here's to the mEMories...

My Lovely Girls

2011-11-24T20:58:00.001-08:00

I am so happy and blessed to be able to stand on my special day with 4 girls I LOVE and have grown up with over the years.

I wanted to ask each of them in a special way so I MADE (yes I can be creative!!) these little home-made cards and wrote a personal note on the back of each. Then, I ordered these cute, personalized pocket-mirrors from Etsy.

Meet My Bridesmaids:

Ine

Ine and I have been friends since the 5th grade. We played on the same high school basketball team where she would block almost all of my shots. She always makes me laugh. She always stands up for me. And I am so blessed to call her my friend :)

Samantha

Samantha, aka Sami, is my youngest sister. I LOVE her so much! Over the past year it's been just her and I at home because our other sister Shannon moved away for college. EVERYONE always tells us we're twins and I think it's a HUGE compliment because she is such a babe! I love getting ready together in the mornings with her and she always makes me laugh with her hilarious stories!

Shannon

Shannon is probably the kindest person I know. She has always been so sweet and loving to me and everyone for that matter. She shares ALL her clothes, shoes, jewelry and anything else with me. I wish I could be HALF as nice as her. I am grateful for her example and I love her so much!

My Maid of Honor:

Jessica

Jessica and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. I ABSOLUTELY love her to death. She always listens to me cry. She always gives me great advice. She is ALWAYS there to answer my phone calls. She is my personal GPS device. She is so trustworthy and I can count on her for EVERYTHING. She is honestly the best friend that most can only dream and wish to have. I have been so blessed to have her in my life and I love her so incredibly much!

Venue and Dress

2011-11-24T07:59:00.001-08:00

Derek and I are planning to be married in May and I will announce the EXACT date soon!

We are just a little over 5 months away from the big day, and Derek and I have been taking part in a planning frenzy! Some might say May is not that close and I still have TONS of time, but here's a little tidbit to throw into the mix. I am an accountant. As soon as February 15 hits and then all the way through April 15, I will basically be dedicating every ounce of time and energy to pumping out tax returns at work. AKA... no wedding planning for me. That being said, we have been workin' it and we can say that we crossed 2 BIG items off our wedding planning list this week!

Venue
Have you ever heard of Anoush? (Pronounced: Ah-Noosh; Origin: Armenian; Meaning: Sweet, Sweetness)

I am Armenian, and I really really wanted our wedding reception to be at an Armenian Banquet Hall, and for this primary reason... THE ABUNDANCE of FOOD. In the Armenian culture, it is SO important to be OVERLY generous when it comes to food. And that is EXACTLY what Anoush does. They bring food to your table ALL. NIGHT. LONG. And then just when you feel like you can't eat another bite, they bring you more. You can find plates of shish kabobs, hummus, pita bread, feta cheese, fruit, rice pilaf, to name a few items. If you go home hungry from an Armenian dinner, it's your own fault ;).

I also love that our reception will be held in the city that our love began to bloom! Derek and I met in the Glendale 7th Singles Ward. We hit it off at a Glendale 7th Dance. And Derek and I had our first kiss in Glendale.

Some other items that I love about Anoush include the dance floor, the coziness of the room, and the amazing service!

A side note...
My fiance, Derek, is half Hawaiian and half Samoan. Just because the reception will be at an Armenian banquet hall, don't think for one second that we won't be including some elements of Polynesian style and dance. ;)

MY Dress!!
Another HUGE thing I was able to cross off my list was MY DRESS!! I went dress shopping yesterday morning with my mom, my two best friends - Jessica and Ine, and my fiance's sister/my soon-to-be sister-in-law - Dionne. I was really nervous about finding a dress that I LOVED. I decided to go to a darling little boutique called A Dressy Occasion in Trabuco Canyon. It is run by a woman who has been designing and selling modest wedding dresses for over 10 years now. It was SO fun trying on different gowns and modeling for my family and friends. I am SO happy to say that I found the PERFECT dress though. As soon as I tried it on, everyone with me KNEW this was the one. It fit my body perfectly! I LOVED IT!!!!! Here's a picture:

Hahaha... yeah right ;). Derek will see this!

"Remember, Remember the Ninth of November!"

2011-11-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

As a preface to this story, I must admit to something. I am a snoop. I am curious. And I like to know EVERYTHING before it happens. So I snooped. I got curious, and I in a very sneaky, yet ACCIDENTAL way, found out that Derek would be proposing to me soon. Through my detective ways, I was expecting him to pop the question on 11/11/11. Yes that sacred day EVERYONE was talking about. This special date only happens once. I JUST KNEW that was the day he would ask me to marry him. I had it all planned out. I was going to straighten my hair, wear a cute dress; I'd put on make-up for once in my life. It was going to be perfect. Yeah, well we always think we're smarter than we actually are... So,

Here is the story...

Last Wednesday, November 9, 2011 (11/9/11) was what I thought to be just an ordinary day. I had been at work all day. Derek had the day off as he'd just gotten off a 24 hour shift at work.

Our plan was simple. I was going to head over to Derek's apartment after work to make dinner then we were going to go work out together at the gym.

However, I got a text around 4 pm from Derek. "Hey Em! Josh and Noura want to take us out to dinner tonight. Can we go?"

I said, "Sure!" Suspecting nothing.

I headed over to Derek's apartment right after work. When I got to his place, I noticed he had just cut his hair. Sexy! But I didn't know why he got it cut?!? I had offered to do it a few days prior, but whatever.

I asked Derek what the plans were for the evening. He said, "We're going to meet Josh and Noura in Downtown at this restaurant called the Perch. Apparently Josh says it's a great place!"

It was about 6 pm as we headed out the door of his apartment. As we climbed into his big black truck, he had me map the directions to the Perch on his iPhone. We headed to Downtown and I had to read him directions the WHOLE way. Little did I know that Derek was using this "I'm-lost-so-please-help-me-find-my-way" act as a scheme to throw me off his sneaky trail!

When we finally reached the Perch, Derek parked in a lot and we crossed the street to the restaurant. As we were crossing the street, this creepy man was walking really close behind me. I kept getting closer and closer to Derek because I was nervous and wanted him to protect me, but he kept discreetly pushing me away. I would try to get closer yet again, and he'd push me away again! I was really bugged that he would do that, but didn't dwell too much on this. I later put two and two together and realized he was SO scared that I was going to feel the large box in his jacket pocket that he wanted to keep me as far away from him as possible.

We finally got to the restaurant! BTW... creepy man followed us all the way in. So weird.

There was a security guard at the bottom of the building. He approached us and asked which floor we wanted to go to. Derek said, "We want to go the Perch. The restaurant?" The security guard let us into the elevator and directed us to the 15th floor.

Once we hit the 15th floor, another set of security guards asked us where we wanted to go. Once again, "the Perch please." They directed us around the corner to the restaurant doors.

At this point I am thinking, "Ok Josh and Noura. Was it really necessary to invite us to a restaurant that is on the 15th floor of some old brick building, in the middle of DTLA, that requires large security guards to let people pass?"

We head to the front desk and three hostesses and the general manager look at us and say, "Hi, reservation please?"

Derek says, "Yes. Party of 4 for Josh?"

The general manager says, "Oh yes. Of course! Your party is actually on the upper level of the restaurant. Please follow me."

We walk up a back staircase to the "upper level" of the restaurant. AKA. The Roof!

At this point I am thinking: "Ok, why would Josh and Noura invite Derek and I, to dinner on the roof of the restaurant?! Why. Why. Why. Why?!?" I still wasn't suspicious though.

Let me tell you. When you think you're the smart one, and when you think you know everything before it happens. That is PRECISELY when you will be the one who is in for a surprise.

As we finally got to the roof, my breath was taken away at the beautiful Downtown LA skyline. I could see every building lit up in the night. I could see the reflection of the US Bank building, a special building for Derek and I, against another building. I could see Pershing Square, the very place where Derek and I first started to flirt. It was a BEAUTIFUL sight. Then in the far corner of the roof was a little fire burning in a pit with little couches set up around the fire. The general manager of the restaurant kind of slid into the background as Derek led me to the fire. At this point I knew we weren't meeting Josh and Noura for dinner anymore.

The view from the roof.

Derek and I just stood in each other's arms looking out on the beautiful city. It was BEAUTIFUL and SO romantic. I was in heaven :).

Then Derek turned me around to face him and began to say some of the sweetest things to me. The tears started to flow. Not a huge surprise to anyone who knows me well ;).

That is when Derek Tafua got down on one knee and said "Emily Ainian, will you marry me?"

And of course my answer was "YES!"

After that, we kissed. A lot :)

Then we came down to have dinner and to my surprise, yet again, there was a bucket of sparkling cider and a bouquet of roses awaiting me.

Derek planned this entire evening down to a T! And might I add. He planned it ALL at 2 pm the DAY OF! When he found out I had been a "snoop-a-doop," as he has now dubbed me, he knew he had to change his plans. And fast! He wanted to surprise me and he SURE DID!

I heard about everything he had to do that afternoon as we ate dinner, and I was in complete awe. Just to prove to you how well Derek had planned and coordinated this evening, as we went down the elevator at the end of the night, the security guard on the floor level saw Derek and I step out and he said, "I knew she'd say yes, man!" EVEN THE SECURITY GUARD WAS IN ON IT!!

Derek, you made me the happiest girl in the ENTIRE world that night. And you make me happy every single day. Thank you for being the kindest, most selfless, and loving man. I love you so much and cannot wait to be your wife.

On the roof of the Perch. Overlooking all of DTLA

At dinner overlooking the city.

My ring. I LOVE IT!

My Boo

2011-10-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted on here in SO long! And honestly, I kind of forgot about my blog, but one day I was on Derek's laptop; I opened up an internet browser and saw that he'd bookmarked my blog as one of his "favorites." That made me smile so much!!!! Then I realized I hadn't blogged since I started dating him! So, this post is a little tribute to the man I love and call my boo.

This night marked our first romantic rendezvous ;)

At a friend's party :)

We clean up nicely...

He came and cheered me on as I crossed the finish line for one of my races... at 7 am! (Notice the "pound it")

He trusted me enough to give him a haircut! It only took 2.5 hours.... :/

Derek took me to Disneyland for my birthday!

Derek turns 29... SURPRISE BIRTHDAY!

Date night :)

At our friend's wedding...

Derek makes me so happy, so I thought I'd share some of our happy times! I love my boo :)

Some events as of recent...

2010-12-07T18:47:00.001-08:00

1. I love Portos Potato Balls. I eat them AT LEAST once a week.

2. I started my job. I love it. It's nice not studying 8 hours a day, alone at home. Now I get to work in an office, with great people, and get PAID to do it!! :) Need your taxes done?

3. Christmas is just around the corner. I listen to KOST 103.5 on my way to work and sing to every single Christmas song. It's great.

4. I am on Week 8 (of 12) of half-marathon training. I am very sore. My longest run yet was last Saturday. I did 7 miles, non-stop. I usually like to pick a destination to run to. Saturday, I chose the neighboring city's cemetery to run to. Ironic? I pretty much wanted to die once I got there.

5. I just went to a 50's Christmas Party! You should do it sometime. So fun!!

6. I really want this for Christmas:

Want to come over and play it???

Summer 2010

2010-11-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

I know, I know... I haven't blogged in over 4 months. I don't know what came over me? I attribute it to my endless hours of studying for the CPA, meeting/making/and playing with new friends, running running running a lot, and road tripping! Needless to say, my being MIA has not gone unnoticed... many of my dear friends have reprimanded my neglectful blogging. So, in an effort to redeem myself I will attempt to recap my entire Summer, up until now, in this post.

CPA Exam
What is a CPA? It's a Certified Public Accountant. What is the CPA Exam? It's dreadful. I study every. single. day. from approximately 10 am until 5 pm for this test. There are 4 parts to it. Each part is accompanied by a textbook and lecture CD which I go through slooowwwlllyyyy; working problems, listening to these men with New York accents talk to me about accounting.

The books...

Peter Olinto. Would you like to stare at him all day?

I then sit for the exam. Each one is about 3-4 hours long. I enter the testing center. An ornery lady with short and bright red hair takes my fingerprints to confirm my identity (because naturally someone would try to sneak in to take one of these exams). I then am guided to a small cubicle where before me sits a monitor, keyboard, and a set of sound blocking headphones. I sit down. The 4 hour timer begins to tick down to 0. If I want to take a bathroom break, I have to sign out, but that timer doesn't stop for me. So, if out of all of this I have gained nothing, I have at least perfected my ability to use the restroom in record-breaking time!! I won't continue on with this lovely aspect of my life, however, the CPA Exam has been a big part of my Summer 2010. Lovely.

Family Fun, Old Friends, and Good byes :(
One fun weekend I spent with my family included a trip to Santa Barbara. We hopped on the train. Took a ride up North, and spent the day along the beach, riding a family bike (aka my Dad pushed us a lot because we were too lazy to pedal), and watching the Spanish Festival right on Main Street.

On the family bike

Soon after that day though, my little sister, Shannon, moved away to BYU-Idaho for college. We miss her. A. Lot.

My sisters and I + our cousins at Shannon's going away party
(From left to right) Me, Samantha (sis), Nora (cousin), Shannon (sis), Rita (cousin)

We Skype often though!

I've also spent some happy times with my friends from my childhood. I love them. A lot. It's so nice to have those constant friends, no matter what.

High School friends, at our friend Michael's wedding

Jess and I at a Dodger Game!

Trip to Utah for Conference
In the beginning of October I traveled to Utah to visit my wonderful and dear friends from BYU; I also got the chance to attend General Conference and listen to the words of our Prophet and Apostles. It was an amazing trip. It felt so good and comforting to know I have loved ones even miles away. It was wonderful to catch up with old friends and pick up right where we left off. What a blessing. Conference was also such a blessing for me this year. My testimony of the Prophet was reaffirmed.

(From left to right) Me, Daniela, Kristina, Ruth

Half Marathon
After my Utah trip I began training for my first Half Marathon!!! I cannot wait. I am in the middle of Week 4 of training. I feel great. I can run up to 5 miles now without stopping which I love! Running is actually a stress relief now, rather than a dreaded activity. Here is my running schedule:

Trip to Washington
I got to fly to Washington to see two of my closest and dearest friends get married... to EACH OTHER!!! I must say, I was the match maker on this one. My close friend Steve Merrill married my dear friend Janae Burrup, and I got to be a part of this beautiful day/weekend. I love them both so much and I wish them the best!

My Ward - G7
This has been the most wonderful and happiest part of my Summer. I moved back to California worried about losing the social aspect that was so readily available at BYU; little did I know that I would make some of the greatest friends and meet some of the most genuine people in my new ward here at home!! I think the only way I can adequately describe this part of my Summer will be through pictures. Enjoy :)

Cat, Mel, and I. Honestly, I love them.

Jon. Master Chef.

Me (Wilma), Christine (Tink), Cecilly (Greek Goddess)

Dance Party

My dear Cecilly

Cat giving a small group of us nose waxes. Incredible btw!

So... yeah. That has been my Summer in a nutshell. Very busy. Very fun. Very happy.

Travelling the World

2010-07-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

A combination of my world travels, studying for the CPA Exam, and my general laziness have been the reasons behind why I have not blogged; however, I am taking a much needed study break at the moment and repenting by making this blog entry.

In the past 3 weeks, I have been in the following locations: (chronologically)
1. Mexico
2. Utah
3. Arizona
4. Nevada
5. California
6. Illinois
7. Michigan
8. Indiana
9. Texas

Cool, huh? And I will explain what I did in each location...

Mexico
For 5 days, I got the opportunity to travel, by 15-passenger van, to Baja Mexico where I served at an orphanage among some of the sweetest little orphans. I heard about this opportunity from a friend and then decided to go on the adventure myself with one of my closest friends, Janae! At the last minute, my friend from back home, Ine, decided to join in on the experience and we picked her up in San Diego just prior to crossing the border into Mexico.

What an experience this trip was. I got to help teach a 4th grade class; I participated in a carnival for the children; I took the orphans to the beach for the first time in their lives, and I was in Mexico as the Mexican world cup game was being played. Perhaps what I got most from this experience was an understanding of how other people live. As I slept and ate in their orphanage, I caught a glimpse, merely a glimpse, of what it must be like to be an orphan. It seems as though there is not much opportunity available; however, these children find so much joy in the simplicity of life. Kicking a soccer ball for hours, or waking up at 4 am to crowd around a television set to support their national soccer team brought smiles and fulfillment to their faces.

Utah
I came back to Utah for my last week in Provo among my friends before moving back to California. I had a splendid good bye party! I love all my friends there and will miss them so dearly! Here are some pictures from the night.

Arizona and Nevada
en route to California

California
I finally moved back to California to start my job in the Fall at Milam, Knecht, and Warner LLC. - an accounting firm. The day after I got back I made a quick trip to Downtown LA for the Lakers Parade! So FUN! Now I am just in the process of studying for my CPA Exam. My first test is this Friday, in Regulation, aka Tax. EEEK, that is tomorrow!

Illinois
I flew into Chicago O'Hare Airport en route to visiting my dear friend Ruth, who lives in Michigan.

Michigan and Indiana
I spent a whole week in Michigan/Indiana with a dear and wonderful friend from BYU, Ruth, and her family. What a fun time I had playing with little children, eating home-made foods, making jam, bike riding, going to downtown Chicago for a day, reading Nancy Drew books, and getting pedicures. Ruth was such a great hostess and so was her family. Rachael, her older sister who lives in Indiana, is an amazing mom who is very on top of life... it was great to watch her each day with her children! I learned a lot about what it takes to be a mom! Saying good bye to Ruth was sad and hard, but I will see her soon! :)

Texas
Layover in Dallas, Fort Worth...

So... maybe I didn't travel the world, but I did indeed hit 8 states + Mexico in a matter of 2 weeks. I would say that is an accomplishment! I just loved seeing and meeting so many different people in the process.

I graduated...

2010-04-25T13:09:00.001-07:00

FROM COLLEGE!

Recent Updates...

2010-04-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't been on this in a while, and I have had some fun little experiences since my last post:

1. I went to Mimi's Cafe for my birthday with some wonderful friends!

2. I made these darling little baby chick cookies for Easter!

Directions:
a. Make oval shaped sugar cookies.
b. Buy two tubs of vanilla frosting. Dye one tub yellow, with food coloring.
c. Frost half the cookie with white for the egg, and frost half the cookie yellow for the hatching baby chick.
d. Delicately place an orange tic tac for the beak and two mini chocolate chips for the eyes.
e. Serve and enjoy!

3. My Division 1 Intramural Women's Basketball Team WON the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!! I got one of the coveted shirts my last semester here at BYU!

4. I graduate on Thursday-Friday, April 22-23. That is next week, in case you were wondering!!!

Pet Peeve

2010-03-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

I don't mind getting mass emails from my fellow classmates requesting I send them notes because they missed class that day; however, I do mind when their emails are unnecessarily explicit as to WHY they missed class.

Exhibit A
"I had a very bad allergic reaction last night and my face is swollen and has bumps everywhere so I was not able to go to class today. If anyone is willing to send me their notes..."

Disgusting!!!

Ok, have a wonderful day! High of 66 in Provo!

22

2010-03-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was one of the best I have had in a long long time! My two best friends from growing up, Ine and Jessica, flew all the way to PROVO to come visit me!!! I felt so loved and so happy!

Friday
1:05 pm - Get a call from Jessica informing me she and Ine landed.
1:06 pm - During the call, Jessica proceeds to yell at Ine because she is obviously making a scene about how "cold" it is. Mind you, I am wearing a light blouse without a jacket - oh Californians.
1:11 pm - While driving through the airport, I spot Ine from afar off. Correction, I spot the furry animal-like cap adorning her head.
The Cap

1:15 pm - I give the two greatest girls a HUGE hug!!

Ok, enough of the play-by-plays. We got into Provo, and of course, Ine and Jess needed to make a Sonic run for their Cherry Lime-aids. Ine had already map-quested the nearest Sonic. We got home, and I fed them lunch. Homemade Corn Chowder with bread sticks. We then went to tour campus for a bit. Ine shopped in the kids section, while Jess and I each got some normal sized clothing.

Then, at around 7 pm, we all headed to the Men's Volleyball game vs. USC. WE WON!! While leaving the game, Ine, Jessica, and I had a funny little encounter. I will not mention anything further in an effort to protect innocent parties.

What would a reunion be without FOOD! We stopped at a Mexican food restaurant unique to Provo - Costa Vida. Then, we stopped by a Frozen Yogurt shop for some delicious FroYo. Finally, to end the night, we walked into a random house having a dance party. OH MY WORD. WE LEFT ASAP! It was made up of some odd individuals dancing to the polka, "jerking," and doing back flips. Don't worry. We got out of there.

Saturday
Jess and I woke up early Saturday morning at around 8:30 am and made some delicious Sour Cream Pancakes; however, we replaced the bananas with strawberries because Ine is allergic to bananas. We then spread peanut butter on the pancakes and drizzled honey atop the strawberries. So tasty. I think my favorite flavor in the pancakes was the lemon zest the recipe called for. It gave the pancakes a little zing! I loved it!

After a hearty breakfast, Jess and I attempted to awaken Ine. (She did not join us for the aforementioned breakfast.) If anyone has ever attempted to wake Ine up before noon, it's quite an adventure. I thought that I might lose my life that morning; however, I think the aroma of the lemony pancakes drizzled with honey lifted her spirits. She woke up eventually and dined on her breakfast.

We then went roller-blading. Or tried to. Enough said.

After that... the party prep began! My dear roommate Karen, Ine, Jessica, and I redid the living room and turned it into a dance floor. We decorated the room with balloons and streamers, made delicious treats, and created a rad playlist. Then, my home teacher Ben brought over his keg-orator. A homemade root beer machine/maker! Cool. I know.

Then the party got started!!! What a funnn night! Thank you to everyone for coming. This was definitely a memorable birthday!

Sunday
Finally, the weekend ended with church. Jess and Ine joined... thanks girls! I know 3 hours is long, but I am pretty sure the snacks and hidden Dr. Pepper in Ine's purse got you through it! Finally, at around 1, I dropped Ine and Jess off at the airport. Sad day... however, on a brighter note... this is the last time I will have to say bye to them. Back to California for me come June!!!

This made me feel special...

2010-02-02T14:57:00.001-08:00

My once in a lifetime... claim to FAME!

Click here to read the news story!

Fun with the Family

2010-01-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

Being home with my family was so wonderful. The past two weeks were so relaxing, fun, WARM, and happy for me! I love my family so much, and I love the activities we did together.

We saw two movies: Sherlock Holmes and Avatar, both of which I HIGHLY recommend. Sherlock Holmes for the incredibly witty and clever storyline, not to mention the strikingly attractive men who star in it; Avatar for the AMAZING special effects and good story line - there was also an amazingly good looking man in that movie too!

We went on two "Ainian Family Field Trips," which my family is well-known for going on. Basically, we walked to Downtown Burbank and had frozen yogurt one night and dinner another night! So much fun!

We visited my grandmother, uncle, aunt, and cousins.

We went to the Wax Museum and Guinness World Record Museum in Hollywood, California.

What a wonderful 2 weeks. Tomorrow I fly out of warm and sunny Burbank, California to cold and FRIGID Provo, Utah. I guess it's time to get back to reality. That means snow, school, and work. Boo... thank goodness I have good friends to help me along the way!

Here are pictures from the museums...

Michael Jackson

Daniel Craig

Joker... CREEPY!

And the legendary "Attempt to take a picture of the family in an elevator" shot!

My new obsession.

2009-12-26T22:07:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Vera Bradley?

If not, you should familiarize yourself with her...

Vera Bradley was born in 1909 and is the mother of Barbara Bradley. Barbara is the co-owner and founder of a uniquely designed fabric purse line. You can pick from a variety of colors/designs and purse styles.

Click here to browse the website.

This is the purse I got for Christmas. It is the "Yellow Bird" Morgan style tote.

I also got the "Rasberry Fizz" Card Holder!

Home for the Holidays <3

2009-12-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

I am finally home for Christmas. This little vacation has been much anticipated. I love the warm 70 degree weather. I love my own bed/room. I love being with my family and friends. I love eating wonderful Christmas treats.

This past Monday, my family and best friend Jessica went to a little venue in Hollywood for a dinner and show. Here are some pictures from the night...

Wednesday night was my traditional sushi evening with my two closest friends from back home, Jess and Ine.

Today is Christmas Eve!!! We are going to my Uncle George's house, as tradition would have it; however, this year, my roommate Daniela will be joining me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I stole this idea from Monica...

2009-12-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

Sorry, Monica... but I think that Burbank's weather might be a bit more pleasant come Friday, December 18th. Thanks for the idea. ;) Love you!!!

If I were Asian

2009-12-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

this is what I would want my baby to look like...

Click to See Cute Asian Baby!

Isn't he a doll?

Now I am ready for Christmas.

2009-11-30T18:08:00.000-08:00

I want to list every food item present at my Thanksgiving Meal this year:

1. Turkey
2. Mashed Potatoes (Red Potatoes with chunks still in there - my Favorite)
3. Mashed Yams with Marshmallows on top
4. Cut Yams
5. Fruit Salad
6. Rolls
7. Green Bean Casserole
8. Pink Fluff (a pink whip cream topping)
9. Stuffing (I don't like stuffing)
10. Cranberries
11. Vegetables, Fruit, Crackers and Cheese all served as appetizers
12. Pumpkin and Apple Pie and Ice Cream
13. Ham
14. Gravy
15. Peas

I loved my Thanksgiving Feast... but now I am ready for Christmas music/lights/trees/presents/cheer/colors/etc.

Celebrations!

2009-11-24T07:09:00.000-08:00

The past 3 days have been full of Celebrations!

PRE-THANKSGIVING
On Sunday, my two great friends, Ruth and Jordan threw a Thanksgiving Feast at their apartment and invited close to 25 people to share in the festivities! This is their second annual Thanksgiving Dinner and I have loved being able to attend. I made GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE, except it was a gourmet version this time... I will admit, it was so tasty!Probably my favorite dish at the dinner was this apple, caramel, heath, and whip cream salad that was divine! Just look at all the delicious food we had. (The company was an added bonus too!) Thank you Ruth and Jordan - I love you two so much!

happy birthday Ruth... not capitalized
On Monday, I got to celebrate Ruth's birthday with her and some close friends. We all enjoyed a beautiful and tasty lemon cake (picked out by Jordan)! Then, it was fun just to be with Ruth and spend time with her on her special day. Whenever it is my friend's birthdays I like to tell them what makes me grateful for them...

What makes me so grateful to have Ruth as one of my best friends is her willingness to always listen to me and offer me good advice. Without fail, she always drops everything she is doing (even work) to listen to me if I am crying, if I am laughing and happy, or when I just want to talk. I am so grateful for that. Another thing I love about Ruth is how selfless she is. She has been so unselfish towards me throughout our entire friendship. She always gives me food that she has at her house; she always goes to the gym with me even if she DOES NOT want to go, and once she let me live in her spare bedroom for close to 2 weeks. Thank you Ruth; I love you!

Happy Birthday Jess
Today, Tuesday - November 24, 2009, is my best friend's birthday! Happy Birthday Jess. Unfortunately this is the first year since being her friend that I don't get to spend it with her because I am staying in Utah for Thanksgiving Break. However, I sent myself to her in a package... so hopefully that will do until Christmas. Some of the things that make me grateful to have Jess as a best friend are the following:

Jess has been my friend since 5th grade, and even though we spend so much time together over the past 9-10 years, we still unfailingly have so much to always talk about. That is what I love; no matter how far away I am in Utah or how often we see each other, we always can pick up like nothing has changed. Another thing I love about Jess is how loyal of a friend she has been to me. She has always stood by me to support and stand up for me. Thanks Jess... I love you and can't wait to see you this Christmas!!!

I love celebrations, and I just figured out why. It's the people that I celebrate with that make celebrations so celebratory. (Oh... the food is also great!)

I am grateful for...

2009-11-14T13:37:00.000-08:00

1. a mom who sends me packages in the mail, full of treats, goodies, and nice notes.
2. a dad who knows how to fix all my computer problems.
3. sisters who listen to my stories and always take my side.
4. a good job where I like the people I work with and can do my homework while there.
5. my warm Ugg boots.
6. my curly hair... I never have to blow dry it, brush it, or really do anything to it.
7. my friends back home and here in Utah.
8. my cell phone.
9. my laptop.
10. my future job, post-grad.
11. my education. AKA BYU.
12. my faith. My Savior.
13. my health.
14. my warm down-comforter.
15. roommates, old and new.
16. friends on missions who write me inspiring letters.
17. sunny and warm days.
18. beautiful snow on the mountains.
19. smiles!

It's been one of those weeks.

I figured writing all the things I am grateful for would change my baditude (bad + attitude = baditude) for the better.

It did...

Warm and Wonderful

2009-11-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

Home was amazing. I got to go home for 3 days, and I loved it! Here is what I loved:

1.) The hotel room with the King Sized bed all to myself for one night.
2.) The warm 75 degree weather all day, every day.
3.) Talking to my sisters about boys.
4.) Driving!!!
5.) Going to dinner with my family!
6.) Sitting on my bed with my two closest girl friends from home... and talking for like 3 hours. So therapeutic. I definitely needed that.
7.) Sleeping in my own bed!
8.) Having my own room!
9.) Showering in my parents AMAZING shower!!
10.) Going shopping with my Grandma.
11.) Hanging out with my dad on the drive to a from Orange County Airport.
12.) Hanging out with my mom on Halloween!
13.) Just being home. :)

There's nothing that gives you a boost to get through the next two grinding months of school like a trip home. See you soon... I'll be home for the holidays!

home home home

2009-10-19T07:26:00.001-07:00

I am going home for a short 3 days at the end of this month!

YAY!

...what we can become.

2009-10-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

For my Organizational Behavior Class, my group and I are required to perform a total of 50 hours of service. Now ironically, my group of five people struggled to come up with a feasible idea that would allow for each one of us to offer 10 hours of service to our community; however, if we really sit back and think about it, people are in need of service everywhere around us. For instance, the kid I see on the way to school everyday, who is always trying to parallel park his car into a TIGHT spot, could use a little guidance and help from me as I pass by. Or what about the cashier at Smiths who always looks so sad and bored; I am sure he could use a good conversation or smile!

Well, my group finally came up with an idea, and yesterday we put in about 8 hours of service. Let me tell you, it was so fulfilling. I am pretty sure I got more out of it than the people we helped. We went to the Provo Food and Care Coalition and essentially dished up close to 80 trays of food for the hungry. We got there at about 4 pm and began to set the tables. As soon as 4:30 hit, the kitchen began to fill with hungry men, women, and children. I had the opportunity to serve close to 50 people. The looks on their faces as I placed the trays before them made it all worth it. Maybe my favorite part of the evening was seeing an elderly man raise his hand and make a little announcement to the head chef. He said, "I just want to say that the dinner was SOOOO good tonight. Thank you!"

I guess what I learned from yesterday was that first, I have so much to be grateful for. The next time I complain... well, I shouldn't. Secondly, I am amazed at the gratitude that the poor have. Something so simple as a tray of food is enough to make them smile from ear to ear and express sincere, heartfelt thanks. Finally, I learned that service is really perhaps the most fulfilling and heartwarming endeavor anyone could ever take part in.

I think that I was supposed to learn something even more about the importance of service this weekend because every talk in church today was on... Service. Relief Society was on how to better love and serve our families; Sunday School was on Serving through Temple Work; and Sacrament was on Service, Service, Service. One quote by Elder Oaks stated,

"The values of the world wrongly teach that 'it's all about me.' That corrupting attitude produces no change and no growth... The plan of the gospel of Jesus Christ lifts us above our selfish desires and teaches us that this life is all about what we can become."

Becoming ... it requires action on my part.

Well... I have a lot of work ahead of me...

Conference Weekend and a Birthday...

2009-10-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was General Conference. I got the chance to head up to SLC with Alison and spend the weekend with her family. It was such a fun and good weekend; it's nice being in a home every once in a while. :)

One of my favorite talks was by Elder Robert D. Hales. He spoke on the importance of knowing our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ:

"As a special witness of the Only Begotten Son of our loving Heavenly Father, even Jesus Christ, I testify that God lives. I know He lives. I promise that if you and those you love will seek Him in all humility, sincerity, and diligence, you will know with a surety too. Your witness will come. And the blessings of knowing God will be yours and your family’s forever."

What a powerful talk he gave. I am grateful for the opportunity to watch and listen to these modern day apostles and prophets of God.

After watching Conference, some of the lovely friends over at Alison's for the weekend helped in producing an original music video. We love love love the Backstreet Boys.

Then... yesterday... was Daniela's birthday. Daniela is my beautiful Czech roommate who just turned 23. I love her!

Ok... that is a short version of my past couple of weeks...

And now for the updates...

2009-09-30T17:03:00.001-07:00

Hi! It seems like I have neglected this for a while now. The past couple of weeks have been very eventful. Here's the run down...

I have been interviewing and applying for a number of jobs, accounting, finance, or management related. I don't know if I will get any of them, but I am trying to have as many options as possible. This is what a typical interview day goes like.

6 am - Wake up, completely stressed about the fact that I am going to be grilled by some professional for 30 min to an hour.

6:30 am - Don't eat breakfast because I am too nervous, and will probably puke it up.

7:30 am - Put on the "business professional" attire. Ok, confession time. I LOVE to dress up. I LOVE to wear business professional attire. I love wearing my little kitten heel shoes. Yeah, I said it. Now what?

7:45 am - Out the door to class!

Sometime during the day - INTERVIEW! "Emily, tell me about a time you exhibited leadership qualities..."

Then, the rest of the day goes on... except I am especially happy because I still get to be dressed in the business professional attire for the rest of the day! :)

Besides interviews and school... I have had some other wonderful life events. First of all... my elbow is healing magnificently. I see my physical therapist once a week and he helps me. He begins by using a protractor to measure how many degrees I am away from complete movement of the elbow. I am improving at about a degree a day. Then, he uses this coco butter and tools to break up the torn ligaments around my elbow. Then... now this is the worst part... he pulls on my arm and elbow and coerces my elbow into complete extension. It hurts. I cry. He tries to avert my attention by asking me about my dating life.

Another exciting event that occurred. Well, one day, I opened the door to the rat-hole of an apartment that I am living in, and a stray cat ran in... all the way past the kitchen, living room, and bathroom to mine and Alison's room. I screamed. Daniela, my Czech roommate, grabbed the dang cat and put it outside. Then... 5 minutes later, I opened the door a crack and the stray fur ball was sitting staring right at me. I screamed. Alison grabbed a broom and started to stab at the cat. It ran away. I hate animals. So much.

Finally... Ruth and I have been going to the gym! We have yet to make it a full hour work out one of these nights... but hey, at least we go right? We also went to the Provo Farmer's Market two Saturday's ago. We bought some cute home made earrings and rings, some home made tamales and salsa, pears, apples; we sampled a million foods! Mmmm... it's been a good year so far.

Last night, I went to my friend Margo's dinner night. We had Hawaiian Haystacks that were soooo good! She is amazing, and her apartment resembles Hogwarts. I love Harry Potter... and Dumbledore.

I am happy. :)

Football Season...

2009-09-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

has officially arrived!

I am a bit lazy as of late... so a future post will have more of what has been going on in my life. Enjoy the pictures!

Braving the Blades

2009-09-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

I have taken up a new hobby.

Roller blading.

I am kind of good... but not really good.

Here are some pictures to prove it.

This won't stop me though... look for me on my blades! (I just got a new pair that I ordered online, in the mail on Friday!)

Oh, I missed them...

2009-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I just completed my first week at BYU as a college senior. Wow... it's amazing how quickly time seems to fly. So getting back to Provo was wonderful. I got to spend a full week (without any school to worry about) with one of my closest friends Ruth. We went to the grocery store a lot, made/ate REALLY good food, watched some excellent TV shows, and just caught up on life.

Then I moved in with my three lovely, beautiful, and amazing roommates. Alison, Daniela, and Karen. We have definitely had some interesting times in our new piece of work that we live in. Let's just say that we had a fifth roommate living in Alison's and my bathtub for a while... this extra roommate was not human either. I know, gross... but that was just an excuse to call our strikingly handsome maintenance worker over for some help. ;)

The first week of school was definitely a hectic one, but despite the "loads" of homework already piling up ;) I found just a little time to play. Make that A LOT of time to play...

Enjoy the pictures... because I enjoyed the fun times!

Summer Draws to a Close...

2009-08-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, I've neglected this for a while now haven't I? So much has happened and I have been such a bad updater... It's ok, here it is in a nutshell.

1. I worked my last week of work at my Summer job in Glendale, CA as an Accounting Intern. It was a bittersweet day. I love everyone I work with; they really are some of the best people I have had the chance to meet, talk with, work with, and laugh with. I look forward to seeing them soon.

2. I went on a wonderful beach house vacation with my best friend, Jessica, and her amazing family! They are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, and I love them like my second family.

3. I went to the LA Temple and Provo Temple to do baptisms within 3 weeks of each other and realized how much I love the temple, regardless of which one I am in. There is so much peace within its walls.

4. I roadtripped to Utah with my own family. I love them with all my heart. You never realize how much your family truly loves and cares about you... until you're without them. I love them. I KNOW they love me... and I can't wait to see them again.

5. I was reunited with some of my closest friends who I missed all Summer! I am honestly so grateful and blessed to have some of the best friends who care so much about me. I am such a lucky girl.

6. I hiked the Y with a good friend, Janae, and realized that there is nothing more wonderful and therapeutic than the beauty and grandeur of nature... and being able to enjoy it with a good friend.

7. I was reunited with my roommate, Angie. She is a beautiful treasure I have been so blessed with... and I have come to realize that more and more, as she and I have been apart. I will miss her this year.

8. My other best friend, Sister Megan Lo, left the MTC for Australia just yesterday. My friend Steve, was at the MTC and ran into her for the last time. She sent a parting message with him, for me. I love her. She is a blessing in my life. I am so excited for her!

9. I applied for a couple of jobs on-campus... we'll see how that goes.

10. I bought my textbooks... ouch.

I have recently begun to realize how much I have to be grateful for in my life. I have an amazing family who loves me more than anything. I have such sincere, caring, loving, and fun friends who also love me. I have had the opportunity to take part in a wonderful educational experience at BYU, and as my time here draws to a close... I am really realizing what a blessing it has been to be a part of such a university.

Well, there you have it. My last month of Summer... it's been one with many changes, and so many happy happy moments. :)

They got married...

2009-08-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Yay, the wedding was wonderful! The bride and groom looked amazing! I love them!

My sisters are cooler than yours.

And then there was one...

2009-07-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today was sad for me. I said bye to my two favorite work buddies! Alondra and Christian. It was our last day of working together because they are leaving me to get married... how could they? Well... in honor of their farewell, I decided a photo shoot was necessary.

This is the lovely face I see every morning when I walk into work! She's a gem!

This is who I see 24/7 because he sits in front of me.

Me and Alondra :)

Funny story with this picture. Christian always taught me stuff he learned in the Philippines (where he served his mission). Well, this little eye maneuver is what little Philippino kids do; it's comparable to a little American kid sticking his/her tongue out at you! Cool, huh?

Also, Christian used to practice his karate moves on me at work, when we weren't too busy doing taxes, audits, or other important things. ha.

Last Group shot!

Bye you guys! I'll miss you!!!!

Eight is a special number.

2009-07-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

Eight Things I Did Yesterday

1. I set my alarm for 6 am to work out. Fail! I got up at 7:07 am instead, freaked out, did my morning routine, and got to work by 8:30 am! Success!

2. I almost died. I will explain how. Well, I almost died twice. First, as I drove to work in the morning, I was changing lanes on the freeway, was driving a bit too fast, and overestimated my ability to change lanes fast enough and still avoid hitting the car in front of me. Luckily I have reflexes like that of a tiger and I avoided an almost fatal situation. Ok, maybe I wouldn't have died... but it would have been a close call. Secondly, my mom bought these soft, chunky, brownie, cookies, gave me one to sample, yet failed to tell me there are almonds in the cookie/brownies. I saw the almond sliver. I avoided it at all costs... I am alive. Don't worry.

3. I got a check for $32.50 from my work for winning BINGO!

4. I had dinner with my family, minus Shannon who is at EFY. This was a treat since we are all rarely home at dinner time! Can I just say my mom has the greatest produce-picking talent of anyone I have EVER met. She does little tricks with watermelon, corn, onions, any produce you name it... and they always taste amazing! The CORN was delicious!

5. I saw HARRY POTTER #6!!!! EEEKKK! I love Harry Potter! I HATE HATE HATE Belatrix Lestrange!

5. I ran into half my family ward after everyone got out of Harry Potter.

6. I ate a fiber granola bar for the first time in a long time. (People who are close to me would understand that this is indeed an accomplishment for me.)

7. I had family prayer with my family. :)

8. I slept at 11:30 pm. Yawn...

Eight Things I Look Forward To

1. Going to Oxnard and staying at a Beach House with Jessica and her funnn family!

2. Going to my friends' Christian and Alondra's wedding in a couple of weeks. :) YAY!

3. Going back to BYU, and being with some of my closest friends and people I care about. :)

4. Having little children. When they get older, they're complicated. I still have to work up the enthusiasm for that stage of their lives.

5. Being a really good chef! I hope that day comes sooner rather than later!!!

6. Finding an occupation in life that will be completely fulfilling and that will help other people. Mainly, I just want to do something that will make me happy and really make other people happier.

7. 5:30 pm... and going home from work!!!

8. Winning the next round of BINGO at work. :)

Eight Things I WISH I Could Do

1. Roller blade! (I am still an utter failure at this.)

2. Fly. I have always wanted to fly. It's the one super power I wish I could have because it would solve so many of my life problems. I could pick up and fly anytime I wanted to visit anywhere far. I could fly anytime I was stuck in traffic. I could fly from my office building to that other office building I always stare at outside my cubicle window.

3. Read and Write in Armenian - because it would mean the world to my Mesmama.

4. Cook Armenian food - because it's the best I've had!

5. Play the piano like Mozart. I still just play like Emily Ainian, it's alright. :/

6. Put on makeup. My little sisters know how to, and I DON'T! What kind of girl am I?!?

7. Go to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. I like Apollo Ohno...

8. Run a marathon. I can start on the training for that ASAP I think... right?

Adventures of the day.

2009-07-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

So, Ine, Jess (or should I say 'Jessie'), and I went to Zuma on Saturday. Well... we tried to go to Zuma, and all of the following happened instead.

1. We drove for 2.5 hours down PCH looking for a spot to park. Fail!

2. We decided to turn around and go to another beach instead. In the act of doing so, we almost killed a bicyclist. Why don't they ride on the side like they're supposed to?

3. We stopped at a ghetto gas station to go to the bathroom and saw some very interesting old ladies dressed in "way-too-tight" attire.

4. We found a "beach" to stop at. Let me describe this beach to you. It was surrounded by, I kid you not, a corn field or something of the like. It had more rocks than sand. There were some shady people and SCARY sights both in and out of the water.

5. As we walked along the beach, along came a lifeguard. He greeted us, and Ine tripped and pretty much took a nose dive. I proceeded to speed walk away from her and Jess... QUITE SPEEDILY!

6. Finally, we were done with our beach visit after two hours of tanning... by the way, my goal to be glowing and tan by the end of this summer is almost well accomplished.

7. As we proceeded back through the corn fields and rocky terrain, we almost got hit by a few cars, and Ine decided to say goodbye to the lifeguard. This time, no tripping.

8. We got back in our cars, drove back home along PCH, stopped at a Ralphs to use the restroom, and sang that song by Black Eyed Peas that I always forget the name of.

9. A few hours later... around 9:30 at night... Ine and Jess came over. I don't know why they came over? ha

10. Then, we all learned how to dance from YouTube. Jessica can 'jerk.' (it's a dance move)

The end. I like my friends. :)

Goodbye's are never fun :(

2009-07-13T09:29:00.001-07:00

Well, I flew to Provo this past weekend to say goodbye to one of my best friends, Sister Megan Lo. She has been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Brisbane, Australia Mission. She is entering the MTC July 29 and will serve for 18 months. I will miss her more than you can imagine.

Friday
I got to Provo around 1:00 pm Friday afternoon and was so happy to see my dear Megan and Angie who I missed terribly! We of course talked for a couple of hours to catch up and then decided to begin our festivities. The night included going to DI to shop for some "sister missionary attire" for Megan. Then we (Steve, Travis, and Alison joined in) went to Pizza Factory for some DELICIOUS food! Following the feast, we dropped in on the Men's Soccer Game, and then ended the night with The Illusionist and some other random fun.

Saturday
I began my day early by going to breakfast with another one of my closest friends, Ruth. Jordan, another great friend and Ruth's husband, joined us for some Mimi's! Mmmmm... I love spending time with these two; they are always so happy together and I love to see that! They then took me to see their new apartment at the Bavarian - soooo darling! Those two just make me smile!!

Even though this weekend was so wonderful and a much needed get away... I came to the conculsion that...

Goodbye's are never fun.

Fourth of July...

2009-07-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the Fourth of July for the following reasons:

1. My whole family is off from work/school/etc. and we get to play together!
2. I usually get to go to the beach or swim in a pool!
3. I love fireworks and I get to see a free show from my own backyard!
4. The barbeque chicken is delicious!
5. The fresh watermelon is delicious-er!
6. I love to see American flags waving everywhere I look.

Mostly though, I love the Fourth of July because I get to celebrate the fact that I am grateful to live in this beautiful country where I can speak freely, get an excellent education, work for good pay, believe and practice my own religion, and much more! Happy Fourth!

The early weekend started with my family and friends going to the beach! There were too many people there for my liking, but hey, all I need is some sand and ocean and I am good.

Then, on the actual Fourth of July holiday, I spent some lovely time with Jessica and her family, and Ine! Yay!

We swam...

We roasted marshmellows...

We (by we, I mean "I") avoided Molly...

Congrat's Gina

2009-06-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was one of my closest friend's graduation party! Gina Ann Kozai (the beautiful Asian girl, for those of my followers who don't know her) graduated from UCLA cum laude. That means the following: "top of her class," "with honors," "with praise." Essentially, she is a genious. I am so proud of her, and am so grateful to have been a part of her graduation party. Thank you for being such a good friend Gina! I love you and can't wait to see what amazing things you will accomplish in your life!

Some of the girls...

More of us... minus Jess... SAD!

Living proof that half white/half asian babies are the cutest in the world!

And I got to hold him.

Bear Pit Sounds Like Arm Pit

2009-06-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

We accomplished Goal #7! We ate at the Bear Pit.

Approaching the Pit.

Jessica thought her food was Elicious!

I love greasy sandwiches, greasy fries, and greasy baked beans! Yep.

"Boil'em, Mash'em, Stick'em in a Stew"

2009-06-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

My Summer goal of making a dinner for my family at least once a week is still in the works, and tonight was no exception! So, what was on the menu? Baked Potato Bar! The toppings included: Chicken, beans (refried and black) sour cream, cheese, green onions, white onions, jalapenos, tomatos, cheese, olives, sauteed mushrooms and onions, and some other stuff I am sure, but I am kind of full right now and don't want to think about food. Samantha was so kind as to help me again! She is seriously the best chef I know... and Shannon was at basketball practice and did a great job of enjoying my meal.

Goal #7 on my Summer Goals list is going to be accomplished on Wednesday with Jessica and her family! Yay for getting through the list. Sugar Hair Removal is coming up... don't worry everyone!

Serving Dinner or Dinner is served... you choose!

2009-06-01T19:46:00.001-07:00

Goal of the Summer: Expand Recipe Repertoire
So, as mentioned earlier, I have a number of summer goals. Tonight I put one of those goals into action. I made dinner for my family! I was really skeptical of what my family would think of my creations, but they loved it all! Yay! Samantha was so kind as to help me out too!

Main Dish: Honey Glazed Salmon

Sides: Vegetable Medley with Lemon/Garlic Marinade, Angel Hair Pasta, Homemade Garlic Toast using fresh baguette from Armenian bakery

Dessert: Fresh Rasberries, Blackberries, Blueberries with a honey/lemon glaze

Outcome: SUCCESS! Goal towards becoming a domestic goddess commences!

CPK With My Lovely Lauren and Megan - Wed. June 3
So, I went from seeing these girls every weekend... to NEVER! A reunion dinner was in order! Yay for eating delicious pizza on a heated patio back in CALIFORNIA!! Love you two to pieces!

"I want a solo shot guys"

2009-05-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

So thanks to the birth of my good friend miss Alisha Brown, we all got to go on a wonderful Disneyland adventure on Saturday! What a great day, with great rides, and great company!

We started off with food of course, but I have decided that I am not going to promote or support Disneyland's attempts at price gouging its customers in the future! They mark up everything they sell. For instance, they sell a water bottle for $3.50. Let's put this into perspective: Sixteen ounces of water at Disneyland costs about the same as 3 bean burritos from Taco Bell, or 1 6-inch sub from Subway, or 1 pack of socks from Target, or 2 cans of hairspray from CVS, or 2 packs of ball point pens from ANYWHERE! If you buy a water bottle from Disneyland in the future... I have nothing to say to you.

Ok, sorry about the rampage. We then proceeded to go on every fun ride at Disneyland! Matterhorn, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Autopia, Astro Blasters, Indiana Jones, and Nemo! I lost my voice that day from screaming on the fast rides.

Finally, one of the highlights was getting invited to ride up in the crow's nest on the the huge ferry boat that circles the park! Woo hooo! While we were up there I tried to get the "ferry-boat-man" to divulge all of the Disneyland secrets. He did! Here are a few!

1. On every ride in the park there is a "Hidden Mickey." However, on the ferry ride, the only way to find the "Hidden Mickey" is if you are up in the crow's nest (because of the aerial view you have). You have to look over the edge, and there are 3 rocks in the river that form the shape of a Mickey head!

2. Contrary to popular belief, there are NO hidden tunnels beneath Disneyland.

3. The river that the ferry boat floats on is 22 to 28.5 feet deep in some places... and yes, some people have drowned in it.

That last secret made me sad, so I stopped asking him questions. :(

By the end of the night, I was exhausted from a long day of walking around, riding on rides, and dodging crazy children... but I must say - Disneyland is really one of the happiest places on earth!

If I had a wish then it would be...

2009-05-08T23:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday MOM! So her big day was actually April 22, but seeing as how I was studying for my Tax Final in Utah, my dad was probably attending a meeting, Shannon was having basketball practice, and Samantha was doing homework, we decided to go out for the traditional family "birthday dinner" today! My mom chose to go to Black Angus. (It's because she had a coupon there for a good deal... of course!) Listen to this great coupon though. So, you get any appetizer you want, two entrees (we got New York Steak and Chicken), four sides (we got sweet potato fries, french fries, broccoli, and salad) and any dessert for $35! Yeah... amazing! After dinner we went and saw Wolverine, or whatever that scary X-Men movie was called... so good... but I think I might have nightmares tonight! Here are some pictures from the night!

Summer Goals...

2009-05-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

Ok everyone! I have decided to go public with this because now I will have someone to report to on my successes or failures! I have a plethora of goals in store for this summer! One of my best friends Jessica and I began to compile this "Summer Goals" list around Christmas time of last year, and now we are hopefully going to accomplish each and every one of these goals as the summer days progress! Here it is:

1. Get really tan! Almost to the point of glowing. (natural sunlight of course!)

2. Make and use this new "Sugar Hair Removal" recipe we found online for our legs because shaving is so overrated!

Sugar Hair Removal Recipe

Want smooth legs that last up to 1 month. Try this recipe
for hair removal and save a bundle on systems that cost a
fortune. This recipe costs about $1.00 to make.

Give it a try it really works.

. Juice of 1/2 a lemon, lime.
. 1 cup sugar
. 1/4 cup honey

Mix all ingredients and Put in microwave and cook stirring
occasionally until it has boiled about 2 minutes, stir it
and microwave again for about 20-30 seconds. Let it cool
till it is warm and you can spread a THIN strip onto your
skin. Make sure your skin is clean, so the oils in your skin
and hair don't keep the sugar from sticking. Dust the area
with cornstarch first then using a small knife with no blade,
a plastic putty knife, or a tongue depressor apply where
needed.

3. Jessica will teach Emily how to roller-blade!

4. Emily will learn really good jokes so she can be funnier when the summer is over. How does everyone feel about this one?

Q: What is pink and fuzzy?
A: Pink Fuzz!
Q: What is blue and fuzzy?
A: Pink fuzz holding its breath!!!

5. Work out at our Burbank gym 5 days a week! (umm, Jessica doesn't know about this)

6. Do volunteer work somewhere.

7. Eat at the Bear Pit.

8. Learn how to clip coupons. (My mom is going to teach us. We have an appointment set up for the coming week.)

9. Emily - Learn how to do a cartwheel!

10. Make and eat the following:

Stairwells, Sushi, and Sisters...

2009-05-04T21:25:00.000-07:00

So, I woke up thinking it was going to be a typical and ordinary Monday... not so much. So I got to work 7 minutes early, which is impressive for me since I am usually not so apt to get to work! I decided to be healthy and use the stairs to climb to the 6th floor of the building. It seems my intentions were all so noble, right? Well, as soon as I got to the door on our floor I turned the knob, but it didn't turn. Apparently I needed a key or access card to open the door! I kind of started to panic (those who know me would not find that hard to believe); however, I had my cell phone! I called my wonderful, lovely, and kind friend/co-worker Alondra to come and save me; she however was not at work yet. So, I sat in the stair shaft, all alone, by my lonesome until I heard a noise in the distance and started banging on the door. I was finally saved and ended up being 2 minutes late to work. So much for starting the week off early. :/ (Ok, a slight confession and side note: Before I entered the stairwell to begin my ascent to the 6th floor, a man told me "You might not be able to get out of there without a key or access card." I am so smart. I know.)

Later tonight, I had a little sushi rendezvous with two of my closest friends, Jessica and Ine, at Kabuki. Those two girls are some of my favorites!! I absolutely love them to pieces! Ine, of course, did not fail to entertain us with her loud and hilarious stories!

Finally, the night ended off quite deliciously with some jelly bean bonding with my sisters... Shannie and Sami! Love you two!!!!

Happy 74th!

2009-05-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

So it was my dear Grandma Angelica's birthday on April 30th and we just had a wonderful celebration! All I can say is that when you turn 74 people throw good parties! My mom made chicken, ribs, corn on the cob, spinach/cheese filled pasta, and more. We also had a ginormous chocolate cake for dessert coupled with fresh strawberries. The night was filled with us girl cousins singing songs including "Love Story" by Taylor Swift, Beyonce's "Halo," and some random camp songs my cousin Nora taught us! We then played the Wii, and I must admit, I am pretty good at the soccer game! Here are some pictures from the night!

And so it begins...

2009-05-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

Well, it's about midnight right now and we all know I max out by 11, so the fact that I am awake is a miracle to say the least. Here is my first, small step into the blogging realm... so this is what it's all about?