A Good Start to 2015

Two things are making me very happy right now and I felt the need to post about it. Let's start with the first:

Today I got a job. Like, a real "big girl" job. 

It's been a few months from returning from Africa and I have been searching for jobs every day since (no exaggeration here)! I'm not one who can sit at home all day, every day, and not be bored. Don't get me wrong, I love a good stay-at-home-and-relax-all-day kind of day once in a while but I've worked multiple jobs since I was 16 years old and I can't help but feel unproductive when I'm not working. I need change and adventure in my life! After weeks of feeling discouraged and being sad, even after Trenton and family would tell me to stay positive, I finally got two replies. Every one said that I should give it after the New Year to get some callbacks but I didn't believe them. Well, they were right and I am so glad they were.

I will be a Behavioral Interventionist and will be getting trained by professionals for a company that works with clients with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and other developmental disorders. I am so excited to be getting this opportunity to work with this population. I've worked with diverse populations so I am even more excited to learn more about ASD and work with children. I can't explain how grateful I am for this. Hoping to learn lots more and love what I do!

The second thing is that I'll be seeing my family in Thailand again, with Trenton! This will be our first time on a flight together and I am elated! Every time I visit Thailand I am usually in the city because my father lives there. This time around Trenton and I will be taking a few days away from the city, by ourselves, to see Phuket and the small, surrounding islands! I am too excited! The beaches in Thailand are beautiful and I've always wanted to see it and I am finally going to...and with Trent! I can't think of a better way to start the year.

 Hoping you all are having a good start to 2015 too!

Last Full Year Being In My 20s!

The year 2014 brought me a lot of gratification and helped me get a better sense of self. I feel very humbled to experience what I have and to have a great addition of friends from all over the world. This year is the last full year being in my 20s and I will be forever grateful for it. I am so appreciative for life and all that I have seen and experienced at this point. I have a good feeling about 2015 but I don't want to jinx it so I'll just say that I hope this New Year brings in so many more possibilities for me and all of you. I can't wait.

Happy New Year!

Friendsmas 2014

This year I was able to take part in Trenton's annual holiday dinner party with friends. I was so happy to invite people to our dinner party and give them the address to our place this year. It may sound silly but it's really nice to be back in each other's lives again and to have all our friends together, in one place, eating, playing, and having a good time.

I never knew how much effort planning and decorating takes. I didn't even do that much and it was a bit exhausting in the end. I envisioned something much more but was happy at how everything turned out. Between decorating and cooking (I made a seafood bisque!) and greeting people as they walked in, I did not have any time to take any pictures! Good thing Trent's sister, Taryn, took my phone and snapped a few pictures for me while I was stirring the pot.  I was so busy that night! But it's all good, the most important thing to me is that everyone who came had bellies full of food and laughs and were happy together. :)

^We cut wood and made this: giant Jenga with fun questions/rules. We didn't even get to play! :(

Towards the end of the night we all got into groups to play Pictionary. Everybody was laughing and having a good time and I was glad. Some of those pictures were ridiculous but hilarious. And let me just say I don't do anyone any good by being on their team because my drawings...oooh, child... haha My team consisted of all my good friends and of course we were the loudest, most competitive ones. We can't help but get excited and scream the whole time. Hey, we like games...and? haha I had so much fun and it was so good being in their company and having a jolly ol' time just like the good old days. I missed this. I miss being around people who make me laugh until my stomach hurts, who make me feel so comfortable to be myself and who make me feel at home. So glad everyone who came made it out. I love these gatherings because it's so often we are consumed with life - work, school, families, etc. It's difficult to get everyone together to hang out and so I'm glad to have events like this. I like that Trenton can get his friends and I get my friends and we can all...be friends. We can do it every weekend. haha jk Not really but who got that reference?!

^It is really hard for us to get a good photo. Awkward family photo it is! haha

So sad I didn't get more pictures or even a picture with Trent (boo!) but at least he and I made it a point to have a good time with friends, old and new. All we wanted was for people to come and enjoy  and possibly mingle with each other because we have different groups of friends and it's nice when everybody gets along and our friends meet the people we love. I'm going to say that we threw a successful dinner party based on the smiles I saw and the warm fuzzies I felt. If this isn't an accurate measurement then so be it. haha But really, I hope everyone who came enjoyed it and I thank you all for being a part of my night because I had a great time being with all of you. And I know Trenton did too.

Thanksgiving and All It's Meals

Thanksgiving was well spent with my friends and family this year. Of course I had different meals with different people and Thanksgiving almost always becomes a week-long (or more) event. And of course I never mind that. This year was wonderful because I had all my loved ones at home and obviously because I AM HOME. :) It was nice to be with my sister and my mama, the Amaro and Garcia/Trowbridge families, and my dearest friends that I got to see this past week. I haven't even mentioned all the delicious food that filled my belly but here are pictures...

Friendsgiving started way early this year. KBBQ!

On Thanksgiving Day the Amaro and O'Connell families met in Claremont for the annual 5K Turkey Trot tradition. I'm happy I finally got to be a part of this tradition. It was fun and tiring and I realized how much of a runner I am not! haha (Thanks Tare, for jogging with me even though I held you back!) After that Trenton and I drove up to the mountains to Mountain Lakes in Lytle Creek. We spent the day with some of his family and had a yummy lunch followed by fun and games in the most beautiful Autumn setting. So pretty.

Pre-trot

Post-trot

Same Turkey as the one in Claremont!

Thanksgiving meal at Abuela's and Thanksgiving meal with my mama and sister. SAME DAY, two hours apart! 

The best homemade Indian food from my second family (aka best friend's parents). 

YUMMY food eaten with our fingers. And yes, we need 4 different types of ice cream.

I love it when I facetime with the best friend! Sorry we're eating and you're not! :( Miss you V and J!

I can't even count the number of meals I've eaten with different people this week. There are some pictures I left out and I know I've seen a lot of my friends recently. It's crazy how much someone can take for granted. I am very thankful for my family and all my friends for the love and support they continue to give me. It has been so real seeing them after being away for two years. I am thankful for Trenton who continues to love me and pushes me to be a better person. I am thankful for change and opportunity. I am thankful for rain and hot showers. I'm thankful for life and love. And of course, warm food in my belly. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Continue to be thankful for the small (and big) things in your life!

Exploring Los Angeles

Yesterday Trenton and I met my sister and her friend, Keila, in Los Angeles for lunch. We ate at a place called Eat.Drink.Americano. It is a cute little corner deli in DTLA. Everything was good.  

 We walked around the area and went into a cool, overpriced (for my budget) store called Poketo and I liked a lot of things in there.

Then, we continued walking down the street to 82, an adult arcade (there's a bar in there) and played some games I haven't played in over 20 years. It was so fun! They had games like TMNT, The Simpsons, Dr. Mario, Tapper, etc. My inner child was ecstatic! The best part of my day was playing TMNT with my sister and Trenton.

^I used to play Tapper on the old Macintosh computers, floppy disk style!

Nice Kelly Kapowski shirt Kev.

After we bid adieu to my sister and Keila, we met up with my good friend Kevin in Whittier to eat at one of the best pizza places ever: Pizzamania. 

The end.