Farmer's Market | 63

(photo taken: September 17, 2015)

Farmer's Market! I had never been to one which is kind of lame. Living in Los Angeles there's always one within a few blocks away, but I never really went to one and looked through, I'd just pass by. This one is held on FIGat7th every Thursday. And even weird that we're always downtown, especially Target, and we always smelled fresh bread but we never stopped by. If you take away the bad effects I had, that experience was pretty cool!

We went to vlog but we didn't even get to it. I felt a bit uncomfortable because it's not so big and there were people who would stare at us when we tried doing vlogging. So we didn't vlog that. They have big bags of kettle corn which I bet tastes great because the smell is phenomenal! *props for using a different word to describe food!* Milton wanted some but it was too much for him and I'm not allowed to eat because of my braces. Which I know a lot of people who have/had braces yet they still eat everything. I'm not those type of people. I'm in the last months of it and I don't want to ruin my teeth or anything, so I'll just wait till the day I can eat kettle corn with no worries! 

They have fruit, a little pricey if you ask me. We got a sample of strawberries and they were pretty big and really good! I took a few more pictures but I accidentally deleted them and this one was the only one that survived. They sell flowers, nuts/almonds, a lot of fruit, Homeboys bakery, even tamales! I guess certain stands are not always there because when we went there was a stand for coffee and for natural juices, haven't seen those anymore. 

We immediately walked over to the coffee stand. I'm not sure, I think it was Arabic coffee, but one of the most finest/richest coffee beans picked from I don't know how many feet of altitude and stuff. I acted interested but really I just wanted some coffee! We both got an iced coffee and they had creamer on the side along with liquid sugar which I found pretty cool! I really liked the coffee, but the effects weren't good! I don't know if it was the coffee or the juice...

Next to the coffee stand was a juice stand. It was all about natural juices and how it's good for your body and all this stuff. We had some samples which were really tasteful! I decided to buy a juice because why not? It was a citrus juice with grapefruit, I think orange, I'm not sure what it consisted of. But the result was a nice pink orangeish color. We left happy, I was sure I was going to be there again next week for another juice. 

Well by the time I got home I felt super anxious. I couldn't really catch my breath, I felt a bit light headed, the same feelings I get when I drink certain coffee. I kept feeling bad and it wouldn't get better. Since I was home alone, I decided to leave the house to get some fresh air, and took a water bottle with me. I started feeling just a little bit better, so I decided to head downstairs, where there's witnesses in case I pass out! I really don't know what it was. I can't really blame one or the other because I'm not sure what it was. If the coffee was really that great and strong, then there's a chance that took a toll on me. The juice was so "natural" that it wasn't pasteurized. I didn't see it till I was home and I searched it up. Apparently juices are pasteurized by being heated to a high temperature to kill harmful bacteria. These juices that aren't pasteurized (2%) still have that bacteria that can make people sick...and it said some cases have Salmonella. Was it the juice? Was it the coffee? Who knows, all I know is that I felt really bad and had to down water to calm down and feel just a bit better. I also couldn't keep my food down, but I don't know if that was for the same thing. Moral of the story: I won't buy any of these juices again!

But nonetheless, I think farmer's markets are fun although they can be pricey. I honestly just go for the good smells and samples!   

Tribal Cafe | 62

(photo taken: September 13, 2015)

Tribal Cafe! Ohh God just thinking about this place makes me hungry...although I just ate!

The first time I ever came here was for Halloween 2014. Milton and his cousin's band performed along with other people. I'm not always good with trying new food, especially after 6pm (sensitive stomach)! Although I've only tried two of their sandwiches and coffee, I'm sure everything there is good!

It's located near the corner of Union and Temple. (Actual address: 1651 W. Temple St. 90026) It's a pretty small place but the food is amazing! I like how they're creative with the names of their sandwiches. Once you check out the menu and decided on what you want to eat, you grab a piece of paper and write down your order. The items on the menu is a letter followed by a number, example Q7. You write that down along with anything else you'd like and that's how you order your food. It might take a while, but once you bite into it, it's definitely worth it!

The first time I went there I ordered (G1) Global Warming, a ranch chicken Monterrey. It comes with herb chicken breast, sundried tomato pesto, parmesan cheese, topped with mixed greens, cucumber, tomato and ranch dressing! And let me tell you, these sandwiches are quite a good size! And they're also pretty packed! Being the first time and such a picky eater, it was a great sandwich! The second time I believe I ordered (G7) The Warming Ocean, a turkey avocado sandwich. It comes with pepper turkey, avocado, marinated red onions, balsamic vinaigrette, tribal sauce, swiss, lettuce and tomato (picture above). Also an amazing sandwich! As for the coffee, I can't find the menu, but I once ordered like a vanilla frappucino and I've also tried the iced coffee, both great and didn't give me that jittery anxious feeling! 

They have vegetarian and vegan sandwiches as well, along with paninis, wraps, salads, brunch and breakfast ohh and green juices too! Fun sandwich names include: Got Fossil Fuel, Malibu Mudslide, Obama Te Ama, The Lost Amazon and Heat Wave! Like most posts and reviews, I recommend trying this place out, you can call beforehand to order your food and then pick it up. Click here to head to their website and check out more information! Also a good spot for Open Mic! It's a must to try these sandwiches! 

Caffe Primo | 61

(photo taken: September 11, 2015)

Let me tell you a fascinating story about a delicious smoothie that if you have braces, there's a chance it'll get stuck in there. But besides that, it's really good and I'm now craving one!

Being in downtown all the time, I always saw this place (Caffe Primo) but I didn't dare to go inside because I felt slightly intimidated. We finally decided to go check it out, and I want to go back again! I've gone about 2 or 3 times maybe, but I always get a smoothie, never actual food or a pastry. I was just checking the website to get the names of the smoothies I've bought and I just realized something. Being hispanic you know that "primo" means cousin. I knew it didn't mean "cousin caffe", so I was curious. Just now I learned that..."The definition of 'Primo' means 'Best in Class' delivering what customers truly want". My second thought was that it meant number one in caffe charts, which is pretty close to the real meaning. 

Confirmation, I've only been there twice. The two smoothies I've tried: Acai Berry and Get Skinny. Their smoothies are between $5-$6, I don't know if the price changes depending on the location (both these smoothies were $5 something). This one is on Flower, but I know they're making one on Figueroa, in front of the Convention Center. If you've seen the new apartments or condos they made, it's by there. The Acai Berry consists of apple juice, acai, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The only reason I said it might get stuck between your teeth is because of the little seeds from the fruits. But it tastes really good, has a kick of sourness but it's not too much. The Get Skinny smoothie consists of orange juice, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, banana and yogurt. Has some of the same ingredients as the Acai Berry, but it has more taste. 

Now that I look at their menu, there's sooo many food choices and they all sound so good! Click here to view the menu, remember this is for the DTLA location, it might vary depending location. If you try it let me know what you ordered and how you liked it! Also, make sure to stop by happy hour because they have some good stuff!  

Peddle Boats | 60

(photos taken: August 23, 2015)

This. Is. A. WORKOUT! Milton, my mum and I first went here during summer. It was the last day of summer and we decided, why not? What better way to say bye to the hot summer than to go on the paddle boats? I was pretty stoked! We all left soaked...rhymes. It's really fun but ohh lord it's kind of a struggle to ride them. Maybe it's just me because I'm not a "cycling" person or I'm just weak. 

This is in Echo Park btw. I think it's about $10 per person and you have a full hour to go around the lake admiring the scenery and killing your legs as well! This time that we went, we went to celebrate my grandma's birthday. No we didn't make her drive the boats lol My brother, grandma and I were in one and my dad, other brother and mum were on another boat. At first we were planning to race and see who got to the end quick, but I forgot that I struggle. My brother was a good help though! The only rules are that you can't get too close to the fountain, you can't get close to the rocks because there's a chance you'll get stuck, and also you can't get up and switch while being on the boat. 

It's also important you make sure to wear sunscreen unless you want to get burned! I usually enjoy getting burned because my skin is red/pink and I like the pain when I touch it or when I shower, yes I'm a masochist...not really. My favorite thing is going by the fountain because you can feel the breeze and you will get wet. The water is pretty cold so when it reaches you it feels like you can't breathe for a moment, at least for me! So I just turn around or put my head down. But the breeze really feels good! After a while of struggling, we realized that the boat itself moves through the water. Obviously not at a fast speed, but it's good enough so you can admire everything and relax a bit! 

The scenery is really nice! You get the view of the downtown "skyline". There's a lot of palm trees and a section that looks like a little island because of all the trees. Aside from the peddle boats, they also have a gondola and a canoe. I thought they were only open during the summer, but they run the whole year except for holidays and when there's bad weather (makes sense). They're open pretty early, I think 10AM until about an hour before the sun sets. Sunset, gondola, date idea, you're welcome! But make sure you check the website for precise details cause I may be wrong. There's people selling the usual: hotdogs, pupusas, elotes, ice cream, and a married couple who makes churros on the spot! They're fresh and so delicious, a bag of 3 for $1, really worth it! There's a small shop inside, where you enter leading to the boats, and they sell coffee some snacks and sandwiches maybe. Really recommend to go here! You might get tired if you're like me, but it's a fun time! 

The Classic Coffee | 59

(photos taken: August 5, 2015)

I was going to use the picture of my cup of coffee, but I don't want to use the same picture again since I already posted it on this post. Before I get started...

DISCLAIMER: Jennifer if you're reading this it's inspired by the little coffee date we had (': 

Okay, so this coffee place is beyond...I don't know the words. Cute? Tumblrish? Pinteresty? It's really nice! We decided to come here since we hadn't seen each other in forever! So after walking around trying to get here, we saw the white building. It doesn't even look like a coffee spot, it looks like an apartment complex or something! We go inside and I'm 100% sure I looked like a rookie. I was gazing at everything and touching everything they had, the workers and people there probably thought "this is exactly why we hate teenagers". But they also couldn't have said that because their place looks super Instagram worthy! 

After all the amazement, we went to make our order. There were a lot of things on the menu, but I had to be careful with what I was getting because I get anxious whenever I have coffee. And I know a lovely place like that doesn't carry "decaf"...not that I asked, I just assumed. I ended up getting a caramel cappuccino or latte, a caramel something! We saw that there was an elevator going to a second floor so I asked if we were able to go upstairs. We waited for our coffee before checking out the second floor. I struggled so bad to walk with the coffee in my hands. I mean yes they give it to you with a small plate and I had napkins, but this was the first time I got that "latte art" so I wanted it to remain beautiful! Plus it was filled up to the top so I walked pretty slow making sure I didn't spill. And to my surprise it didn't! 

We finally got to the second floor and I was amazed, again. If I thought the outside of the building and the first floor looked great, the second floor was kind of breath taking for a coffee place! It was pretty big, and so much sunlight coming in from the windows! It seemed more like the loft of those nice condos downtown! They had the famous little plants arranged on this thing (picture above) which is how Jennifer recognized the place. There was a little corner with some soft chairs and a coffee table. There was a long table behind the beautifully arranged plants. And to the far end there were more of the plants, and just really nice furniture. 

When we walked in we immediately went to this corner (picture below). Tell me that doesn't look fancy for a coffee place! I immediately sat in the egg shape "chair", thinking I was going to break it and fall down. The pillows were really comfy and just being in that spot felt really cozy. I think the natural light made the environment great! Plus, the natural lighting made it great for selfies! We had a little photo shoot taking so many pictures individually and together, no shame! 

Well time for me to talk about the actual coffee. Since I struggled to carry it, I made sure to capture it nicely and drink it slowly. Prices, I mean I can't say it's pricey because most coffee shops are like that now in days. It wasn't so hot, maybe because I spent so much time taking pictures and admiring the place. But since I ordered caramel I expected the caramel flavor, I felt it tasted gross. It didn't taste coffee bitter, it was just bitter. So I drank it not enjoying it. Towards the end, at the bottom of the cup I realized there was so much caramel sauce. Like really? I had some but it just annoyed my taste buds after a while. So I don't know, I probably had to mix it, or drink it while it's hot, or that's just the taste of it, but I didn't really enjoy it. Also, the place was nice and everything, but there was no toilet paper in the restroom! I was forced to use the toilet seat covers, TMI. Do I recommend it? Yes, I'm sure they'll have better coffee or better food! Or just buy something simple to use it as an excuse to go to the second floor and take selfies! Ohh, if you do happen to go, the wifi password is on the receipt! There wasn't great signal and I was struggling when all along the password was at the bottom of the receipt. Yes, I'm a smart bulb! 

Special Olympics 2015 | 58

(photos taken: July 31, 2015)

I've heard about the Special Olympics a while ago but I never really looked into it. Until this year when I found out they were taking place in LA! I wanted to become a volunteer (you know me, always trying to volunteer) but the website said they already had a waiting list. Exclusive! I really wanted to visit the different locations being in UCLA, USC, and a few other places nearby. The ones I went to were held at the Convention Center. I really wanted to watch bowling but the times I went it would be really packed and they weren't letting anyone go in. 

I went only two days, which were the last two days of the Special Olympics. Day 1 I went with Milton and the last day I went with my mum since she really wanted to go see the games! The games I remember seeing was volleyball, bocce, something like soccer, and I think that's it. I wanted to see weight lifting but there was a long time until the next "match". I didn't know what to expect going in there. I didn't know how it was set up. But once we were in there it felt really special! Like these kids out here are playing better than I can! They showed their dedication, how hard they practice, you can see how frustrated they were if something went wrong. Each section and the entire room was filled with enthusiasm! I had watched news specials about the players coming from different countries and how this was such a big milestone for them. You can't help but smile when you see the happiness and determination in their eyes! I don't think anyone would go there for bad intentions, but you can't say anything bad about these kids! I witnessed one of them getting hurt while playing soccer and the opponent team was there helping the injured player and helping him up. I think they get put down a lot especially the parents/families hearing ignorant comments from people. If someone were to have said something, look at you so close minded making ignorant comments while they're out there having the time of their lives and doing something they truly enjoy! 

Kids, teens, adults, elders, everyone was in the games! What I thought was pretty inspiring was hearing the families on the news saying "We're turning their disability and bringing out all the abilities they have!" Which is true, just because you're not "like the rest" doesn't mean you can't do everything things and join a sport! For the second day, the final day of the Olympics, I went with my mum and it was quite emotional! We walked around watching different sports, but the majority of the time we spent it at the awards ceremony. We were on the sides, the photographers in front, and everyone else cheering on the stands. We saw people from different race, different disability, but when they come together for something like this, it's like they're one. Although they play against each other, they're all there for the same reason sharing the same hobby! Off topic but while we were watching them play soccer there was a lady walking around with a cart and she was handing out Coke, Gatorade, and water bottles, like deyum free event and free drinks! lol But anywho, I feel the second day was maybe more touching in a way because it was the last day and we were watching them receive the medals. And I feel really thankful that the Special Olympics took place in LA this year and that I was able to go! Because I think the next Special Olympics are taking place in Australia or something. That's why you have to take advantage of things and enjoy them because you don't know if you'll get the same opportunity again! I enjoyed watching the games and I enjoyed hearing the stories about some of them and how proud they are that they get to represent their country. And most of all how great it is that they are given this opportunity, they have their own Olympics! The fact that so many people, not just family members, were there cheering them on and at every station,  seemed really beautiful! They may have a disability, but they have sooo many more abilities! 

(photo taken: August 1, 2015)

Sky Admiration | 57

(photos taken: July 22, 2015)

Well I don't think there's much for me to say.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I just recently became more amazed and in love with skies, mostly blue skies with no clouds!

And also sunsets. I have yet to witness a sunrise! That's on my bucket list.

(photo taken: August 19, 2015)

I'd have more pictures but they're not as great or well I don't think it goes along with it. 

(photo taken: August 30, 2015)

I still don't think these pictures make it justice! 

(photos taken: September 6, 2015)

Not cause my phone has crappy quality lol But I don't think you can compare the real thing to a camera phone! 

Looking at these pictures I feel weird saying it because I wouldn't even believe it myself!

(photos taken: September 7, 2015)

But that's how they came out and they're not edited...

(photos taken: September 10, 2015)

Except for like cropping it or making them straight, but there is no edit or filter or anything!

Aside from the beach, obviously, my favorite spot for sunsets are outside the market because the scenery is beautiful...and those palm trees give it extra points!

(photos taken: October 5, 2015)

I was pretty shocked at these two pictures in between because it was pouring rain this day!

Once it stopped I went to the street to see the sky and it was beautiful, different colors and the sun shining through.

(photo taken: October 9, 2015)

I think cotton candy skies are my favorite! I love the cotton candy sky in the picture above and then the orange sky mixed in. But like I said, these photos can't compare to the real thing!

California Pizza Kitchen | 56

(photos taken: July 16, 2015)

Yes, more food blog posts! Apologies if I'm making you hungry. I've always passed by California Pizza Kitchen and always say "chicken" instead of "kitchen". I've come to the conclusion I have my own accent. 

I've always wondered if their food was good and if they only sold pizza. So after having horrible experience at Bottega Louie (read here if you missed it) we decided to give CPK a try! We went for an anniversary date and let me tell you, it was a great first impression/experience! The man who attended us was super cool and helped us choose through the menu along with giving us his personal recommendations. And he hooked us up on the guacamole! This man definitely earned his tip! Very helpful and making sure to check on us, and also quick on his feet.

He told us about the rewards program they have. And basically when you sign up you get a free meal from their "small plates" section. We ordered the Spicy Chicken Tinga Quesadilla (1st picture). Milton loves tinga so we were excited to try it! Obviously it's not actual tinga, but it's still really good! And they serve it with some sauce on the side. The first time we tried it, it tastes kind of sour and wasn't so great. But the times we've gone after I feel it keeps getting better and better! He then brought us the plate of White Corn Guacamole & Chips as courtesy. I'm the type that likes guacamole plain and simple. Smashed avocado, some lime, a bit of salt and something for spice and that's good! I don't like the onion or tomato or cilantro involved. Well this is different! It has black beans, sweet white corn, jicama, bell pepper, cilantro and some chile in it! It might sound weird but it tastes really good!

After finishing the tinga quesadillas and the guac and chips, our pizza came! We ordered the California Club pizza and my ohh my...BOMB! It has chicken strips, bacon, tomato, basil, and avocado on the top...just describing it makes me crave some! Ohh and some dressing on the top. For some reason I thought the leaves were spinach so I grabbed a handful and stuck it in my mouth, that was terrible! I didn't like the taste so I sat there with the most uncomfortable look on my face trying to eat it all. But besides that and the tomato it's really good! You can say we had a delicious anniversary, and extra points for trying a new place!

Not sure how many times we've gone, maybe five? But it's like our thing to always order the tinga quesadillas first. There's other little meals such as the Crispy Mac 'N' Cheese which I have yet to try! Then we usually go for the pizza. The other pizza we've tried is Spicy Chipotle Chicken. It was good, it looks super delicious and colorful! But I think for the same reason that it's packed with a lot of things (chipotle sauce, strips of chile, black beans, cilantro), I had to scrape some of it off because it annoyed my taste buds, but still really good! 

Unlike Bottega Louie, the times we've gone we've been attended respectfully and quick. I know some waiters probably kiss butt so you can give them a good tip, but I don't mind I like hearing the compliments! The dessert is really good, we ordered the Red Velvet Cake with Haagen-Dazs. Delicious! The waiters are nice, the food is delicious and doesn't take too long for it to come to your table! Adding this to the list of restaurants I want to go back to!

(photo taken: July 21, 2015)

Little Tokyo Eats | 55

(photos taken: October 14, 2015)

I wasn't sure if I should put these "reviews" together or separate, but I feel if I were to do them separately it would be short...something that doesn't go with my blog. So these are just a few places that we've gone to eat. Some were really good, others not so much but you know I'm kind of picky and not everything is appealing to me so, results may vary *Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide voice* 

Most of the places I'm going to talk about are located inside the Japanese Village Plaze. I'll provide the name of the place not address because it's all in this plaza.

(photo taken: March 16, 2015)

Starting off with Mochi! Milton has always wanted to take me to a shop he's been to but it always seems to be closed! Instead we went to Mikawaya! They sell mochi, gelato, pastries, and I'm not sure if coffee as well. This was the first place I ever tried Mochi and I won't lie, the first time I wasn't a fan of it! I hate biting into ice cream, and it felt gooey which I kept feeling it getting stuck on my braces, and I didn't know why it was powdery. So my first experience was a bit off, but now I really enjoy it! My go to flavor is mango...is that basic? I've tried strawberry and the coffee flavored one which is really good too! When we don't go here we go to a family mart outside the plaza where they sell them in little boxes and we chill there for a while most likely with lotto scratchers!

(photos taken: June 15, 2015)

This day we ate dessert before eating actual food cause everything's better that way! We didn't know what to get, Yogurtland, Johnny Rockets, or some sort of pastry/cake. I don't know if it was this time, but we went to Cafe Dulce because they have pretty interesting donuts. But as we were deciding what we wanted we saw there was a fly on the donuts and it touched about five of them. Some other fellas noticed it too and told the guy, we all just ended up leaving. We went across from there to Yamazaki Bakery and ordered a red velvet slice and I believe cheesecake. I (as always) had trouble deciding what I wanted but because everything looked really delicious, and it was! Definitely want to go back to try the Oreo cake slice!

After walking around for a while we decided to come to Sushi & Teri (across from the bakery) and have lunch. Okay so you know how there's those "basic" people who order frappes at Starbucks, I think I'm like that because the only thing I like is Teriyaki Chicken. But we saw they had this plate (picture above) that had a little of everything. It was perfect because I'd be able to try everything. Comes with white rice, tempura, four pieces of sushi, teriyaki chicken and a side of salad. Ohh and like an orange and something. The price wasn't bad either! I wish I liked sushi. It probably is good I just have the thought of raw fish and seaweed and the smell isn't satisfying to me. I think I barely finished one roll, I fought to keep it down. The tempura was really good. I almost finished it all, I just got tired of the whole friedness. I ate some of the salad because it came with a dressing I didn't like. Rice was you know, rice. And the teriyaki ohh lord! That was probably the best chicken I've tried! I tried making it last but I downed that! I suggest coming to this place for a casual lunch or if you want to try a little of everything!

(photos taken: October 2, 2015)

This day we went to lunch with Milton's friend Jeffrey! He wanted to take us to a certain ramen spot, ohh this isn't in the Japanese Village Plaza. It is nearby though, it's inside Weller Court. Like I said, we were originally going to a ramen spot but we weren't really up for it so we walked down and saw this restaurant, Hot Pot Galaxy. Once you go in the walls are painted with like neon paint or something, not sure how to explain it. And they also give you 3D glasses to see the paintings more vivid. 

Unfortunately, there was no teriyaki at this place! But there were some good meals! I went with the Kung Pao Chicken! At first when the food came I thought it was pretty small, but I didn't mind as much because I don't eat a lot plus I wasn't too hungry. The meal comes with rice and I suppose it's green beans/salad? You can also substitute the rice for brown rice! I wanted to but I stayed with the regular. As I started to dig in I realized it was packed! It was a good amount of food and I left full but super satisfied! Definitely need to go back and I recommend it as well, a really chill place!   

(photos taken: October 14, 2015)

Last one for tonight. Once again, trying new things we headed to Kagura! It was kind of early for lunch but I decided to buy something to eat along with Milton. I like that they have a special menu which you can pick two things and a side...for good price. I ordered the teriyaki and ramen with a salad on the side. I was excited and curious to try the ramen because I've never tried it before. I like the environment in this restaurant! The food arrived and I immediately went for the teriyaki! It was alright, not the best I've had, I kept feeling mostly soggy/mushy parts in there. I smelled the ramen and the smell wasn't good. I put some sriracha in it to give it more taste. I just didn't like that. Only took two tries, it wasn't great. I don't know how people make a big deal over sushi and ramen! It ended up being a waste because I hardly touched my food, I felt bad. But you know you can still try it out, what I don't like others might find delicious!  

Okay I think I made this longer than I expected to. Hope you guys enjoy and hopefully you do try these places out! 

Genuine Love | 54

DISCLAIMER: Pissed off that Google didn't have pictures like these with Mexican people! They're all white folks. 

Alright well I was trying to find a picture of my parents without their faces in it, but I couldn't find one. So today is their anniversary! Happy anniversary fam...literally! And I kind of want to dedicate this blog post to them!

So let me start off by saying my parents knew each other since they were teens in Mexico, destiny, fate, whatever led them to find each other here. It's so cute how my mum says she would hate my dad and she would find him so annoying and arrogant! Everyone thinks my dad is arrogant or just a mean person. Like naw, I get my mean resting face from him. And my attitude from my mum. Which is where I'm headed to next. My dad isn't Mr.Prince Charming. He's not the type to bring flowers to my mum, he won't pull out the chair for her or walk on the street side of the sidewalk. My mum isn't a princess. She's not the type to just stay quiet, she doesn't like my dad being "cute" with her because when they were dating she would be a "gota de miel" with him and he wouldn't like it. So they're not your Nicholas Sparks characters, and not just cause they're Mexican. You won't see them holding hands, you won't see them hugging or cuddling, because one that's not them and two, it's true that some couples at that age look stupid doing certain things. But you know their love is something real and special through their actions.

They have gone through a lot of stuff, obviously. I'm thankful and blessed to have them as my parents because I've learned so much from them through observing. My mum always told me that if you're going to be serious and marry a person, you need to be prepared to go through everything with them. EVERYTHING. The death of one of their parents, trying to make ends meet, helping one another in times of need, trying to raise a family, so many things. You have to go through whatever life throws at you without giving up! I'm glad I learned that a relationship will NEVER be perfect! A relationship can't always be smiles and laughter because that gets old. If you're not fighting, something's wrong. But too much fighting isn't great either. When I was a kid I would cry when I'd see them argue or just not talk to each other. For any little thing I would think they would get a divorce and I'll be like most kids with divorced parents. Until my mum told me that every couple fights and that it's healthy...as long as it doesn't lead to physical or verbal violence!

I love how they can make fun of each other and just go at it until one can't talk because they're dying of laughter! I love how when they're mad at each other they won't say a word or look at each other, but if one leaves the house they'll immediately ask me or my brothers where they're going. When they're mad and one of them is sick, they make sure they have the essentials. I love how lately they've been more "cute" to each other. By "cute" I mean they act like teenagers and whatever they say to each other just comes out funny! If my mum is down or my dad is worried about something, one will take the other out for coffee. I almost cry when my mum tells me stories about them and she randomly says she loves and cares about my dad so much! My dad kills me when he writes us a card for Christmas or our birthdays!!! I swear he was probably a writer in his past life and it was passed down to me! He makes me cry with his cards because he's not trying to be sensitive or cute. The things he says comes natural to him and since he never expresses himself, it's shocking! The words don't need to be long or cliche, they're simple but have so much meaning to them! I never read what he writes to my mum, but she just stays there crying for like 5 minutes. 

I notice things about myself and I realize who I get it from. I can't express myself or talk to someone about my feelings in person, but I can definitely write them down...my dad! I don't like PDA because it looks wrong to an extent, and I do have an attitude...my mum! They give me hope. Hope that some day if I do get married I can be like them! I remember in middle school so many of my classmates would talk about how they spent their weekend at their dad's place or how they with they could split themselves into two to be with both their parents. And all I was thinking was how blessed I am that God put me with great Mexicans! I never saw violence in the house of ANY kind! As I grew older I realized that maybe you don't have to say things, your actions show how much you care/love someone. Many people have parents who can't even stand each other. My parents get on each others' nerves so much but at the end of the day they stick together! "En estos tiempos uno se enoja y se van por su propio camino" my mum always says. Growing up seeing them together taught me a lot and I'm glad because it's shaped me to be who I am now. 

They're not gonna be those old couples who cuddle in the winter by the fireplace, or who take a stroll hand in hand during a full moon. They're gonna be the type to be making fun of how wrinkly they are, they're gonna still be inappropriate, they'll still laugh at each other and their fake teeth will fall off and laugh even harder! They won't be disgustingly loving to each other, they will punk each other and my dad will call my dad "cabrona" and my mum will smack him on his bald head! They have a special relationship! It makes me sad and makes me wanna cry thinking they're only getting older and soon they'll be having wrinkles and be tired. But I feel all the laughs they have will keep each other well since laughter is the best medicine! I love my parents! I'm glad I have a home, not just a house. Happy anniversary to my parents and may they be blessed with many many more years to come and great health! 

Journaling | 53

(photos taken: July 7, 2015)

Writing has always been a passion of mine! I never knew how to draw, never even knew how to "doodle", so instead of doing that in class, I'd write. I'd write how my day is going, any fun things I've done during the day, something I'm looking forward to, and my favorite...how I'm feeling. I was never able to keep a journal and finish it. I think the first time I was given a journal was in 5th grade or going to 6th grade. My older brother gave it to me and inside he wrote a note saying that to him music was his escape. He went on saying that now that I off into middle school and becoming a teenager and what not, hopefully writing would be my escape. And it was! Still is!

I do wish I kept writing in all those journals! The first one I started was in the beginning of 5th grade. I wanted to document everything and anything daily. So that one day I could look back at it and laugh at the things I'd be worried about, or what was big during that time. I think I just wrote five entries and then I forgot about it. Another time was entering 6th grade. Same thing, I wanted to keep journaling everyday or at least every now and then to remember my middle school days. Nope, didn't last either. Same thing happened for 8th grade, freshmen year, and I kind of did it for junior year. Not keep a journal necessarily, but instead write down on random pages in my folder. 

I'd either be bored in class or I'd be done with my classwork and I would begin to write. This mostly happened in my third period class which was Spanish with Ms.Portillo. I liked that class, I just hated everybody, and for that same reason I had no friends in that class. Like at all. I didn't speak to anyone the entire year, except once in a while with this one guy but that was it. Since the work was pretty easy and we would turn everything in on Fridays, I'd take that time to write. At the end of class I'd just take it apart and keep it in my backpack. Or I'd also do that in Mr.Perez's class during fourth period (trig/pre-cal). Ohhhhh...I just remembered, that year I was taking adult school! I actually didn't mind it, I enjoyed staying after school because it kept me busy, plus I'd stay with my favorite gals (Jennifer and Kimmy) and the thing I liked about the class is that it was quiet and everyone was doing their own thing. I was taking World History, and unlike regular school, the teacher never spoke (besides when taking attendance) so we didn't have to hear teachers going on and on. Like I said it was quiet, and you go at your own pace! I think that was the best part! You had to wait for the teacher to grade your tests before you went on to the next chapter, so while I'd wait I'd also take the time to write on a notebook. I don't know if I still have them or if I threw them away. I think they ended up in the trash which I kind of regret! But wow, adult school was pretty great!

Once again I really wanted to start one for senior year and follow through with it since it was my last year in high school! I kind of did, kind of didn't. It wasn't until Rudy (I don't know if you read these but if you do ayeee gurrrl!) gave me a pink journal from Target that I basically fell in love with, it's real! I decided to go for it! 

I wrote about my how my days were going, who pissed me off, what "exciting" things were happening in senior year, and then came the lovey dovey entries. Ending high school I still kept writing in it, how my "dreams" were being put on hold, how teachers don't prepare you at all if you don't plan on going to college right after high school, sooo many emotions! There were some days that I just wanted to give up on it, but I'd look how far I had come, I had to finish it! Slowly the left side of the journal became more and more thicker while the right side had fewer pages. My goal was to finish it within a year. But since I would lag and sometimes didn't know what to write, it took a bit longer. 

After 1 year, 4 months, and 1 day, I COMPLETED MY FIRST EVER JOURNAL!!! I actually felt a bit emotional I'm not going to lie! It was an accomplishment because I went with it and I didn't give up on it! Writing my last entry I was kind of sad, but really excited to start another journal! I currently have a little red book, but I've been slacking off so much! I think more now that I have this blog and I'm trying to catch up on the days I didn't blog, it doesn't leave me with much motivation to write. But I'm trying to get back on it! People are always curious as to what it is that I write about. It kind of sucks though, I'm not a poet, I don't write lyrics, I don't make short stories, I just write about my personal life and what I'm feeling. Any thoughts, dreams, hopes, memories, that's what I write about. And since it is personal I don't share it with anyone, but if you ask, just maybe I'll read you an entry...if I trust you that much! 

When I was in elementary school I aimed to be an author and write my own book or something. But now that I'm older that's not what I'm leaning towards. It would be great to major in English, books, reading, writing, GRAMMAR! Reading is power! But I don't think that's for me. I was hesitant creating this blog. I made probably four other accounts on different blog sites trying to find one I could get used to. I decided to just stick here. But I also didn't think I'd actually have this many posts! It wasn't a promise because I knew I'd miss a day here and there, but I've been trying to post every day! I also didn't know if I should do it because I didn't think anyone would read it! Also, if you haven't noticed I write a lot! It happens when I'm really passionate about something, but I usually always love giving details and recalling everything. 

Maybe one day my writing career can actually be taken into action! Or maybe I'll continue blogging and get maximum 10 views per post...

Xolos | 52

(photos taken: July 3, 2015)

DISCLAIMER: CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT I GOT A PICTURE OF PAUL ARRIOLA, PERFECT SHOT OUT OF THE MILLION ONES I TOOK, AND I WAS SUPER CLOSE TO HIM AGHHH!!!

Fan girl moment over...kind of! Well no, I don't think I'll ever get over the fact that I basically met him and we're basically best friends on Twitter since he always favorites when I tweet him. Ohh yeah, he basically knows who I am cause he approved me following him on Instagram! Besties 4 lyfe!

Okay, now that I vented, time to tell you guys a little about this game!

I think this was the third time I've attended a Xolos game! I went in December last year, then I think sometime in April, and well this time I'm talking about. They were held in the StubHub center but this time it was held at CSU Fullerton. Look mum I made it! Naw, but I was pretty excited! We gave my dad tickets for his birthday and his face was like a little kid when they get their favorite toy for Christmas! Homie was excited! He's been a fan for a while now, and more excitement because the seats were pretty close. I was crossing fingers I'd have an encounter with a few players...basically did!

The games are always a fun time! I remember everyone got home early, showered, got ready and we left as soon as we could because we knew we'd get traffic. Getting there we realized everyone was going for the opposing team, Leones maybe? There were hardly any Xolos fans *inserts crying emoji* Ohh, so Xolos is short for Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican hairless dog) and the team is from Tijuana. You're welcome for the little background info. There was a season where they were doing pretty good, winning most games, but they've been kind of going down. Well anywho, the first time I went to the game I didn't know any of the players, I hardly watched the games. But after that first game I checked the players and immediately two of them became "bae". Paul Arriola, and Greg Garza, but he's no longer with them anymore. 

Many people say "Mexican soccer games" get crazy and violent, at least the ones we've been to haven't been crazy. Well yes they are but in the way that there's so many people cheering, the chants, the wave, it's a good time! We were walking around while the gates opened, trying to find fellow Xolos. Once we walked in we were making our way to our seats and two people came up to us asking if they could take a picture of us. Sure why not, we were wearing our jerseys and my dad had his Xolos cap and flag. So after getting our snacks and going to the restroom one last time, we were sitting waiting for the game to start. Since I follow them on Twitter I was seeing the updates, and I thought "hey what if we show up on a picture", and that's when I saw. Our picture was posted on their Twitter account! I don't know, it was pretty funny to me. 

The players started making their way to the field and warming up. I love watching them warming up, and I was looking out for #20 Arriola! They had their jerseys covered so it made it worse since my eyesight is horrible! But then once the game was about to start, I spotted him! I was freaking out because I noticed how close he was! It wasn't even halftime or anything, but I saw people were against the rail taking pictures with them and getting jerseys signed. Some were told to sit down, others just stayed. I wanted to go because Arriola was there warming up but I didn't want to be told to sit down, or worse be ignored! I felt anxious, I didn't know if I should go and risk the embarrassment, but when else will I get the opportunity? I kept screaming his name and he'd turn and wave *fangirling* Until I'm like YOLOOO I'm going for it! My dad came with me and I was shaking getting my camera ready. I still had my old phone so I was embarrassed to take a selfie, plus I knew I wouldn't have a lot of time since once of the securities was getting closer. I got to the rail and with my shaky voice I yelled "Arriola" and he turned around for the picture giving a thumbs up. I swear I had to take four different several ones because my hand was shaking! Bet he thought I didn't know how to capture a picture. But I couldn't believe that was happening!!! Then I got a few pictures of the rest of the players, but they were blurry.

I had to leave because the security told me to go back. But I didn't care anymore because I got the picture! I even held my phone up in victory as I went to sit down. My mum was also screaming and fangirling! I didn't care how the game ended, I was happy! My night and year was made! Btw, I had to work the next day, I had be up by 4AM! So my mum kept teasing me saying that when I wake up grumpy and I'm mad at work the next day, to just think about that moment! And it helped because I left pretty early. I also saw one of the goalies for Sub20 I think, he's pretty tall! I just forgot his name! I knew it was Carlos but I kept thinking what if it's not his name and I make a fool out of myself. And to think I actually spoke to him through Instagram! Yes, we're also bestfriends! lol The game came to an end with Xolos winning! Best part aside from the Arriola encounter, there was a beautiful sunset in the beginning of the game and a full moon at the end. We left happy, especially me! Slowly I was getting pretty mad I had to be up early! But that picture and that moment was worth it!