How to turn 30 [homeboy edition!]

First off.. don't ask me where "homeboy" has come from [in the blog title] but lately I can't stop calling everybody homeboy! I don't know why but it is what it is! Jose turned 30 Saturday and it was a fun day  for me to go all out and make sure it was a 30th to remember as much as possible. The day before his birthday I randomly decided to buy him 30 balloons and surprise him when he came home at midnight from work :) and than randomly give him an oreo birthday cake "cake". He loved it! Than the next morning I woke up nice and early to decorate the room simply for him to open presents... and make his cake he specifically requested [funfetti with a big 30 on it!] Followed by MY present - sick ass seats to see his team, The Mets!  Now I'll let the pictures do the story telling :) 

did i mention i'm deathly afraid of balloons? its a terrible phobia and i was crying driving in the car with these things so he KNOWS how special he is to me! 

blow out the oreo birthday cake! 

 since his mexican birthday fiesta party plans fell through... i decided not to let the decorations i bought go to waste! 

 his cake... which was missing frosting in the middle but thats what happens when you bake a cake last minute :D

 pouring that champagne! toasting to another year of life :) 

 jose, with sleepy eyes, and his first DVDs of the day!

meet the mets, meet the mets!

step right up and greet the mets!

  mr. met is my homeboy! 

for real though.. SICK ass seats!

 and a shout out on the scoreboard!! lol last minute thinking coming through again! :) 

we sat up in the suites... and it was the SHIT!

The celebrating didn't stop! His brother and sister-in-law came over to eat his birthday cake with us ... but by then a nasty headache took over and the picture taking stopped for me :( But Jose said it was a great birthday and that's all I wanted for him. Thank god he's not turning 30 again so I don't have to go broke again :) 

& That was our Saturday in a nutshell! How was your weekend? 

THE BIG 3-0!!

Today my amazing husband Jose turns 30! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSE!!!! :D

Jose i can't even EXPLAIN how much I love you! I have so much admiration and pride for the man I married. I watch you play with our dogs and care for them and can't wait to see that love take a step up when we have our own kids. You are always wanting to learn and test yourself and be the best person you can possibly be. I am so proud to call you my husband for so many more reasons... but just know as you turn 30, I am here with you every step of the way.

I'll be pushing you forward, encouraging you to keep learning and testing yourself, I'll keep washing your socks for you, keep learning [and sometimes failing] to cook for you, keep baking you that funfetti cake you love, I'll be telling you where you left your glasses cos you never remember, buying you your foot spray & nagging you to PLEASE wear something else but that plaid shirt! I do it all & more... only because I love you :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUBBA!! :D

Jose below [on the right] with his brother ... TELL ME JOSE NEVER CHANGES!!! lol

Feliz Cumpleanos mi Amor!!

Happy Monday!! How was everyone's Kentucky Derby/ Cinco de Mayo weekend?? Everyone I know was busy working so I didn't do too much except watch the big boxing fight that night at my brother in laws for an hour than went home lol. Buuuuuttt I did get to enjoy some quality time with my [fur] boys at home cos it was our dog Riddle's 3rd birthday Saturday!! He got SPOILED this year! [Not just by me but his grandma too :)] And not only Riddle but Lando & Hitchcock [the cat] got gifts too! A great birthday enjoyed by all :) AND I took pics! Enjoy watching Riddle celebrate his birthday - with a party hat and all! 

riddle loves opening gifts.. so naturally, i wrapped them! 

 the birthday boy with his favorite gifts!!

 it's my birthday & i'll pout if i want to

this kid loves his toys

I highly suggesting making the most of your pets birthdays! They aren't here forever so let them enjoy it & enjoy it with them! :D 

Our Christmas eve eve

Our Christmas weekend was underway on the friday when we celebrated my cousin/godson's birthday! It was just family so a nice, small birthday gathering with Christmas music, boxing and the yummiest homemade mac n cheese! 

my Aunt's whimsical looking tree

me and Henry, my cousin

both the boys

julius, the birthday boy, and I

we "adults" found a way to entertain ourselves

Julius sat on the floor most of the night playing his Nintendo DS

Welcome to the Jungle!

Saturday night we went into Manhattan to celebrate my girl Alex's 25th birthday redo. Yup, fuck getting older! It was at a bar called Angels & Kings and I don't know about everyone else but I had a damn good time!! Paid $16 for 4 drinks [that does NOT happen in NYC], dancing to Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi AND Notorious BIG in the same night and doing it all with the dopest friends you have... sounds like the perfect night out to me! 

Alex, the birthday girl, and me!! 

it took about 10 different pictures before we actually got a good one... apparently my husband is a socially awkward photographer?? 

the hubs and SIL... plaid thugs for life!

Wendy & Nes looking too cute for words

A LUSH birthday!

Friday night was spent at the LUSH store celebrating Esther's birthday with our close girl friends. It was really small and intimate but so much fun. We got $25 gift cards, free facials and arm massages. LUSH is an amazing store and if you haven't tried any products, RUN and try it! The prices and quality are too good to beat. 

like a candy store i swear! 

all us girls

The birthday girl getting her hand done 

The LUSH employees kick ass

lots and lots of soaps

Ride or die 'til the very end...

Today is my amazing best friend [and sister in law's] birthday!! Esther is 26 today!! We have a special best friend connection since both our birthdays are on the thirteenth of the month. 

I love this girl more than I can say! And year after year, through countless different hair styles, she remains my absolute closest, trusted, best friend. I love you girl!! Happy Birthday!!!

Maybe I'm Amazed

Today this little man is turning 29, getting a tattoo, getting some fabulous gifts he don't know about and enjoying some delicious cuban food for dinner!

Today is Jose's birthday! My husband, my love, my best friend, my sleeping partner, my shopping buddy. My other half. Seriously though. He drinks his drink, I chew his ice. He orders his burger, I eat his fries. And many other weird quirks that just make sense to us. He makes me so happy I can't even say. And I only hope he knows how much he means to me. So Happy Birthday Bubba!! 

"Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings was the last song played at our wedding. And now it holds a special place in my heart for this man. 

My Mom, The Hero

Today is my wonderful mama's birthday! Here's my wonderful mama [and dad] back in the beginning of the 80s!



This is one of my all time favorite pictures of my mom! Her style is so amazing and this picture sums it up perfectly! She loved her curves [and taught me to love mine as well] and she loved showing them off. I've been searching EVERYWHERE for a shirt like the one she's wearing [it seems to be green and black stripes] And the glasses! lol i LOVE those glasses! AND I love the hair! I remember when I was younger my moms hair was HUUUUUGE! Now she straightens it :( lol i miss my mama's fro!

So happy birthday to my hero. My romodel. The woman I hope to be one day. My mama.

I LOVE YOU MAMA!

I'm Sooooo tired...

Bleh..I have been home the last 3 days sick with the flu. Shit is not good over here.. I feel terrible! So naturally I'm making this quick... so glad January is OVER at midnight. Snow every week was weak! February is an awesome month cos it's so short and goes by fast - bringing Spring that much closer.

But there's one good thing about today. It's my older half sister Ann Marie's Birthday!! True... Ann & I are YEARS apart. like seriously, 20 years apart. But we are very close and really alike too [which is crazy considering the only thing that makes us related is having the same dad alone] So HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANN MARIE!!

See? We don't even look alike... you would never think I was related to her would you? But I is! And i love her! :) I hopefully will be seeing her for dinner Wednesday night - if I'm feeling better.

I'm glad it's your birthday!!

Today is December 6th! You know... the day after Pearl Harbor happened, the day before John Lennon was murdered... and the birthday of my younger sister, Nicki! [everyone spells it NIKKI at her request but I say FUCK that and call her Nicki cos her name is NICOLE with a C!] Anyway... the bitch is 22!! And I can NOT believe it!!

 You wouldn't either especially since everyone that meets us swears I'M the younger sister which is kinda cool for me! But nah! She's the younger sister and I love her!  But today's not just her birthday. Well now it is.... but it used to be my dad's birthday too. I swear! They have a special bond, her being born on his birthday. He always LOVED that. And if my dad were alive he'd be turning 69 which is SIIIICK! Cos he NEVER EVER EVER [i swear!] EVER looked a day over 40!!

So to my daddy! Wherever you are, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

[i'm the toothless one on the left in my Little Mermaid sweater! I was ALWAYS Disney obsessed!]

Yiiiikes! Can you believe that fur wall in that picture is the SAME HOUSE in the post below!? My mama's house has come a looooooooong way from when we were little!

Saturday Night's All Right

Well my birthday has come and gone! I am now 25, it was my last birthday as a "single girl" if you will! And it was the shit! I got amazing gifts [more on that later] and had a fabulous time in Atlantic City. But now I'm sick as hell :( blaaaah! I feel horrrible! But Ima get over it and talk about my birthday dinner!

We went to The Continental at the Pier Shops at Cesar's Palace and it was dope. It was a tapas menu.. though they brought plates out 2 at a time [we did NOT like that] because it really was not all that much food to share between 6 people but the vibe there was dope!

 here

We went down [jose and me] with his brother and wife and our "couple" friends, Nestor and Wendy. All 4 of them are in our bridal party too!

 not sure why Jose and I look so freakin bloated here... this is before food!

It was pretty yummy... but I did not take picutres of the food or anything else cos I was too busy getting my drink on! I'd definately go back though! Loved it! :) And boo to having no birthday cake! :(

Twenty Five... F*CK I'M OLD!

[title quote from one of my favorite sex and the city episodes ever. kudos if you know!]

Well it's that time again ladies! Tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY!! Holla!!! I shall be Twenty Five! And we are spending my birthday weeked in Atlantic City!! Yess! FINALLY the time has come!! I'm very excited and very nervous because my sister is watching my dogs and my house... aaayy im having anxiety just thinking about that! But I HOPE she will respect my house and respect my dogs and watch them both!!

I just want to look back at my "twenties" birthdays real quick! I've had some pretty good ones but this birthday is gonna top them all. Why? Well let me show you!

Last year I celebrated my birthday with a simple dinner at Houlihans with my two girlfriends. Fun... but VERY uneventful!

 And the year before that when I turned 23 I went out to dinner, drinks and dancing with my OTHER girlfriend and Esther [who has been a CONSTANT no matter what at all my birthdays! I love my best friend!!]

 When I turned 22 [the day after Jose took me on the sex and the city tour] my girlfriends and I went back to the city at one of the BEST bars in the city! I wasnt too into it but it ended up being my best birthday yet! [AND i was so drunk, I ended up buying a $100 vibrator! lol still have it!]

 And then there was when I turned 21! Well... Jose was on tour with his band [yes he was in a band] and ALL my girlfriends were not of age yet! lol Sooo they suprised me with a suprise party at my house! My mom lured me out the house while they decorated my house into a "sex and the city" theme. lol Is it obvious how OBSESSED I am with Sex and the City?? TWO birthdays with sex and the city involved! It was a cool birthday even though I couldn't celebrate it at a bar! [Oh AND esther was there for my 21st too! With LONG blonde hair! Notice her hair is different EVERY year??]

And Jose was always there for my birthdays! lol My girlfriends just made sure to take me out and have my own celebration with them. But this year my girls and my man are combining it to make it a great one for sure!! I cant WAIT!! Oh and PLEASE pray with me that my dogs dont end up running away from home while I'm gone for two days!! lol