I will be back SOON!

My POS computer decided to do something awful and I lost EVERYTHING! Yes I bawled like a baby for an hour trying to retrieve everything..most important my pictures =(  No luck...... I am not a happy girl right now! So I will be back in a couple days...

Happy Birthday Baby Bella!

This sweet little girl turned a year old yesterday, April 27th. She is such a fun and loving addition to our family and we can't imagine our lives without her. So here she is in her birthday hat and all......

A new recipe and baby Bella =)

I found this new fish recipe last week on my quest for healthier foods. I love it so much we have had it twice in 10 days! Good thing Ande liked it too. Or in his word "It's a keeper!" Here is the recipe:

Fish Baked with Lime

-2lb white fish fillets, such as bass, flounder or cod (I used cod)
-1 lime
-3tbsp EVOO
-1 large onion, finely chopped
-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
-2-3 pickled jalapeno chilies, chopped (I used regular jar jalapenos that we ALWAYS have!)
-6-8 tbsp chopped, fresh cilantro
-salt and pepper
-lemon and lime wedges, to serve

1. Place fish fillets in bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the limes over the fish.
2. Heat the EVOO in a frying pan. Add garlic and onion and fry for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until softened. Remove from heat.
3. Add a can of chopped tomatoes to the onion/garlic mixture. ( I used a can of Rotel tomatoes with green chilies)
3. Place 1/3 of the mixture and cilantro in the bottom of a shallow baking dish or roasting pan.
4. Arrange fish on top and top that with remaining onion mixture, jalapenos and cilantro.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until fish has become opaque and firm to touch. Serve immediately with lemon and lime wedges for squeezing over the fish.

So easy, healthy and yummy! It really only takes 10 minutes to prepare, if that. Now for some pictures and updates on the Big Baby Bella..... She turns 1 year old this month on the 27th! I can't believe it..she is getting so big and we love her more and more everyday. I realize I sound like I am talking about a child....but she's my dog and I love her so get over it ha! The other day she was playing hide and seek under the blankets and it was hilarious. I wish I would have had the video camera but I didn't have a chance to grab it. I am surprised but glad I at least got a couple pictures.

She also does this thing EVERY SINGLE NIGHT around the time Ande comes home from work. It's weird how she knows he is just around the corner...but she does. She goes to the window and looks out, then goes to the front door and back and forth until he pulls in the drive. She gets so excited for him to come home. It is really sweet. She does this with me too when I am at work and Ande is home with her. It is such a good feeling to walk through the door and having her so happy to see you...wagging her tail in excitement. I saw a bumper stick er on a car the other day that sums up our feeling about Bella. It said "I Love My CRAZY Dog!" HAHA I need one of those =)

Have a great week everyone!!!

Amen to that!

Top 2 Tuesday

Top 2 Drinks

This weeks topic was a little hard for me. I had to have 3 favorites! I just could not decide between the 3 so here they are:

1. Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade

2. SONIC Cherry Limeade

3. And I saved the best for last....my old buddy sugar free RED BULL =)
I could drink this ALL day, everyday. I don't though because it's super unhealthy.
For me it's not even about the energy it gives you. I just LOVE the taste!

Dear Mom,

I heard this song for the first time today in the car. It hit me like a ton of bricks! I know it is supposed to be about a break-up but it fit the way I feel about my mom and our relationship 100%. It actually brought me to tears. I just had to share it.....

Here are the words for those who don't want to watch the video. I underlined a few parts that really expressed how I feel:

Woke up late today and I still feel the sting of the pain
But I brushed my teeth anyway
I got dressed through the mess and put a smile on my faceI got a little bit stronger

Riding in the car to work and I'm trying to ignore the hurt
So I turned on the radio, stupid song made me think of you
I listened to it for minute but I changed it
I'm getting a little bit stronger, just a little bit stronger

And I'm done hoping that we could work it outI'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking that you could ever changeI know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger

Doesn't happen overnight but you turn around
And a month's gone by and you realize you haven't cried
I'm not giving you a hour or a second or another minute longer
I'm busy getting stronger

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking, that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger
I get a little bit stronger

Getting along without you,
I'm better off without you,
How does it feel without me?I'm getting stronger without you,

And I'm done hoping we could work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the sameBut I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger

I get a little bit strongerJust a little bit stronger
A little bit, a little bit, a little bit stronger
I get a little bit stronger

Top 2 Tuesday early....

Top 2 Songs On Your iPod
This one is hard for me since I LOVE music...all kinds. I can literally go from Dolly Parton to Notorious BIG to Fernando Ortega all within 15 minutes. I also have this wierd ESP thing where I can be thinking of a song I want to hear and BAM! it comes on the radio. I am not even joking. This happened Saturday night when I was out with Ande. I said to him "I haven't heard Eric Clapton on the radio in forever" and not even 5 minutes later "I Shot The Sheriff" was playing and Ande gave me this look as if to say "You are sooo weird!" HA! I can't expalin it, it just happens A LOT =) Okay enough rambling about my weirdness back to T2T.

1. Natalie Grant 'Held"
This song is very special to me and I listen to it daily. It has special meaning for Ande and I

2. Pink "Glitter in the Air"
No special meaning with this song I just love it =)

ABC's of Me

{a} age: 28....yikes! Getting a lil too close to 30 for comfort =)

{b} bed size: A cozy full size...kinda would like a queen size though.

{c} chore you hate: Folding laundry and putting it away. 
{d} dogs: Bella....the yellow lab who is now queen of our house =)
{e} essential start to your day: Cinnamon Dolce Latte originally from Starbucks but I have learned how to make them at home and save almost $4!
{f} favorite color: I'm gonna say orange.
{g} gold or silver: Silver or white gold. Yellow gold just does not look good with my skin tone.
{h} height: 5'4  
{i} instruments you play: I don't play any...tried the clarinet in elementary but that only lasted about 2 weeks. I hated to practice. 
{j} job title: Sales Rep at Litehouse Pools and Spas.
{k} kids: None right now and none in the near future either. Maybe someday down the road. I have plenty of time now that my clock is no linger ticking.
{l} live: In my house with my husband and dog across the yard from my grandparents. LOVE it =)
{m} mom's name: I can't remember.....
{n} nicknames: Em, Emmy, Honey, Babe...
{o} overnight hospital stays: Yikes too many to list.... 
{p} pet peeves: Oh boy....Fake people, Backstabbers, People who lie, the phrase " I know, right??"
{q} quote from a movie: -"In a good shoe I wear a size six, but a seven feels so good I wear a size eight!"-Truvy from Steel Magnolias
-"Marriage isn't fireproof. Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it."-Caleb Holt and Michael Simmons from the movie Fireproof
{r} Right or left-handed: Right!
{s} siblings: A younger sister (Jess 24) and a younger brother (Sam,22)
{t} time you wake up: 8AM on most weekdays and 11AM on days off...don't judge me cause you're jealous HA! 
{u} underwear: I love Victoria's Secret because they are the best quality and so comfortable.
{v} vegetables you dislike: Broccoli and cauliflower.....YUCK! 
{w} what makes you run late: Straightening my hair!
{x} x-rays you've had: Too many!
{y} yummy food you make: Enchiladas are my specialty, I also love to bake cupcakes and brownies etc....
 {z} zoo - favorite animal: Manatees and Beluga whales..it's more of an aquarium animal. I would rather go there anyways. Especially the Georgia Aquarium. That place is AMAZING!
Okay all done....your turn =)

M.I.A and some new kicks!

Yes, I am still alive....barely =) We had the flu of 2011 hit our house in a HUGE way! I have honestly never been so sick with the flu in my entire life. I had a fever of 103 for 5 days and was not able to hold food or water down for almost 4 days. My head hurt so bad I could barely lift my head. Ande was about the same although thank God not quite as bad. I would not wish that on my worst enemy! I finally went to work after missing 4 days. It has taken me a few days to regain my strength and get back into the swing of things. On a good note I lost 5 pounds =) Although not a diet I would recommend either. So enough of the sick talk onto more fun topics...shopping =)

I went shopping with my favorite partner (Grandma) a couple weeks ago and I came home with a few new items. I needed a new pair of shoes for work since it's getting warmer out and we normally wear tennis shoes in the spring/summer. I wanted to try some of the new shape up shoes. I hate the way the Sketchers brand looks but I found a Reebok kind that I liked. They are the Reebok Easy Tones. They are super comfortable and actually made my legs sore after I had worn them all day! I like the extra cushion on the bottom since I have flat feet.

I found mine at Kohls. That place is seriously dangerous for grandma and I =) She found a bunch of stuff for her kitchen there. A new clock, a big multi picture frame for over the mantle and a few other things I forget right now! Where did we ever shop before Kohls? I also needed a pair of rain boots for when I take the dog out or on a walk. It's so wet and sloppy out right now I hate to go out with my regular shoes. So yes I bought 2 pairs of shoes in 1 day =) But I really, really needed them and these boots were just too cute to pass up.

After Kohls we went to Bath and Body Works. We were armed with coupons and ready to buy some yummy smelling candles. I fell in love with the Peach Bellini scent. I am kinda obsessive compulsive when it comes to scents in my house. I have to have the same scent through the whole house. Same scent candles, air freshener, wall plug ins etc... So my house is smelling light Peach Bellini right now and I LOVE it. So does Ande =) I also found their new line of hand soap. It is fresh picked fruits. They had cherry, strawberry, watermelon and blueberry. I picked cherry, it reminds me of the cherries my Grandma uses to make her cherry pies... its's wonderful!

Grandma found some cute things as well. She has been looking for new things to hang in the kitchen and we found an awesome, huge clock and a few other things that she was really happy with. I have said this before but I will say it a million times. I love shopping with my Grandma and just doing things together. She is my best friend in the whole world and I can't imagine my life without her or my Grandpa. They are such a huge part of my life and the only place I have ever felt 100% unconditional love. It is such a blessing to wake up everyday and look across my yard and see their house, to honk my horn at them every morning on the way to work, to be able to call them 3 times daily just to say "hey, what are you doin?" and most important just knowing they are there for me day and night! Sweet dreams everyone!

Wordless Wednesday,sort of...

I came across this sweet video the other day. It is from the day we brought Bella home. This is her in the backseat of our car on the way home =) I can't believe she used to be that little! She barely fits in the backseat these days.Yes I realize I sound like I am talking about her like she is a child..so what! Sorry the video is not the best quality, its from my old digital camera...definitely need an upgrade. Enjoy!

Rough day off...

Today was my day off and I had a lot of plans to clean house, laundry, dishes etc... I also wanted to bring in my winter stuff from outside and put all my snowman stuff inside away. Well my sweet pup kinda ruined my plans for the day. Ande got up super early this morning for work and Bella was awake so he took her outside and brought her back in and gave her this favorite toy/treat to play with

So he left and Bella was happily playing with her treat. I got up around 8AM and was horrified at what I found!!! Bella had twisted the bone apart and, you see that little brush part that is for her teeth?? She not only ate the rawhide part she was supposed to eat but, she had chewed up the PLASTIC parts with the bristles!! I freaked out and called Ande bawling....all I could think about was that there would be no way she could pass those things and we were headed to the vet for surgery =(  Well she had other ideas. Lets just say I was cleaning up pet vomit ALL. DAY. LONG. As sick as this sounds I was happy to be cleaning it up and finding all the little plastic pieces because that meant that they were out of her. I even saved them to make sure each piece was accounted for. She is fine now and back to her normal hungry self. Thank God! I really can't believe she was smart enough to untwist that bone and get the pieces off...crazy. That toy is now in the trash, never to be chewed on again. I still managed to get a ton of cleaning done too. My carpet got a nice, deep scrubbing too! Well that is about all of the excitement for today. I am ready to relax and watch one of my favorite shows

I just love Bethenny! She is so funny and has so many good one liners. What would I do without the Bravo channel? It's the only channel I ever watch anymore =)

Something to think about...

Fill in the blanks

•I love... My granparents (my Dad's Mom and Dad) so much that it literally hurts sometimes! I start to think of my life without them and I go into an all out PANIC mode =( I cherish every.single.day that I have with them and hope they can feel my love because it is so hard to put into words.

•Right now I want... A swimming pool,a vacation with my husband on an island in the middle of nowhere,an ice cold Coke....random I know =)

•I feel like... I REALLY need to hit the gym/track hardcore! This extra layer I put on over the winter needs to come off! I have a wedding to be in this summer....yea Jenn...can't wait girl!

•I hate it when... people pretend to like me to my face and then talk about me behind my back. I would rather you not talk to me at all if you have a problem with me! Also hate when people make comments on Facebook to others that they KNOW you will see and get hurt from..make sense?

•I fear... the day something happens to my Grandparents, my Stepfather(shhh don't tell him that, he would love that) being alone.

•I'm lonely without... my husband and my pup and my daily phone conversations with Grandma.

•I need... to let go of the past, unconditional love....

•Today I... am working until 8 and then going home to watch The Real Housewives of Miami =)

•I just... remembered I need to pay our Car/Truck insurance! March sure came fast!

•Tomorrow I'm... going to lunch with a wonderful woman from our church, making Oreo Cupcakes and taking them to our small group meeting at church in the evening.

•I want to meet... Sarah Palin, George and Laura Bush, Joyce Meyer and......The Kardashians! HA!

•I'm hungry for... not hungry but thirsty for that Coke!

•I love it when... Ande makes me laugh until I cry, like last night when we were watching The King of Queens =)

•I'm listening to... The playlist on our Ipod

•I'm wearing... Pajama pants and a tee shirt....glamorous huh??

•I want to get... a new camera and a bigger TV

•I cant... carry a tune to save my life!

•I'm nervous to... think about starting the adoption process someday. Sounds so scary and EXPENSIVE! I hate that any idiot out there can carry a child but people who want to adopt and give a child a good home are made to go through sooo many hoops and spend so much $$$ =(

•I feel happiest when... I am surrounded by my family at holidays or family get togethers at my grandparents house

A little of this and a little of that.....

I haven't posted for a few days so this one will be all over the place. This past Saturday I worked all day and after work got the chance to have an early dinner with my amazing cousins, Gina and Renee. Our family is a lot smaller than most and I only have 2 cousins! Compared to Ande who has too many for me to count right now..it's so funny how different families can be. We had a wonderful Mexican dinner with wonderful conversation. I feel like I am at a place in my life right now where I need all the support that I can get from my "real" family. Those of you who know me well know what I have had to go through with my mother and step-father my whole life. While I have tried to move on and forgive and forget what they have done to me..it's still really hard. Without going into detail, there is just a lot of "junk" going on right now and I would appreciate your prayers. So it was awesome to have the support and encouragement of Gina and Renee. They are amazing mothers, wives, daughters etc.... Most important they are such STRONG women of faith! I feel like they will be my back bone when I really need it. I love you guys xoxoxo!
The rest of the weekend was pretty laid back. Lots of hanging out on the couch curled up under the blankets. We went to church Sunday and had a very interesting speaker. After that we grabbed Quiznos for lunch and headed home for the rest of the night. Exciting I know! We both went to bed kinda early last night and we were woken up by that nasty storm that came through! The thunder was SOOO loud I thought it would rupture my ear drum! It felt so close. The lightning lit the sky up like it was daylight. I am most shocked that Bella was able to sleep through all of it. I am glad though that she didn't wake up and have to go to the bathroom! I think I would have had to pretend to be asleep on that one so Ande would take her put HA! Well then this morning we woke up to massive flooding everywhere! Grandma and Grandpa had water in the basement and in the pit in the garage(where Grandpa used to work on cars back in the day) Thank God for pumps that caught most of it early enough that we could get most of it out. We had to use a carpet cleaner to suck up the rest of the water that could not be sucked out with the pump. What a mess! It could have been much, much worse though. I know there are some out there who had to evacuate their homes! The roads were a mess today too. I was shocked to see all the pictures and videos today. We were so wrapped up in our own mess we really had no idea how bad it really was everywhere else. Here are a couple pictures of behind our house. Our yard was not that bad but these are pictures of the neighbors property.

After we got all the water under control we decided that our beautiful pup was starting to stink from being out in the rain and mud the last couple days. So we decided that today would be a great day for a bath =) Thank God Ande was home for 1 more day. She is just getting so big these days that it is just easier with 2 people. I LOVE her pet shampoo. It smells so good and makes her fur soooo soft! We use the Bed Head brand pet shampoo...Pet Head. It is a little pricey but it is totally worth it. 1 bottle usually last 3 or 4 baths so I don't think that's too bad. They have a few different scents and so far i have liked them all. I sound like a commercial or an ad for the stuff huh?? I wish they would throw some free product my way =)

After her bath I always dry her with the blow dryer. I HATE a wet dog! After she was all dry we realized that the fur by her rear end is kinda curly! I had never noticed that before...I thought is was cute =) Here is our little chic all nice and clean.

                                                                Curly Sue!

Last but not least....Did anybody watch the Academy Awards last night? I only watch the Red Carpet arrivals just to see what everyone is wearing. I love seeing everyone all dressed up! Some look amazing, others not so much! Here were a few of my favorites of the night.

Hope you all have a great week!

Worn out!

I had to work from 12-8 today and this is what I came home to =)

I thought is was sooo sweet! Ande said they played and played and played in the snow all day....Bella LOVES the snow! I am bummed I didn't get to play but glad they had fun. Well I am keeping this one short and sweet....The Real Housewives of Miami starts tonight =) Just can't get enough of those Housewives! Goodnight everyone.....

Just plain Monday....

I don't have anything to exciting to post today. It's Monday and Ande is on vacation the whole week. Today was also my day off. Our morning got off to a rocky start since we are not used to being home in the mornings together during the week. I like to sleep in on my day off, at least until 10 or 11. Don't judge me, I don't have kids to get up with and I work my butt off while I am at work. I am sooo not a morning person! I love to get up and kiss Ande goodbye...he usually leaves the house by 6am, let the dog out and feed her, then we both usually crash on the couch until around 10 or 11 like I said earlier. This is my day off routine and I like it. So you can imagine how I felt at 8am when Ande came back to the bedroom dressed for the day asking me how much longer I was gonna stay in bed and if I was done sleeping in yet!!! Uhhhh.....He almost got a pillow in the face! No joke! Lets do the math here....on a normal work day he has to be up by around 5am....today he got up at 7:45. That equals 2 hours and 45 minutes that he got to sleep in. Soooo on a normal work day I get up around 8am. So technically I should not have been expected to get up until 10:45...right??? Well I got up since he made me feel like a lazy slob =) I walked to the bathroom mumbling something under my breath about this week being a loooong one HA! We needed to go get groceries...told you it was an exciting day. It started snowing like crazy and I was glad that I didn't have to drive or lug all those groceries around and into the house myself. We ended up having a really good, much needed day together. I love my hubby but sometimes I can get a little psycho if somebody messes with my schedule =) We came home to see this little girl napping on the couch and boy was I jealous! At least somebody got her beauty sleep today =)

Ande's 31st Birthday!

Yesterday we celebrated Ande's birthday with a small dinner at his Mom and Dad's. He didn't want anything big or fancy just some good ole authentic Mexican food from his momma =) I was fine with that. Anyone who knows me knows I hate to cook(but love to bake...weird I know). I got him a pair of autographed Muhammad Ali boxing gloves. Ande is very into boxing and our whole garage is covered in Ali posters. He also has his heavy bag out there and as soon as it is warm I know he will be out there taking his frustrations out on it! Needless to say he loved the gloves. Our nephew David had spent the night at his grandparents house so he was there too. He and Ande had a fun time trying out the gloves on each other..nicely though =)

I ran to the party store after work to grab some wrapping paper and as I walked in I saw a basketball display with NBA themed plates/napkins/balloons etc... They even had the Boston Celtics. Soooo knowing how much Ande loves them I had to buy the napkins and some small desert plates and even some Rajon Rondo balloons! I shoved everything in the trunk and told him that when we got to his mom's he had to go directly to the basement to play some ping pong with David. So he did and his mom and I got everything ready to go.

                                                              YUMMY!!!

                                                             Make a wish.....

                                                            31 already?????

                                                     

Today is his actual birthday so we just spent the day relaxing and hanging out with our pup. She is so sweet she wanted to snuggle up on the couch so she dragged out a few blankets and brought them to me....it was so funny. I swear she is part human sometimes! She then plopped down and took a nice loong Sunday nap. She is getting so big we have to recline that side of the couch. She almost looks like she is watching the TV when she lays like this =)

  Well I am off tomorrow and Ande is off the rest of the week for vacation. Who knows what we will get into. I am just looking forward to spending the evenings with him when I get off work. Hope you all have a great week.
P.S Happy Birthday Jenn!!! Love you girl!

Friday and Valentines Rewind

I am sitting here posting this while Ande is watching WWE Wrestling on TV. This is a Friday night tradition in our household. I don't know why he likes it...it is all obviously fake! For some reason though the man loves his wrestling. I have decided after many years to just pick my battles and let him watch it....in peace....while I go do something else. We meet back on the couch together at 10 pm =) I am glad today is Friday. Even though I work tomorrow. I only have to work from 9-3, so that is not too bad. We are having Ande's birthday dinner at his mom and dad's house tomorrow evening. I can't believe that he will be 31 on Sunday, February 20th!!! It just does not seem possible. He is still that sweet, adorable 18 year old that I met 13 years ago in my eyes. It seems crazy that we have been together that long. Monday was our 13th Valentines Day we have celebrated together. We never really do a whole lot for Valentines Day. We both think that it is silly to have one day out of the year that you celebrate your love. Well this year was different. We have had some hard times recently and I guess we were both feeling like we needed a little pick me up. The funny thing was, I thought I was buying him a gift secretly and he thought he was doing the same thing! Most of you who know me well know that I collect Willow Tree Angels. Well he surprised me with the "je t aime" one! I love it and it is one of my favorites =)

He also got me a beautiful card and my favorite Cry Baby Sour Gum Balls! No chocolate for me...he know me too well and knows I prefer sour candy instead HA! I got him a new PUMA gym bag and some workout clothes since we just got our membership to the local indoor track at the high school. We both got free memberships because of a wellness plan that Ande has at work. The employees get rewarded for good health by having money put into a wellness account. The money can be used for gym memberships or equipment for the home and even shoes and work out clothes. It is a pretty cool thing. Anytime anything is free I am all for it! We have gone a couple times and it is ridiculous how out of shape I am! UHHH it makes me sick! What makes me even sicker is seeing my hot husband who hasn't worked out in about a year run a mile in under 10 minutes with no problem...MEN! It must be nice. Oh well, I am not going to stress out about it but one of my best friends is getting married in August. I want to be looking my best for her big day =) I can't wait!! Well anyways this post just jumped all over the place..and it's 10pm so wrestling is over and it's time for me to get the remote go hang out with the hubs! Have a great weekend!

Day Off!

I have the day off today and I am taking advantage of it. Soon it will be spring/summer time and I will be soooo busy at work. I am excited about it actually. I love summer and it is my favorite time at work too. Today is also Ande's first day of vacation. He had to use up 8 days by the end of February or he was going to lose them. I wish I could say we were going on some wonderful vacation but we are not =(
I will enjoy having him at home at night but I just know he will drive himself crazy. He is a workaholic and does not relax well. I am sure he will be out helping his Dad or my Grandma and Grandpa with any projects they need done. While I wish sometimes he would just relax and take some time for himself, I love the fact that he is a hard worker.
This morning I woke up to some noise out in the living room. I went out to see what was going on and this is what I found....playtime at the Estrada house.....at 7am! Bella and Ande both get up super early and she always wants to play as soon as she wakes up. She looks kinda mean in these pictures but I promise she is not and Ande was laughing hysterically as she was "attacking" him =)

I can't believe how big she is getting! I was looking back through some old pictures of her when she was just a tiny puppy....soooo cute! I took a few more pictures of her this morning when she was lounging on "her" couch. She is such a good dog and we just love her to pieces!

Well I guess that is about all for today. I am making Fajitas for dinner and I feel the need for a nap coming on. I just love days off! Have a great day/evening everyone =)