Salsa Dancer

Mainly because certain things are just too good not to share, because I love dogs and have a soft spot for talking or dancing animals and specially because Christmas is coming up...

Here's an awesome video for your enjoyment.

Happy Saturday!!!

hello tomorrow

If you are reading this today, it's because it's already December 21st so I guess the world's still around and the Mayan perhaps are yet another civilization that we do not understand and try to interpret in the wrong way!

Now, the real question is, When is the world really going to end?

To me the world ends every day that; 

an innocent gets killed, 

a child gets abused, 

animals gets abandoned or abused or killed, 

acres of woods get chop down for the sake of "progress", 

governments use their countries resources in the wrong way, 

animals species get wiped out, 

and even when people use and abuse the name of God in vain ... 

But mainly to me, the world ends when we do not live our life to the fullest because the day we'll die that is really the day the world will end for us.

So my message today is, 

instead of worrying about the end of world, let's focus on all the good and positive things we can do between here and then... 

Happy 21st of December, happy weekend and beyond!!!!

Thro-ho,ho-back Time!

The holidays are just around the corner and being that today is Throwback Thursday, I've decided to share our Christmas Photo from 2009!

And now for the five photo facts:

1. Both the dogs are wearing red ribbons but you can't really notice them!

2. This was the year we got married, in May.

3. Our photo was taken in the back deck, we ended up taking a few as it was really have to make the dogs stay (specially Sheba!).

4. I still have that dress and perhaps I would wear it for this years photo (thinking of doing something in the same lines.

5. The feeling of wishing Merry Christmas was there in 2009 and is here in 2012 again.

Wanna join in the fun and share a pic from your past? Please do link your blog and photo next.


 happy Throwback Thursday!!!

Ho,ho,ho... He,he,he...

Happy Hump-day everybody... Our week is half full already and in less than 10 days, it's Christmas Day!!!

But, until then just make sure to

So, are u guys ready for some holiday humor? Hope so... otherwise, just click the X at the top right corner of your screen... (warning: doing that WILL surely put you on the naughty list with Santa)!

If Santa had Facebook...

Happy Wednesday!!!

10 on Tuesday (Photo Edition)

Being that it's almost the end of 2012, today I've decided to link up with Linny's Vault and participate on 10 on Tuesday but in a different way...

So, on today's edition I am going to post my 10 most favorite photos of the year (taken by me!).

10.

A great shot of the cruise ship and a waterspout in the background!

9.

Our Dog Ditto takes all the abuse we can dump on him, LOL!

8.

We had so many cacti flowering this year, this one flower is 1 of many!

7.

Beautiful image, caught on a beautiful day!

6.

Love the colors, love the pattern!

5.

Love this image of Long Tail a.k.a. LT!

4.

Sheba in her element

3. 

Lovely sky!

2.

This Canadian Goose loved to pose for me!

And my favorite picture of the year is...

1.

The Lil' Pirates enjoying the parade!

Which one of my favorite 2012 photos is your favorite?

Have a great day!!!

Ginger Monday :)

Nothing gets me in the best of holiday spirit like my house smelling of delicious holiday cookies plus baking to the soundtrack of "The Holiday Movie" which is a fabulous mix of music with a bit of holiday cheer!

My Gingerbread Man cookie project came out wonderfully...

I have to say that I didn't suffer the smelly party and although I did try one (without the frosting), I didn't feel that bad because the recipe I used is a low fat!

When I say low fat, meaning it's got much less sugar than regular cookies as the recipe replaces most of the sugar with unsweetened Apple Sauce. Of course this makes the cookie dough a bit stickier but not that bad, you you have to do is use plenty of flour when spreading and cutting the cookies before you put them in the oven.

I think I left mine a bit too long as they came out quite dark and my husband says they are a bit dry, more like ginger snaps... But oh well, still look and taste alright!

Now, the decorating part, was hard, but they ended up looking quite decent.

I made a batch and got about 50 cookies in total, I am giving one to my boss and his family and another one to my husband's new boss and his family.

Here's the final result sitting on my boss's desk!

So, how was your weekend? Anything special going on? Please do share...

Less than 10 days to Christmas, what are your plans?

Happy Monday!!!

unda-wata way!

A weekend is better spend underwater and although I haven't been diving in a while, I have been snorkeling lately and I like it just as much.

Here are some of the pictures I took yesterday while swimming with the fishys'!

Happy Sunday!!!

Beautiful weather!

Weather is so beautiful today that I decided to go out and make me a snow man...

So I went out in the depths of winter but I couldn't find any snow, so decided on the next best thing.

Here's my Sand-Man, cute, eh???

 Like I said before, the weather was beautiful, went to the beach for a few hours, had some fresh fish from a local restaurant next to the beach and enjoyed the day doing some snorkeling...

Will post some photos of the snorkeling tomorrow!

Happy Saturday!

the best combination

There's no better combination I can think of than a Friday and Pay Day on the same day, isn't it? So, today is such a wonderful day... plus it's only 10 days 'till Christmas.

So, remember I few days ago I shared this photo?

I mentioned how nice it would be to be able to take such a photo of our dogs but it would be almost impossible to have Sheba stay still or have anything on her for more than a millisecond.

Then, my hubby read my post and suggested perhaps we could just wrap them in the lights so they would stay still... well, then I contemplated the idea, until I saw the following photo, which would be closer to our scenario... LOL! Poor lil' fella...

 

So, officially I've given up on this idea, but still contemplating others... Now I only have this and next weekend to come up with a nice photo op for a Christmas greeting, so let's see what I can come up with.

Well, hope everybody has a wonderful weekend, I don't have many plans but baking some cookies on Sunday for work related gifts, trying a new recipe for the first time, so wish me luck (specially because I am still on a diet so I won''t be able to try them to give them the o.k- but thanks God for my hubby and his rather amazing "tasting skills"), LOL!

Happy Weekend everybody!!! 

Throwback Thursday

Hello All, it's that time of the week again...

Being that the past is relative thing, meaning the past can be 20 minutes ago or 20 year ago, today I am dedicating this post to a wonderful couple and event that happened just yesterday 12.12.12!

My dear friend Jessica Vellela married her new hubby Siddharth on 12.12.12. at 12:12pm.

Isn't it a beautiful photo? From what I hear it was a beautiful but simple ceremony back in India.

My friend Jessica is originally from Canada but moved to India to study Ayurveda Medicine a few years back, now she is officially a doctor and has her own clinic called Ayur Village, if you want to learn about her place visit her website at www.ayurvillage.in or ck out her facebook page here.

I am so happy to know she has found love and happiness back in India. She is a friend I made back when I lived in Mexico and I think she is a wonderful girl. Wish them all the happiness in the world.

Now, feel like joining in with a Throwback from you distance or not so distance past? Hope so, just link up next...

Have a wonderful day!

eyes wide open

Every now and then comes a video that opens our eyes wider, and help us to see some of the the amazing things that happen in our planet and the different realities that exist for others around the world.

Today I want to share with you an video that has widen my perspective towards human dedication and what the human spirit is able to achieve with the right set of mind to better a situation against misfortune.

If you have a few minutes to spare, please watch the following video and give me your thoughts... I hope you enjoy it and find it inspiring!


Have a wonderful day!!!

10 on Tuesday

Another day, another post, but this one today, comes filled with many wonderful things, as I am sharing once again a 10 in Tuesday and linking back to Linny's Vault.

10.

Of all the things I cannot eat right now because of my diet, I think I miss bananas the most! I know, I could probably say many other things but I guess my body is sorta already detoxed from many other things that have carbs and sugar! But if only I could eat a banana... 

9.

For this coming Christmas time, I am loving my new "Curly Q" Santa Hat... I think it's a mix of "Nightmare before Christmas and Dr. Seuss", seriously cute, right?

8.

Lately we've been having lots of "#2 accidents" on our back deck from our long time house broken dog Ditto. He is getting old and I am afraid something physical is causing these situations, although I have also google the problem and some people mentioned "dementia" from old age... 

We are even considering taking him and Sheba to another Vet for another opinion.

different kind of accident that what we have going on!

7.

Wish I could make my dogs stay still long enough to take a photo like the following one... Wouldn't that be awesome?!? (Also would need to make Sheba keep the reindeer head band on for more than a millisecond!)

6.

At Church they had a "Giving Tree" yesterday, basically you can pick up a tag an get a gift for a person that needs a gift this Christmas, I picked 3 and got; an Adult Lady, an Adult Man and a Older Adult (they specified that needed toiletries). It's hard to buy things for Adult men that you don't know... So I got them both the same.... hope it's o.k! For the lady, I got other ideas (of course!).

5.

Next Sunday I am planning to bake Gingerbread Cookies and it's going to be a HUGE test for me, as I am still on the diet and cannot eat any of the ingredients but butter... Still, I gotta do them and will be made with even more love as it's going to be a test of endurance, wish me luck!

4.
Have you seen all those projects, photo ops, ideas on Pinterest? Well this is the funniest "Fail" attempts I've seen so far... HI-LA-RI-O-US!

Source: lolsnaps.com via Andrea on Pinterest

So, think about it twice or maybe even three times before attempting those very tempting ideas, LOL... Otherwise please feel free to share your results!

3.

My husband shared this on his facebook page the other day...

.

 After being on a diet for a few weeks and not eating absolutely any processed food (other than the Jerk Chicken Sausages I had on Sunday, and still those are 100% natural made on the island), I have to agree, natural food is the best for you.

2.

Although I don't like wearing pantyhose very much, I would like to have a pair (or two) or these lovely tattoo pantyhose and would totally wear them, well at least during the winter months cause otherwise I would probably melt in the Caribbean heat, LOL!

1.

Next Monday we are having our ALL GIRLS Christmas Party, cannot wait to see all the girls and have our Secret Santa and a much needed glass of wine (which I'll be allowed to then)... I am really looking forward to it.

Hope the weekend is going well for everybody, have a great Tuesday!!!

weekend recipe

What is the recipe for a good weekend?

A quiet time at home, mixed with good food and entertainment? Perhaps a bit of shopping/errands while catching up with friends? Or, enjoying the games on TV while eating and drinking to celebrate or drown your team sorrows away?

Well, the recipe for this past weekend was, a nice mix of Christmas party, a much deserved sleep in on Saturday morning, a pinch of shopping while we got a new sink for our kitchen (which we badly needed) installed and then just relaxing at home for the evening.

Then yesterday (while my hubby watched his favorite Team -Washington Red Skins- win) I finished my Sunday with a "cherry on top"; a bit of blogging, good food, a nice story and wonderful actors, all mixed together in a wonderful film.

The film I am talking about is "Julie & Julia", Oh what an enjoyable film!

If you are anything like me and love good food, recipes, cooking and even blogging, you are certain in for a treat! But not only the movie delivers a wonderful story, but one told by many great actors; from Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci, among others.

But, viewers be ware, this is not a movie to watch with an empty stomach, as it is sure to make you hungry, LOL!

So in my case I am so glad that I decided to watch it while having a late lunch, specially cause I made some delicious Oven Roasted Mini Tomatoes and they were yummy with the Jerk Chicken Sausages in my plate!

Perhaps the recipe for my roasted tomatoes is not up to Julia Child's standards, but they were so good, specially with "Herbes Provencale", hey at least that sounds French!

How was your weekend? Well done? Hope so... Have a wonderful week!!!

Friday Flicks

Hello Everybody,

I want to start my post today thanking everybody that left me comments yesterday congratulating me about the weight loss, trust me, it is a very important and vital part of taking on such a commitment, the support from friends and family, so it's greatly appreciated!

But, I do have to say that I am still a "work in progress", meaning my diet is not over yet, on the contrary now I am on the next phase which is called the "Maintenance Phase" and it's 4 weeks of still watching everything I eat but not with any restrictions of calorie as long as I don't each carbs or sugar.

According to the doctor, this phase is very important as it gives the body the time to settle on it's new weight and by doing this next phase correctly I will have a higher chance of not gaining the weight back... So I will continue to report on how I do.

On another note... As I said yesterday, I am feeling great and looking good too, my back issues have improved and I am finally full on back to the gym, so that should help with the weight control (but I am not looking into loosing any more as I am already in my healthy weight for my age and height)

So anyway, since it's that time of the year again, meaning Christmas time and I am not really looking forward to all the signing and the eating, I do have to have another way to celebrate the holidays, so today I decided to post about my top five favorite Christmas movies, which by the way I plan to watch at some point starting this weekend (and every weekend until Christmas day!)

Of course there are many more than just 5 great Christmas movies that I can think of, but today I am going to focus on my very favorite ones. I am going to count backwards from 5 and starting with, a classic.

5. 

A Christmas Story

This heartwarming story is set in the 1940's and tells the story of Ralphie and his family. It is filled with innocence, mischief and his desire to own Red Rider BB gun for Christmas. It is a story for adults and kids that will stay with you forever!

4. 

Home Alone

This is a great family Christmas comedy which tells the story of Kevin, a young boy that is left (by mistake) home alone during the holidays. But being alone is not the only thing Kevin has to worry about during Christmas at home alone. A must see film if you are looking for laughs and even some tenderness!

3.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Oh how I love Chevy Chase and his humor and in this movie he is just brilliant. This Christmas comedy will make you laugh at all of the peculiarities that families have and what some have to put up with during the holiday, awesome movie!

2. 

The Holiday

If what you are looking for is a romantic comedy with a Christmas twist, this is the perfect movie for that. It is a nice, entertaining story of a few people at once, all going through different stages in their lives but looking for love. It is one of my favorite movies and I can watch it anytime, anywhere. Besides, Kate Winslet and Jack Black are two of my favorite actors and they have great rolls in this movie.

And for my favorite Christmas Movie... [insert drum roll here]

1.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

To me this movie is pure Christmas magic, starting with the fact that it's based on the famous Dr. Seuss story (which is fabulous) but also it's got all of the elements of a good Christmas movie; holiday spirit, family values, laughs, great special effect/decorations, plus even the greed that still exists during the holidays. Jim Carrey does a fabulous job as the Grinch and Max (his dog) is my favorite character of them all!!!

But of course, I cannot help but make an honorable mention to the Original Dr. Seuss "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Cartoon movie, that is also very good and a classic!

So, which is you favorite Christmas movie? Are a classic kind of person, or perhaps prefer the romantic comedies? 

On a different note, tonight is my husband's company Christmas Party, it's going to be fun to meet some of the people he works with (I have met a couple) since he's only been there from Oct. 1st... Hopefully I will take some photos and share next week.

Happy Friday everybody, enjoy your weekend!