Who's Clayton??

This week at the Golden Bough we had a benefit concert for the beautiful Camila on Monday and Tuesday night. There was music, friends, wine, auctions, dancing and laughter. It was an amazing experience. One of the acts that performed were two friends of Camila that she knows from Cal State Fullerton... they are in a band called "Who's Clayton"... little did I know what these boys had in store for us... they were brilliant.. 

Team de la Llata!

xxoo

Camila's Cure!

It's been some time since I found out that my beautiful friend Camila was diagnosed with acute myloid leukemia. For a while, I couldn't really wrap my mind around it... I mean, she's 22 and she's perfect... until I was able to see her in the hospital, visit with her, and later spend more time with her once she was home for a bit. This lady has been a dear dear friend of mine for about 4 years now and I couldn't imagine life without her. I met her doing theater here in Monterey and we became very close through the experiences (she's taught me well). 

My prayers have been going out to her daily and now my mom has been holding donor drives and recruiting as many people as possible to be her possible bone marrow donor! 

Please pray for her healing and that we find her a match. She has kept her spirits and hopes high and we are all doing the same! 

Go to  Be The Match! (that's her direct link) to sign up and hopefully be her match! Her donor needs to be between the ages of 18-44 and a bi-racial mix of Mexican and Caucasian. 

 (Below: Camila and I on a recent trip to Tahoe! My family had planned a trip while she had coincidentally planned a trip with friends at the same time, for the same side of the lake, and we were staying in cabins 2 blocks from each other! Let's just say it was a great trip!)

 (Below: Camila and I in a production of RENT that we did at MPC! She played Mimi and if you know the show you know how amazing that is! That summer changed my life!)

 (Below: Camila, Casey and I after a show!)

 (Below: Camila, me and our other great friend Tara, at a New Year's Eve celebration at a local theatre!)

 (Below: Camila, Tara and I on our weekend trip to San Francisco for Camila's 21st birthday! That was a good time, let me tell you!)

This girl is my partner in crime! I love her so much and she has taught me so much about living! I pray for her health and strength every day. I want this girl back to being healthy so she can get back to her life as it should  be... on stage, singing and dancing and reeking havoc with me whenever we can find the chance! 

I LOVE YOU CAMILA!

Team De La Llata!!

xxoo

project happiness!

(one of my wine purchases today from Trader Joe's.. and yes, there is a big yellow smiley fact on the front of the bottle).

Today has been a very happy day.

I'm sitting here with my glass of wine, watching Monday night football (GO PACKERS!), catching up on some blogging and reflecting on my day.

This morning I had a good day at work, it was slow, but good things happened!

After work I went over to the bank where I was able to set up a nice little (working on making it bigger) savings account and was approved for my first full-blown credit card!

Following my trip to the bank, I stopped by Trader Joe's, which is quite possibly my favorite grocery store ever, and picked up some wine, brie and crackers.. can you say yum??

On the way home I was able to talk to my precious friend Keifer who I miss dearly..

and found out once I was home that I passed the CBEST (the test you have to pass to start substitute teaching)!!! Yeahhh me!!

I'm happy.

Today has been a good day to start off this week.

If you have time, check out this lady's blog...

She is absolutely beautiful, has such a sunny spirit and truly inspires me.

Happy Monday!!

(pray for peace).

xxoo

7.8.12

On Sunday, my beautiful little married her Marine. 

It was beautiful beyond words. 

I was so honored to have been a part of this day, I love you both so much.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Jacobson!

(Photo credit goes to my amazing friend Pierce Larick: New Revolution Photography)

3 more days!!

in just 3 more days I will be standing beside this amazing couple on the day of their wedding. 

I can't believe it's finally here...

I have been beside Amanda through this whole process, starting back in October and it has been a wild ride.

Tonight, Maegan and I will be driving up to Pismo Beach to stay with Amanda, tomorrow is the rehearsal dinner, Saturday will be a relaxing/pampering day, and Sunday is the day.

It is going to be such a beautiful overwhelmingly special day for these two and I am so beyond happy and honored to be able to be a part of it. I can't wait!

(P.S. Amanda, I stole this pictures from your FB and the wedding website...shhh)

Congratulations (soon to be) Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson!

I love you guys!

Summer Loves and Lows

Lows...

Being in summer school.

Not having enough time (or money) to do it all.

Not being able to be in two places at once (I had to miss my best friends bridal shower).

Not having a job (and not having enough time to get one).

Disappointing people I love... and myself.
(I started with the lows because it's always good to end on a positive note.)

Loves...

Being tan.

Finally having long hair.

Flip-flop tan lines.

Sleeping in.

Lots of music.

Going on trips! (Palm Springs, Home, San Clemente).

Seeing family.

Long nights and long talks with good friends.

Weekend Happy List!

I was home again this weekend for more festivities... here's a happy list, and some pictures from Casey's 21st birthday party!

1. getting to be home for the brothers' birthday! 

2. getting to celebrate Casey finally being 21!

3. getting to see lots of good friends!

4. getting to spend father's day with my father and my family.

5. getting to be in a loud house filled with people I love and make me laugh like no other.

 (me and the brothers!)

 (Casey and I toward the end of the night...)

 (at the end of the night Casey mumbled, "this couch looks good" and plopped down... don't worry, we didn't leave him there.)

 (me with my mom and my good friend from high school, Maddie!)

 (me with Maddie and some of my lovely VS co-workers!)

 (me and Devan, and old family friend.)

(in each other's lives since he was shorter than me... he's not going anywhere!)

Hope you all had a great weekend and Father's day!

a link up, a happy list, & a song.

Linking up with the bestie for a Thursday Happy List!

1. watching/discussing Peter Pan in my afternoon class.

2. driving home after class.

3. the beautiful weather we've been having.

4. today being both of my little brother's birthday's.

5. getting to be home for Father's day.

6. getting to spend time with both of my little's today.

7. celebrating a milestone (21st) birthday this weekend.

8. new flip flops.

9. tan legs.

10. listening to crooner's like this guy...

Happy 21st & 14th Birthday Brothers!!

Today is Casey Daniel and Cameron James's birthday's!!! Casey is finally 21 and Cameron is having his golden birthday, turning 14 on the 14th! I love these boy (or men? i don't know)... they are the best brothers a girl could ask for... (is it weird that i'm secretly glad i don't have sisters?)

Casey had been had his private pilot's license for almost 2 years now and just finished his first year at Embrie-Riddle Aeronautical University (after finishing at MPC) and just passed his instrument rating test; which basically means that he can fly a plane without ever looking outside it... Crazy right?! He will be returning to Daytona, Florida in the fall to finish his schooling.

Cameron just graduated from 8th grade and received 4 awards for academic achievement for his time in middle school. One was a principle award and another was for maintaining a 3.8-3.9 GPA for all three years, and I'm not sure what the other two were but... impressive right? He's going to Salinas High (the school Casey and I have bother graduated from) in the fall and I could not be more excited for the things he has ahead of him. 

I love these boys. 

Happy Birthday Brothers.

my slightly crazy weekend at home (I wouldn't expect anything less).

On Tuesday night when I got out of class my little sis, Amanda and I ventured to her home in Arroyo Grande. Wednesday consisted of a (3 hour) meeting with her DJ for her wedding, and her final dress fitting (it's getting close!) and then me driving the last 2 hours it takes me to get home from there. 

Wednesday night was some good family time, complete with UNO Attack and tequila shots (my mom's idea!), 

Thursday was my tiny (or not so tiny) brother's 8th grade graduation, followed by family dinner at Olive Garden, then I went out with some friends in Monterey! 

Friday was a mellow day complete with laundry, a relaxing bath and dinner out at my favorite hometown pizza place Angelina's.

Saturday was my first in-person cheer coaching meeting (getting excited for fall!), then the family headed off to San Jose to watch tiny brother play some crazy good baseball games and CASEY (other little brother) got back from Florida and is now home for the summer!

Sunday was a little scary, my mom got a tear in her retina and had to have laser surgery on the spot to fix it, then we sat and watch "Joyful Noise" (a fun, light-hearted, musical with Queen Latifa and Dolly Parton... and Jeremy Jordon) and finished the night with a family BBQ, complete with my grandparents and my mom's uncle and his wife!

and Monday got a little crazy... my computer seems to have a virus that I'm trying to get wiped out (Best Buy wanted to charge me $200), and I took my car in to get a few things looked at and found out I have cracks in my front brakes and my back pistons are leaking....

based on this news, and also finding out it wouldn't be done for a few days, I thought I would be stuck home for another day or two (and would have to miss my summer school classes) and later, after thinking about it a little more, mom decided it'd be best if I just took her car... so at 9:40pm.. I headed out on the 4 and a half hour drive back to school so I could make it to my 9am class... I got home around 2am (OY!)

Aside from the craziness of all this, I was able to spend some good time with the bestie, playing pool, drinking beer, getting lunch and catching up (in no particular order) and I got to hear all about her wedding that is also quickly approaching! 

 (family UNO/tequila shots)

 (Cameron and I all set for his 8th grade graduation.... yes, he's taller than me)

 (home.)

 (Cameron, Mele (my cousin) and I after Cam's graduation)

 (all 3 back together!)

(yummy lunch with the bestie)

*big sigh*

Happy Tuesday!

Looking back at 2011!

I took this idea from the best friend. I am going to take a look back at 2011 via my little blog!

In January I was just starting to get the hang of this little blog thing.

In February I decided to kick-start my blogging my doing "30 Days of Blogging."

In March I started the "Green Dress Challenge" where I decided to start losing some weight (still working on this, it's a constant challenge) and met one of my "Idol's" (or American Idol that is).

In April I fell in love.

In May I had my first experience traveling along and got stuck in Dallas overnight, and my life (and my perspective on life) was changed forever when my roommate lost her father to cancer.

In June I committed to growing up and doing better in school.

In July I turned 22 and "completed" my "Green Dress Challenge" when I could finally fit into the dress I was wanted to wear, and wore it to a Jason Aldean concert!

In August I reflected on the summer and said goodbye to my little brother when he moved to Florida.

In September my heart was broken and I turned to God and family and friends and made a full recovery!

In October we celebrated 2 Murray birthday's and officially took my life back.

In November I blogged for 30 days about what I was thankful for.

and in December I reflected on my college experience I found out my graduation date and celebrated Christmas with my family.

Disney Magic

Here are some pictures from our trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth!" This was a picture I took of the beautiful castle at night all decked out for Christmas!

If you look closely at this picture you can see that it says "World of Color" in the water.. it was showing a lot more clearly than that but my camera wouldn't capture it. I can't even describe to you how brilliant "World of Color" is. Some of the things done in this show can only be described by Disney magic.. if you haven't seen this show yet.. do yourself a favor, and next time you are there... see it! I cried.
This was the picture they snap of you right before they drop you again on the "Hollywood Tower of Terror"... my family and I are on the middle row... and as you can see from my face.. "Tower of Terror" is a pretty accurate name.. but it is so fun!

This is a picture I took in line waiting for "Snow White."

"Pinnochio"

My mom and I waiting for the new "Little Mermaid" ride.. and being that this was my all time favorite movie growing up, I loved this ride!

"Indiana Jones!" (which we rode at least 3 times.. it's the best).

It was an amazing trip. Disneyland or Disney in general will never get old.. and I will never outgrow it!

the next few days!

Ok friends, yes, it's true.. for the next few days I will be at Disneyland with the fam! The last of the extended family has left and now we are cleaning up and packing and getting ready to leave in the morning for the happiest place on earth! See you soon!

30 days of Thankfulness (Day 1)

It's November! It's November!

It's November, and for me that means that the holiday season is very quickly approaching. In 23 days exactly, it will be Thanksgiving and my brother will be here! (He's in Florida for school, remember this?) I am very very excited. Being that Thanksgiving is coming up, Amanda Noel and I decided that we wanted to do some sort of blogging challenge for the month, so here it is... 30 days of thankfulness. We will be posting a blog a day, each with something different that we are thankful for. The "button" at the top of the screen will take you to all of our posts if you click on it. Here we go..

Day 1: My family.
Anytime someone asks me what I am thankful for, the first thing that comes to mind is my family. I have the most amazing family in the world. My parents have been married for 25 years this coming June, and they are adorable. They have given me the greatest example of what a marriage should be. My whole family is always supportive, helpful, involved (so so involved), and hilarious. I crack up so much at my dad and my brothers its ridiculous. Every single day I am thankful for the family I have. I am so blessed. At times I compare my life, with my family, to that of others, and it's mind boggling how lucky I am. We are all so healthy, and all quite close. My parents and my brothers are my favorite people in this world. I cannot wait for the time I am going to get with all of them this holiday season.