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I have a bit of a conundrum for ya’ll.

When I’m in school, I get anxiety over the time. I constantly need to know what time it is. It’s one of those OCD things I have going on. Kind of like looking at my cell phone every 5 minutes, to see if I have a text (even thought the phone has not rung or vibrated).

Well, there are no clocks in that classroom. And, my professor was very specific about the rudeness that is checking ones cellphone while in class. I agree. The last thing I want to do is distract her (or myself, for that matter) while rummaging throw my transient-sized purse, looking for my cell.

First day back from class, I go into my jewelry box looking for a watch, any watch. I have not worn one since the watch became obsolete in my life. Who needs a watch when I have a cell phone? I use to love watches and have a pretty nice collection, even though the newest one is about 3 years old.

I picked out my 1 year anniversary gift, a snazzy Skagen.

It did not work! And neither did any of my other little timepieces!

Time to get new batteries? I think not! Time to get a new watch! I decided that, if I want to be discreet about checking the time every 5 seconds, I should get a watch necklace. Doesn’t that sound cute?! I had my eye on a MARC Jacobs apple design about 2 years ago. They no longer make it. ;(

I found this similar one at Nordstroms. Since Rosana gave me a $50 Nordy’s gift card for my birthday, the total would be around $110.

When I was flipping threw the new Urban Outfitters catalog a few weeks ago, I found this beauty:

The only down side is that they don’t have it at local stores (I called around). I would have to order it online, bringing the total to around $40.

What should I do? Help! Please vote, my happiness depends on it.

poll by twiigs.com

Please vote. Now.

I have not posted a poll in a long time (and, I luv polls!). This post will revolve around your help with a decision. Not a life-altering decision, only a day-altering one.

Our Valentine’s Evening is pretty much planned out. We will hit Pacific Paseo Theatres at around 1900. We have reservations at our fav, Valentine’s restaurant, Parkway Grill, at 2200. In the meantime, Lara will be hanging out with either Nana & Tata or Abuelita & Abuelito.

Love Day also happens to be my Mom’s B-day (54!!!). She has requested to go have a meal at Panda Inn. I got her hooked on Honey Walnut Shrimp (we devour the shrimp, throw out the walnuts).

Here goes the dilemma:

Stephen has decided to take Valentine’s Day off! YEAH! Family Fun Day! But, where do we go? What kind of daytime adventure can we have before nightfall? How can we make this the best Valentine’s Day that Lara has ever had (Last year she slept all day. LOL.) Here go a few options:

1. Beach Day: I want to get in as much beach time as possible this summer. Little Lara only went once last year, she loved it. This will probably be a sweater & jeans visit instead of a bathing suit & flip flops visit. The weather should be nice. Plus, it’s free! 🙂

2. Knott’s Berry Farm: It’s $23.99/ea adult. Lara gets in free. Disney’s cheap counterpart and it’s even a shorter drive. With Camp Snoopy, it should be lots o fun for little Lara. Plus, I love me some Charlie Brown & the Gang. The only negative would be hitting traffic on the way back home. We don’t want to be too tired for an adult-themed evening.

3. Huntington Art Gallery: Good old stand by. This place is beautiful. A nice place to take a stroll and enjoy natural beauty (without getting too messy). Lara and I used to go there once a month (free Thursdays!) when I was off on maternity leave (miss those days!). $30, a little pricey for a bunch of shrubery.

4. L.A. Zoo: Lara has never been! She saw animals at the Mexico City Zoo (beautiful) but, she may have a better appreciation now that she’s older. $20 for 2 adults, Lara free! It’s going to be sad when we have to start paying for her. Age 2 is going to suck.

5. Olvera Street: We can take the metro (adventure!!!) to Olvera Street, walk around, eat, enjoy being Mexican, take the shuttle back home. We did this when the Metro 1st showed up in Pasadena. We’ve been wanting to do it w/ Lara. Lara does the metro! Almost free.

I think I have given you more than enough choices. Let the voting begin! FUN!!! 🙂 Also, we may be interested in the top 2 choices. We both have Tuesday off (Yeah, Lincoln’s Birthday!) and need something to do that day, too. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Where should the Parra Family spend their Official Love Day???

• Manhattan Beach: Sandy Spring fun.
• Knott’s Berry Farm: We heart Snoopy.
• Huntington Art Gallery: Local Oasis.
• L.A. Zoo: Where’s the monkey?
• Olvera Street: Que bonita mi gente!

Created on Feb 10, 2008

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Twas’ The Weekend Before Christmas…

Friday

Stephen was off…YEAH! I was supposed to spend the day sleeping but, I could not resist the chance to go out on the town with Stephen & Lara (they’ll be the end of me!). We went to Porto’s for lunch then, the Glendale Galleria for some last minute shopping. Stephen had to buy 1 more thing for his “Family Secret Santa” gift. Lara was enjoying the trip with her new toy. Friend Ale bought her a Lily Leap Frog Doll. She sings in Ingles y Espanol so, Lara should be bilingual in a few weeks (we wish!). Thanks, Friend! I also bought myself a Christmas dress (black, of course. Takes 5 lbs off, I swear!) and a jacket. It was free dress Friday so, I pretty much went from the mall to work. I was exhausted. The night dragged. That’s not the worst of it. At 0730, right before my shift was over, I got the runs (*TMI*) and threw up at work.

–I am a throw up pro. When I was pregnant, I had “morning sickness” all day, every day, for the duration of my pregnancy. I threw up all of the time and for no particular reason. The worst was when I would throw up in the shower. There were times when I couldn’t make it to the bathroom from our bedroom so, I was forced to do it on the front porch (Stephen: I will be forever grateful for all of the times you cleaned my throw up. I love you)–

Saturday

I took Saturday night off because my Mother-In-Law (and party planner extraordinaire), Julie, was throwing a Christmas Party. I was supposed to spend Saturday morning:

1. Taking care of my daughter while my husband baked 100 different desserts and tamales.

2. Getting my eyebrows waxed (2 months overdue).

3. Baking my specialty: Banana Bread & Pumpkin Bread (courtesy of Trader Joe’s boxed loaf mix)

4. Looking into getting a haircut/dying my hair/anything to update my look.

I did none of those things. I spent the day in bed. Sleeping, throwing up, and running to the bathroom while the runs ran after me. Not fun. We were 3 hours late to the Christmas Party. It ended 2 hours after we got there. Everyone was waiting for us and it was SO embarassing to be late. Sorry, guys. I threw up again after the party. And, NO, I am not pregnant (tear), I took a test this morning and the result was a sad negative.

What a wasted day off! In that case, I could have called in sick instead use my vacation time to fall apart. We got home at around 0000.

Sunday

We had to be out of the house because the cleaning lady was coming. We went to church and sat threw the Christmas play. Afterwards, we went to Lupita’s for lunch. We went to the mall (this time the Arcadia mall), again, and bought a few more things. I rushed home to change into my uniform and now I’m hear until 0600!

About the cleaning lady…

$100. Our house was a disaster and we needed serious help. As much as it hurt my tight pocket, time constraints have forced me to hire a cleaning lady. She left the house looking sparkly clean. One problem. She broke something. And, she didn’t tell us about it! She just left it there, broken, as if she didn’t know anything about it! Here goes a picture of the damage:

To you, it may seem like just a wise man. To us, it is the nativity scene we bought on our honeymoon in Playa del Carmen. It has sentimental value! The question of the week:

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Great minds think alike!

I was watching an Oprah re-run this weekend at work. It was the “Favorite Things” episode where she showcases her favorite things for the holiday season and gives those items away to the studio audience. Everyone goes crazy and those items are ‘sold out’ at a store near you. This year, along with a multitude of super cool things, one of Oprah’s favs is my UGG boots. Not just any UGG boot but, the new crochet kind. I hated UGGs until this new design came out. I bought the khaki ones for my birthday with a few Nordstroms gift cards (Mom, Susie, John, Rosana…thanks a million!!). Since our minds are synched, Oprah and I have a bond now! LOL.

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