have a great, strong bond. I love my mother to the maximum and can not imagine myself without her, ever! She has always been there for me, whether I wanted her to be or not, and I always ended up turning to her for words of wisdom, encouragement, faith and comfort. Mommy, I love you! Happy Mother's Day to the BEST mother ever!!!!!!!!!! :)

My beautiful mother with my beautiful sisters and I!!!

Skinny B*tch

I read Skinny Bitch late last month and it totally has changed me! I have been eating no meat, none! It has helped me make better eating choices, anywhere I go! For example, I love Chipotle! I would always get the Burrito Bowl with their delicious rice, pinto beans, chicken, cheese, sour cream, lettuce and guacamole. Totally fattening and unhealthy! Now I still get the Burrito Bowl, but now I get the vegetarian option with their delicious rice, black beans, salsa, bell peppers, lettuce and guacamole. (No meat, black beans instead of pinto beans because they put bacon in their pinto beans, no cheese or sour cream). And you know, it still tastes very delicious, you don't even realize what you "left out" and you still satisfy your hunger. It really does fill you up! Of course I have found other eating options at other places, but the reason I mention Chipotle is because that is what I am eating right no! LOL. Craving McDonald's? I get a salad! Wendy's? Salad!! There are good choices everywhere you go, you just have to be willing to try, and actually want to make those changes! I have also found great websites and resources and vegetarian meal plans. All in all, I am loving this change! I really do hope that this isn't just a "fad diet" for me, but instead a real, committed, life-long change. If you feel up to it, I say you read the book. But be warned, it might just scar you even if you think this is not something you want to do. But, I have met a few people that have read the book and it did nothing to their eating habits. For me, it was a personal choice I was willing and looking forward to making, even before reading the book. I had been thinking about this for a long time, but reading the book just helped me take that step and make it a serious committment. It's not just about losing weight & eating better, but also about the treatment of the sweet animals. :(

To learn more, visit PETA.
(I don't want to go into details because I don't want to "preach" this to you. To each its own.)

Easter 2009

Okay, so my younger sister, Maria, posted this blog on her site and I stole it and just changed a few words. I'm one of the teachers at our church (I teach the older kids) and this year we held an Easter egg hunt and pizza party for them. Maria was the photographer and we all had a blast...

This year, for Easter, we had an Egg Hunt with the kids at church!
It was so much fun, especially since there was so many kids!

We let the kids scope out the yard before they were allowed to hunt for the eggs.

And they're off! I love how they're all running in completely different directions!

Vicky just found one and started to relax! Isn't she adorable!?!?
Check out her heart glasses!!

And this is Star (me) with the older ones.

We have LOTS of kids at church! :)

After the egg hunt, we had pizza for them to enjoy.

This little one enjoyed her chocolate quite a bit after the pizza!

Look at all of those wrappers and chocolate marks on her face!

Vicky, eating pizza.

She didn't stop eating the whole time!

Easter with the church kids was such a success!

I had a blast just watching them and taking their pictures!

Hope your Easter was as blessed as ours!

Baby Proof

I just finished reading Baby Proof by Emily Giffin... it was a great read! I picked up this book after being at Borders, browsing the book aisles, and this book kept appearing everywhere... so I finally picked it up and read the back of it. The story line is that this couple fall in love and get married, with a deal that neither want kids and won't be having any. But a few years into their happily married life, one of them changes from loving their "child-free" life to hating their "child-less" marriage. There is a difference in those two terms! One of them suddenly wants kids. One of them feels empty, something is missing! The other pretty much says to decide between "me or a baby" and the response was... "don't ask me, because you know what I am going to decide"! So, what was it, the marriage or the baby, or did was that person able to change the mind & heart of the partner? You have to read it to find out! I have to admit, I shed a few tears!! :-)
I'm going to look into reading her other books... "Something Borrowed", "Something Blue" and "Love The One You're With". But this book was a good read. I enjoyed it.

Can You Keep A Secret? lol

My March reading was "Can You keep A Secret?" also by Sophie Kinsella. It was great; I liked it. It was very funny at times. I felt for her, all her secrets blurted out the way they were... talk about humiliation!! But it ends well...

My April reading, so far, has been "Remember Me?" also by Kinsella. This one was also a good read. I felt for her in this one... everything she went through. Amnesia is not fun, but she made the best of it and her friends really came through for her! And she ended up with a happily ever after... What else can we ask for?

Now I just have one more Sophie Kinsella book to read, "Undomestic Goddess".... I bought it already, on amazon.com marketplace, but it has not yet arrived. I look forward to reading it. But in the meanwhile, I am reading other non-Kinsella books, lol.

I wish she would write one last Shopaholic book and tell us how Becky's life ended after their ordeal with the house, the company and the addition of the baby! We'll see... :)

I am really ejoying reading... for pleasure, not because I have to! It really relaxes me. There are days when I just want to go home so I can continue reading!! lol Really!!

So, join me in reading... I said I would read one book per month, but so far I have read more than that! But I have really enjoyed it! :)

25 Random Things About Me!

1- I love LOVE ;) You really can love someone more than you thought possible… really! It’s so great to share your life with someone you truly love and loves you back. It’s great, wonderful, beautiful… even with the ups and downs that come in every relationship. Where there is love, there is perseverance. I love LOVE! XOXOXO
2- I love going to the beach. When the weather is too hot (all summer long in Arvin) I just want to get in the car and just drive to the beach. I will stop at any beach, even if it's a little cold out, and walk along the shoreline, each time it's possible.
3- I love to give myself pedicures. I love scrubbing my feet with a foot scrub and pumice stone, lathering them with softening cream, clipping the nails and polishing them! I love how soft my feet are! I love wearing open-toe shoes and showing them off! 

4- I daydream a lot of having my own business. I have a few great ideas flowing and have actually written them down and have started writing a business plan. One day… one day it will all come true!!
5- I love celebrity gossip! I visit celebrity gossip websites daily! My favorites are TMZ.com & People.com. I love knowing of all of their drama and scandals… and knowing that they are not these perfect creatures that we see on the covers of magazine’s or on television and movies.
6- My favorite all-time movie actress is Julia Roberts. I love her! I have tried to watch all of her movies. My dad loves her, too! But my favorite, favorite actress is Jennifer Aniston. I don’t know why, but I just love her! She is awesome.
7- I watched Friends every Thursday night when it was on in primetime. I fell in love with that show. I later bought the entire Friends series collection with the episode book. I watched the entire series over the period of a few evenings… and it was like watching it for the first time. You can never get enough of it!!
8- I am a pack rat. At work and in public I am very clean and organized. But in private, I hate throwing things out. I have to force myself to sort through everything every few months. That’s when I realize I have so much crap that I could have gotten rid of a long time ago! lol

9- I love shopping, but since I am not currently happy with my weight, I have turned to shopping for shoes, handbags, accessories, etc. I know that once I am down to my goal weight I will resume my clothes shopping extravaganza! lol

10- I am very comfortable living in Arvin, but if I could have my way, I would move back to Southern California; perhaps Ventura County, somewhere nice and thriving, not too far from the beach. Maria, do you have any room there with you?! lol

11- I dream of winning the lottery… like at least 2 million dollars! (after taxes!) I would first and foremost buy a great piece of land and build my dad his own church. It would be my way of giving my tithe to the Lord. I would then pay-off anything I owed… house, cars, etc. Set aside a great chunk in investment accounts, and pay-off anything my parents owed… I want to give them back a little of what they have given to me and my siblings!


12- I know that there is NOTHING impossible for the Lord. Yet, I am very scared of going to the doctor and hearing that I may not be able to have children of my own. I pray for that day to never come, ever, ever! I dream of one day having children of my own. Whether or not I have children of my own, I want to adopt at least one child. Give him/her the love that everyone deserves to have in their life: a mother’s love. Give that child a happy life, full of everything that he/she might have thought of possibly never having. Bring happiness and a smile to that child. That, in itself, is a gift!

13- I love to read! I want to read at least one book per month this year, and build up my book collection. I love going in to Borders, time seems to fly by when I am in there, just looking through all the books! But I have also bought books through Amazon.com marketplace… very nice prices!!

14 – I love the Lord and praise Him. April 4th is my 10-year anniversary of the date I was baptized in the name of the Lord! I cannot imagine my life without Him. I see people that I know and love around me, living without the Lord as a daily presence in their lives and I just think “wow, I am glad I know the Lord, believe in Him and serve Him.” Can’t imagine any other way!


15- I have heart disease. Though I am not currently “sick” it is a part of me and always will be. I had open-heart surgery at about 2 years old and take medication to help my heart. I have learned to love the scars on my chest!

16- I enjoy some time alone to myself. Not too much time, though. lol I use that time to read, relax or sometimes to clean. I think everyone deserves a morning or afternoon alone every once in a while. One of two things happens: you have time to relax, or you actually get things done during that time!

17- I love my skin. It has its imperfections but I love how soft it is! It may not be perfect, but it’s soft and I love it!!

18- I love listening to my friends and giving advice. I really do think I would have made a great counselor or therapist. I enjoy listening to others and helping them out.
19- I have many great, wonderful friends. And many of these friends have told me that when they first met me I seemed conceited. So I admit, I am somewhat conceited. I do think of myself as a little vain at times. I do care how I look, and there are certain things I will not do. I do spend a lot of time in front of the mirror… doing my hair, coloring my hair, doing my makeup, etc. So what? I don’t think it’s wrong to be a little conceited or vain. Of course, there are limits and boundaries.

20- I enjoy driving. But I get irritated by all of the dumb drivers out there. If you are not going at least at speed limit, you better not be driving in front of me!

21- I do have regrets. One big, huge regret is not having gone to college straight out of high school. I mean, what was I thinking?! I wish I could have thought that through a little better!

22- I am afraid to fly, though I have never even been near an airplane. But I need to get over that fear because I do plan on traveling. Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, France, Spain, Mexico… here I come!

23- I enjoy singing. I sing all the time; in my car, in the shower, at home… all the time! I would love to take singing lessons and actually learn to sing in the right key! lol
24- I love taking pictures. I guess this goes back to #19… me admitting to being a little conceited and vain. But I’m being honest here… I have been told I am very photogenic, and I admit, I am! lol You know what, many in my family are very photogenic. I guess we are just beautiful people that take beautiful photos! But seriously, I love taking pictures… of me, me with my loved ones, family and friends, things that I see… I have tons of pictures in a photo box and many, many more saved on my computer! SMILE =D
25- I have a Facebook, blog, twitter account, email, cell phone, text messaging… so if you ever want to get a hold of me, don’t try finding any excuses ‘cause there are none!

Reading Sophie Kinsella

I just got finished all of the 'Shopaholic' books by Sophie Kinsella. They were so great! I read all five of them back-to-back because I just had to know what happened next, lol. I completely fell in love with Becky. She was incredible, funny, hilarious, addicting! I was so into the story line that I couldn't put the books down. Seriously. I loved them! If you have not read them, or if you have not read them all, you need to!

They are amazing. :)

Here are the five books in order: Enjoy!!

1.Confessions of a Shopaholic
2. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
3.Shopaholic Ties the Knot
4.Shopaholic & Sister
5.Shopaholic & Baby

Meeting Famous People

As you may or may not know, I work at a company that is a group of 4 Spanish radio stations and 1 English station, in Bakersfield, CA. (The Spanish Radio Group- Radio Lobo 102.9 FM, Concierto 92.1 FM, El Gallito 1010 AM & ESPN Deportes 1490 AM along with The Max 96.5 FM).

In working here, I have met some cool people... musicians.

Here is a photo of when I met Banda El Recodo De Don Cruz Lizarraga. They were so nice and friendly. Very great guys! They are a traditional Mexican band with flutes, trumpets, clarinets, etc... they are about 16 band members total, and only about 8 of them came out to our radio station on this day. This band has been around for many, many decades. They are know all around Mexico and amongst Mexicans everywhere! They have a lot of great hits, the most recent being "Te Presumo"... I love that song!!! :)

Now here I am with the guys of Los Tucanes De Tijuana. To be honest with you, I was a little surprised to see that the lead singer, next to me in a blue dress shirt and dark gray blazer, was shorter than me. I thought he was taller! Anyway, they have some music I do not care for, but they have some music that is incredible! "Mundo De Amor" has been a great romantic hit since it came out more than 10 years ago! I loved it then, I love it now. They are great at the romantic hits!

Now here is the latest musician I have met... El Coyote. He was part of a few bands before getting out as a soloist. He is great. He has had some great hits like one my husband loves "Prohibido"... and "Y Si Te Robo" amongst many others. He has a great voice!

Well. there you have it... some musicians I have met. I'm sure I will be posting more photos later, as we have a few big events coming up with the radio stations, which will include a lot of great musicians... :) This is such a cool industry to work in!!

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

I just finished reading Shopaholic Takes Manhattan and it was such a great read! I loved it! Made me laugh, giggle and even made me feel some tears in my eyes at times! I just loved this book.
If you have read Confessions Of A Shopaholic then you have to read Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. And now that I finshed reading it, I know I just HAVE to read Shopaholic Ties The Knot and the other books in the series that follow Becky Bloomwood and her hilarious ways! :)
I love how Sophie Kinsella, the author, writes! It truly feels like you can see it all happening, right before your eyes. I felt like I was there, in New York, at the shops, in Barneys, in Sephora getting a makeover! And, omg, the spa scene is hilarious! A crystal tattoo where?! LOL
I'm telling you, you have to read this! You will enjoy it, just like I did! I can't wait for the movie to come out, I will be the first in line! :) I believe it comes out this Friday, February 13th!!
So, with this, I complete my goal of reading a new book in February. Next up... Shopaholic Ties The Knot! Can't wait... I think I'm going by to the store tonight and buying it so I can read it before seeing the movie this weekend!! =D We'll see... I will "keep you posted" lol.

Sex, Sex & More Sex!! :)

It has been confirmed, there will be a sequel to "Sex & The City: The Movie"!! It was confirmed here to People magazine!!

I am so excited, I loved the show, loved the movie and I am sure I will love the sequel!! It will be a while for it to hit theaters, but I am sure it will be worth the wait... can't wait till Summer 2010 rolls around!! Yay!!! :-)

So, date night with a bunch of gal pals... here we come!

January Book Choice

I know I have not yet posted my 101 in 1001... but one thing on my list is to read a new book each month. Well, I am glad to say that this month I read Confessions Of A Shopaholic I loved it! I can't wait for the movie to come out next month... I am definitely going out to see it! I thought I was a shopaholic, but after reading this book, I know I just simply enjoy shopping, but I know my limits! lol Unlike Rebecca Bloomwood! Anyway, I really enjoyed reading it and now I think I will probably read more books by the same author, Sophie Kinsella. Here is a list of other books she has written, I am interested in a few of them.

So, wish me luck.... and I hope you, too, can get into reading this year! I feel like it relaxes me and de-stresses me a bit. I just sit back on the couch with a light blanket over me and read for hours and hours!

Well, I will try to post my 101 in 1001 soon enough... but I am off to a great start, yay! :)

Happy Reading! :)

Losing Weight

Okay, so it's time that I face reality and recognize that I am completely, obviously over-weight! I mean, I was "fat" when I weighed 125 pounds at age 21!! So, what happened? Let me be honest here... I don't know what happened. I honestly feel like I eat the same way I always have. I actually eat less now than before. Is that the problem? Maybe my metabolism slowed down... I don't know! I have tried staying active... jogging, using the stairs instead of elevators, going to the gym... but the weight is still there. I have not gained anymore weight in a while, which is a good thing, but I am not losing any either, which is bad! So I decided it's time for a change! I bought a new scale so I can weigh myself and note my progress. I bought low-calorie yogurts to snack on. I even switched to 2% milk instead of whole milk! I bought a box of Special K cereal to go along with my 2% milk... I even bought a reusable water bottle, 32 oz. to have at my desk so I can drink water throughout the day. I need to do this for myself... for my health... for my future! I hope I can make the necessary changes, eat healthier and become more physically active. I will keep you posted on my progress. I know this will be hard, and it will take time to reach my goals... but I know that I can do it!! This is not a "diet"... it's a "lifestyle change" for the better! :)