crafts

A Market for Good (My First Craft Fair)

11:15 AM

I'm getting married in a month and a half. Did I really just sign up for a craft fair, my first in at that?! "A craft fair 2 weeks before my wedding? Am I crazy? Can I even do this?!" These along with a few dozen other questions popped into my head once I got my acceptance email from the gals at A Market for Good.

After a few moments of sheer panic and a big, deep, breath I said to myself "now's about a good time as any... you got this!" I found a Market for Good though my friend @creativeamme who is sponsoring the event. I looked at their website and read what they represented and I knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of. There mission is to sell things and do good.

Their goal is to provide:
1. Clean water: provide cleat water for communities in need globally.
2. Community development: global projects benefiting underprivileged communities: elementary age playground structures, construction projects, donated clothes, and youth sporting equipment.
3. Food: helping end hunger by providing food to those in need.

Here are all the vendor's that will be joining me, to see more: click here.

A Market for Good will be at the San Clemente Community Center in downtown San Clemente on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19, 2019. I'll be there on Saturday from 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM if you're in the area or are interested in going! A portion of all sales goes to helping underprivileged communities. On top of that, you'll also be supporting small businesses! To learn more about the amazing work they are doing, visit https://www.amarketforgood.com/. Check out there Instagram here: @amarketforgood.

fur babies

Naia's Adoption Story

12:00 PM

Today is my darling fur baby Naia’s one-year adoption anniversary so I wanted to take the time to share her story. I remember hearing somewhere that millennials are buying houses with yards for their dogs and although I’m not sure if I still qualify as a millennial, this fact was true for me. When we first moved into our home last August with our 6-year-old Pomeranian terrier, we knew we wanted him to have a little sister. So, I made a list: 1) must be short-haired 2) not a chihuahua. I’ve had a lot of chihuahuas growing up, I’m not saying all, and they can be very yappy. We had just moved into a townhome and were in very close proximity with our neighbors. Ares is quite the barker already, so we didn’t want to have a mini Ares in that department. Thus, began the beginning of our “Find Baby Sister” mission.

 
LA County Animal Shelter – mainly pit bulls and chihuahuas here.

LA County Animal Shelter – we found the most beautiful brown and white Australian Shepard here that I cried about for days. I wanted to badly to adopt her so badly that I requested to be off the morning she was up for adoption. Ultimately, I knew there was no way I would be able to give her the life she deserved. We had a yard but with how big we knew she was going to get, we knew it wouldn’t be a good idea.

Shebarum Park Adoption Fair – met a lot of cute puppies and found one in particular that I was considering. So, I grabbed an application, filled it out and went home. We were told that we’d receive a call if we were selected and well, I never got the call.

San Gabriel Humane Society – I came right when the place opened, and this place already had a long time. I immediately found 4 dogs that I fell in love with. My first pick ended up having owners who were right behind me as I was on FaceTime with my fiancé Jonathan. As sad as I was, I’m really glad she got to go back to her home. Dog #2 reminded me a lot of Ares since they were similar in color, this cutie was just a little smaller and he was a male so unfortunately had to pass on him too. Dog #3 was gone when I made it back to her area and dog #4 was being walked out with another family. I accepted my defeat and headed home. They had the best variety of dogs at this shelter, but I knew that my future fur baby wasn’t here.

Baldwin Park Shelter – this shelter had an indoor/outdoor system so we could see the dogs from inside and outside. The first time I walked past her kennel I had only seen a white shih tzu. Later when I walked outside, I saw a brown and white gorgeous little thing just sitting there. She was calm, her tail was not wagging and with a little smirk on her face. She completely ignored me and paid no mind to me at all. I went back inside to read her card, it said that she brought in that same morning and wouldn’t be eligible for adoption until another few days. In California, the shelter holding period is 2-7 days. This time allows the owners time to claim their lost pets. So, I called every single day for 3 days straight. On the 3rd day the shelter told me that I was first in line to adopt her and that the would get her spayed in preparation for adoption. At this point, I have not interacted with her 1:1 out of her kennel but I already I knew she was the one.

Her name before she was Naia. Who could this gorgeous thing go?


Look at all that sass. I knew I had to have her.

Adoption Day
The next time I saw her was the day of her adoption. I drove up to the shelter, filled out all the paperwork, paid for her license and adoption fee and waited at the on-site veterinarian office for her to wake up. She was still groggy from the medication when she was given to me, so I still wasn’t sure how she was at 100% yet I was already so in love. I drove home to Jonathan who also got to meet her for the first time. We took a short drive to the pet store to buy her a cone (to protect her from biting of the stitches from her spaying). By law, all dogs that get adopted must be spayed or neutered.

Video of her after her procedure and the vet letting me take her home.
This was in the car ride on the way to the pet store to pick up her collar.


It took 2 months, 1 adoption fair, 4 animal shelters and 53 dogs later, but we finally found her! The rollercoaster of emotions was all worth it in the end. We took our time and found the perfect addition to our little family. Now remember my list from earlier: 1) must be short-haired 2) not a chihuahua? Well, the shelter says she is a mixed terrier but to me she looks like she may be mixed with a long-haired chihuahua. I got everything I thought I didn’t want. Life is funny and beautiful sometimes, but I wouldn’t change anything about it. We’re so lucky to have her and I know she’s not here to speak for herself but if she could, I hope she feels the same.


Naia in her cone of shame, healing after getting spayed. She always fought the drowsiness from her medicine. I always felt like she was afraid to fall asleep because she was afraid we'd leave her. This always broke my heart. She is such a cuddle monster and loves being snuggled.


One of the first photos I took of her after she was all healed. Her energy changed completely and she turned into a hyper-active, happy baby.
Meeting Ares
I've heard so many things about not introducing 2 dogs at the home but in a public space instead. This is to protect both dogs from claiming dominance and to be in a more relaxed state of mind. Naia was already so drowsy and we knew it was best to just bring her home to rest. When we walked in Ares was all over her trying to sniff this new little fur ball. With the last bit of her energy, she let out a little growl and we decided it was best to just keep them separated during her healing period.

We were very lucky. Ares took her immediately and loved grew a bond instantly. He looks at her like a little sister and always lets her have her way. He's firm when he has to be but he's a big softy when it comes to his litter sister. He'll always give her the toys or the bigger bed. We couldn't ask for a better big brother.

Kennel Cough
To add to that, she developed kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) which is a respiratory disease that causes dogs to, well, cough. It reminds me of the whopping cough. This is huge problem in the animal shelter system as there are so many dogs in close contact. Kennel cough is also extremely contagious and unfortunately for us, Ares also caught it from her. The cough alone gave me anxiety. Watching your babies hack up their lungs without being able to do anything to help them was so hard to see. We tried to massage their throats, pet their backs and did everything we could do to make them comfortable, but we couldn’t take watching them go through it anymore, so we went to see a vet and the gave us some meds to feed the dogs. I’m not sure if the meds really helped but we went through roughly 4-5 weeks of the dogs like this. Thankfully, it eventually went away.

 
Her first visit to the pet due to kennel cough. It was so hard watching her go through this.

 My favorite girl in the world.

 
 I can't believe how tiny she used to be. The animal shelter said she was under a year old. She was so thin and her hair was so short.

 

 
One of the best decisions of my life was bringing this baby home to her furever family.

Naia in a nutshell. She's such a goofy girl but we adore her.

Puppy Love
Growing up, my family has always taken in stays along with dogs from family and friends, but this was our first time adopting from a shelter. There are 3 dogs that I have a super special bond with: my first dog Kora (Boston Terrier), Sasha (shih tzu) and Naia (terrier mix, we think). I don’t know what it is but Naia has been the most loving and affectionate dog I have ever had (and I’ve had over 12). Ares is very independent and doesn’t love being smothered. Naia on the other hand loves all the snuggles and all the hugs and kisses. There’s this thing people say about shelter dogs “knowing” that they were saved and so their appreciate level is much higher. I mean, I can’t prove it or anything, but I can tell you what I feel when I look into that little girl’s eyes and I know she loves me right back. I may have "rescued" her from the animal shelter, but she constantly rescues me.


She's been such a blessing. If you're thinking about getting a new pet, I urge you to adopt. Make a difference. Adopt, don’t shop. Rescue pets are the absolute best.

 If you have an adoption story you’d like to share, I’d love to here it, just comment below.

wedding

Wedding Series: The Perfect Meal Plan

12:00 PM

Welcome to the wedding series! I wanted to share some of the things I learned during the wedding planning process. Today, we’re talking about food and all the options you can select from including on pros and cons of each. I’ve also included my list of 13 important things to ask your caterer.

Catering Minimum
Always ask what the food minimum is, if any. This is so important! This tells you how much, at minimum, you must spend on this particular part of the wedding. Some venues that include catering allows you to remove and add things to reach the minimum. For example, you decide to skip on the charger plates and extra candles (décor) for an extra salad option (catering). If you’re having issues hitting your minimum, I suggest running through your entire list of décor or catering and seeing if there’s anything you’re able to give up.

Buffet
The buffet option requires guests to get up and grab food themselves from a specified area. Typically, the buffet style tends to be cheaper since the caterer doesn’t have to pay for staff to serve the food to each table only to refill. The food is usually in chafing dishes that keep the food warm. If you want to fancy it up, you can ask you caterer to provide staff to serve your guests at the buffet station.

Tip: be sure to work with your caterer on vendor meals and kid meals if you chose this option. Also, be sure to work with your coordinator/planner to ensure the traffic and flow is continuous.

Suggested:
  - To help save a little money without having to reduce your guest list (best option for those on a budget)
  -  Everyone is welcomed to eat as much or as little as they please
  - Allows guests more freedom on their food choice and aren’t tied to a decision they made months ago and may not even remember (plated)
  - Provides time for guests to mingle with each other as they walk to and from the buffet area
  - If you have venue with space for a buffet set up
  - If you have an outdoor venue, if your wedding theme is rustic
Not Suggested:
  - If your attendee lists contain a lot of older guests
  - Can be a mess if not organized properly

Plated/Courses
The plated option is served in courses which is typically, bread, soup or salad, appetizer, entrée and dessert (cake). The catering staff would bring out each pre-selected course to your guest and would bring out the next after everyone is done with the first. Guests would remain seated the entire time.

Suggested:
  - If you want your guests to relax and not have to get in line for their food
  - If you have a lot of older guests who may have trouble getting out of their seat
  - Less wasted food as everything will be portioned
  - Best option to cater to guests with food preferences or allergies
  - If your wedding theme is more romantic, or classic
  - If your venue is smaller (no space for buffet set up)
Not Suggested:
  - More work on the front side collecting each guest’s meal preferences (usually during the invitation phase)
  - Less food variety, guests eat what they already pre-selected
  - Takes more time as guests have to wait for the food to come to them

Family Style
This family style concept is very common in Asian cultures. I’ve experienced this at Vietnamese, Chinese and Cambodian weddings but I’m sure it expands beyond that. It’s usually a 7-course menu where each course is brought out one by one and it’s served family style (large serving dish enough for the whole table). All guests can grab their own food from the center of the table (usually on a giant lazy Susan, the rounds thing in the middle of the table that spins). This option has recently gained a lot of popularity and is becoming more common across all cultures.

Tip: If you choose this option, I’d suggest creating a menu so that guests can see exactly what is in each item (for guests with food allergies, etc.).

Suggested:
  - If you want the wedding to have a less formal feel
  - If you have a small wedding where everyone knows each other
  - If you want your guests to interact, this is a great option
  - Guests are familiar with the family style
  - Allows guests to eat as much or as little as they want
Not Suggested:
  - If you have a lot of vegan/vegetarians (you might have to ask for specialized meals)
  - For Asian cultures, there is typically no refills on the food (be sure to ask your caterer)
  - Less portion control, possibility of wasted food

In my opinion, only you know what's right for your wedding and as long as the food is delicious, your guest could careless if they had to walk to go get it or if it was served to them. Below are some important questions you should ask your caterer.

Good lucky and happy planning! Don’t forget to share this with your friends! Comment below any other questions you would ask your caterer.

just for fun

Favorite Streamed Shows

12:00 PM

I know I’ve shared some personal things before, but this is as personal as it gets. This is my all time, TOP SECRET list of favorite shows on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Guard it with your life! Just kidding, please share this list with all of your friends and families and their friends and families and even your dog Spot.
This list is based off of the shows that I’ve actually watched. I’m sure there are hundreds of other amazing shows out there, these are the ones I’ve been able to watch from beginning to end and can vouch for. I’ve added * to shows I’ve watched 2 or 10 times (yes, I’m “one of them” and proud of it). I’ve read somewhere that it’s not healthy to have a television in the bedroom but Jonathan and I both need white noise to sleep. I’ve always been this way, be it music or the TV (don’t worry we use a timer so it’s not on all night). Since we’ve moved in together, there hasn’t been a night where the TV isn’t on playing something (95% of the time it’s Grey’s Anatomy).

Netflix:
  - Arrow (superhero, drama)
  - Breaking Bad (crime, suspense)
  - Dexter (crime, suspense)
  - Gilmore Girls* (witty, drama)
  - Grey’s Anatomy*** (medical drama)
  - Friends** (comedy)
  - Legacies (spin off of Vampire Diaries, supernatural, thriller, suspense)
  - Pretty Little Liars (suspense, drama, crime, mystery)
  - Sabrina (supernatural, thriller, suspense)
  - The Fosters (family, drama, foster care)
  - The Originals (spin off of Vampire Diaries, supernatural, thriller, suspense)
  - Quantico (FBI, drama, suspense)
  - The Walking Dead (zombies, suspense, drama)
  - Weeds (crime, family, drama)
  - Vampire Diaries* (supernatural, thriller, suspense)

Hulu:
  - Bachelor in Paradise (reality, dating)
  - Baby Daddy (baby, comedy)
  - Brothers & Sisters (family, politics, drama)
  - Designated Survivor (politics, drama)
  - Desperate Housewives (drama, mystery, crime)
  - Grand Hotel (crime, mystery, drama)
  - Good Trouble (spin off of The Fosters, social issues, politics, drama)
  - How I Met Your Mother** (comedy)
  - Naked & Afraid (reality, nature, survival)
  - Naked & Afraid XL (reality, nature, survival)
  - Revenge (drama, crime, suspense)
  - Royal Pain (medical, comedy, drama)
  - Station 19 (spin off of Grey’s Anatomy, firefighters, drama)
  - The Bachelor (reality, dating)
  - The Bachelorette (reality, dating)
  - The Deadliest Catch (reality)
  - The Rookie (crime, drama, comedy)
  - White Collar (FBI, crime, drama)
  - Younger** (witty, office, dating)

 Amazon Prime:
  - Suits (law, drama)
  - The Bachelor (reality, dating, drama, comedy)
  - The Bachelorette (reality, dating, drama, comedy)
  - Jack Ryan (military, drama)

If you have a show you’d like to recommend, please, please, PLEASE leave me a comment so I can start. Happy streaming!

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