The Secret Life of Bees

I finished the book in two weeks. I loved it! Set in South Carolina in the '60s. This decade amazes me! The Vietnam War, The Civil Right Act of '64 (outlawed racial segregation), Malcom X, First time in the moon, even the pill! Murder of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. I think this is one of the decade with a turning point. I think that thanks to all the events that took place on the 60s we have many of the rights we have now. Racial was a major thing, Hispanic and Blacks fighting for their rights. And if you think about it was not too long ago! I love historical novels where you still have fiction but you have hightlights of historic events. Books and movies like, Gone with the Wind,  Hairspray and Forrest Gump are my favorite. I really enjoyed this book and cant wait to see the movie. Reading Southern stories make me understand better where I live now :)
Next in my list is "La Guagua Aerea" by Luis Rafael Sanchez. This is a Puertorican Literature book and Im enjoying it already.

Its official: we are extending our family!

As you know we were planning to adopt a dog or a cat for quite a bit now. After doing some research and cons/pros list we decided to go ahead and adopt a dog. Then I started to do some research for a good breed. We came down to Yorkie, Westie or Miniature Schnauzer. One of my major concerns is the shredding part. I haven’t seen a Westie in person so for sure I don’t know if they shred or not. According to the internet they don’t shred that much. I have friends with Yorkies and Miniature Schnauzers so for sure I know that these breeds don’t shred that much. This issue is not just for not deal with dog hair but because I’m kind of allergic to the hair. I started to do some research of Miniature Schnauzer breeders in the North Alabama, Northwest Georgia and South Tennessee area. I wanted to visit the breeder and meet the puppy’s mom and dad. Also I wanted to pick up my puppy in person and not by photos.
After an overwhelmed weeks of research for breeders I finally found one really close to my house, in Section, AL, Bama’s Best Kennel. In her website she has a bunch of pics of her girls and boy and past puppies. They are ADORABLE!! I started communication with her via email and I completely adore her instantly. The website wasn’t updated so she told me that one of her girls was pregnant and expecting a litter by March 26. I asked her to visit her house to be able to meet her and the puppy’s parents. Section, AL is about 65 miles away from my home that’s 1 and a half hour, not too bad. We made the trip and were really excited to meet them. We got there and I fell in love! The breeder have like 5 girls, Sophie (my pup’s mom and Min Schnauzer), Fergie (toy schnauzer), Miley (toy Schnauzer), Mazie (toy schnauzer), Maggie (toy schnauzer), and one boy, Nole (my pup’s dad). Sophie is adorable she was completely groomed with her beautiful bump. Very lovable and I petted her a LOT! All the girls stay inside and the boy is outside. They are great doggies! I bet my pup is going to be too
Now we are waiting to receive the news so we can go and pick our pup, we already decided that is going to be a girl and we even have a name!! LEXY, isn’t this name adorable? I already went to PetSmart and bought her a tag with her name. Went to Walmart and bought a collar and a bandana (too big for her now). We are in the process of getting the house puppy proof and Im very excited. I know is not a child we are talking about but is going to be a family member and that counts!

The Time Traveler's Wife

I finally finished the book!! yeah I know it took me more than a weekend to finish it! It was a very lovely story! I fell completely in love with Henry! I wish I can time travel now! I cried like a baby at the end! I hope the movie shows this part exactly as in the book! I cant wait to see the movie!

I know that the movie versions of the books are VERY different but I always love to see SOME of the aspect of the movie virtually! One time I saw the beginning of the movie version of this one and it doesnt start the same as the book. Go Figure! I dont think I had love any movie that I read the book! thats a bummer. But I still enjoying them. Movies like: Twilight, Confession of a shopaholic, P.S. I Love you, In Her Shoes, Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons are pretty much all the books that I read before the movies. there are a couple of books that I want to read before I see the movie. Like Dear John, My Sisters Keeper and The Secret Life of Bees. There are a couple of movies that I saw and I want to read the book like Princess Diaries, The Notebook, Interview with a vampire.

Next Im going to read The Secret Life of Bees. Hope is a good book!

**My Spirited Art 2**

Since I loved and had so much fun the first time I went to My Sprited Art Studio I decided to come back.

The first time, only 9 people participated (including Yamil and I) this time 52 people participated! the room was packed with first timers and people that have done it before. These classes are so much fun and you forget about your problems at home and at work. Eventhough you dont have creativity, art talent or art knowledge you want your painting to be perfect, so you start to freak out and stress out. You pick up your brush, fill it with paint and you get afraid to touch your canvas! you dont want to messed up. But the art instructor starts to give you confidence saying that you shouldn't be perfect 'cause art is not perfect. But if you are planning to give the painting as a gift or hanging it on your wall you want the painting to look fabulous!! But since the instructor is painting her own canvas at the same time as us this make easier to follow her lead. The end results are awesome! not two people have the exact same painting!

My friend's daughter, Nathalie, and me showing our painting :) 

Now I'm so happy 'cause my house now is taking shape (decoratively talking)! Finally I dont have more bare walls!! :)

**Relay for Life 2010 - Pre-Relay days**

I've been hearing about Relay for Life for years, but haven't had the opportunity to participate. I watches the news about it, celebrities and companies getting involve in it and I always thought it was only for survivors, victims and their families. Seven years ago my great-grandmother died because of pulmonar cancer, she was only treated with quimio like once or twice before she passed away, so we didn't experience the painful journey of the cancer entirely (THANK GOD!). Sometimes you don't get involve in social societies/groups, etc... if you haven't experience it.

A couple of days ago, one special friend of mine sent me an email asking for help with donation to Relay for Life in her area. She is a team member of the Penn State University team. I donated on behalf of her and felt so good! Then a couple of days after that one puertorican friend living here in Huntsville started a team for Relay For Life Huntsville Metro. Since I felt so good when donated I decided to join the team. definitely its not going to be the last time!

Im excited and looking forward to participate and walk on April 30, 2010 and represent the latin community in Huntsville, AL.

Here is our team name "Latin Flavor for the Cure", visit my personal page and help me with this new journey as a new Relay for Life team member. Help me reach our goal. Dont wait until you or your family experiences it, lets help find the cure together, lets fight the cancer back!
 
Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back!

Cat, Dog or neither....thats the question

Since Yamil and I got married we considered having a pet. I love cats and dogs both pretty much equally and I know that they require maintenance, time, dedication and sacrifice. But I’m willing to make all that because I know the joy that a pet gives to a home. I also recognize that require a lot of cleanup but that’s another issue. I believe that Yamil and I are ready to raise a pet. We have been married for two years and 7 months and have been putting off having a pet for many reasons and excuses. At first we discarded it when moving to California because we would be living in an apartment. Yamil and I decided then to consider the pet when we moved to our new house. We moved to our first, new home on April 2009 so I think that excuse is clear.

I started to research some dog breeders after April 2009 but we came up with a new excuse: Our travel plans. We went on a cruise on September 2009 for one week and later on we went to Puerto Rico for Christmas for three weeks. So we decided to postpone it for after Christmas 2009. So now our dilemma is if we should get a dog or a cat.

Dogs require more attention but they give you more attention! They are adorable! We are considering Westie, Yorkie or a Miniature Schnauzer. I’m in love with my best friend dog, Roxy, a beautiful Miniature Schnauzer. Every time we visit she welcomes us with her adorable presence! I know that not all dogs are the same, Im really aware of that! Cats are more for themselves (I still like them) and I love when they purr! They need less care and less maintenance. Now Im in the task of looking for a cat and a dog and then we are going to decide which one to get. I promise we are not gonna get BOTH :P

I will keep you posted in our endeavor of getting a new family member. :)

*My Spirited Art*

I don't have creativity whatsover! so I haven't decorated my house (I didnt decorate our apartments either) since we moved here on April 2009. Here means our house. But dont get me wrong Im trying! I started with some candles and decorating stones at my living room, and some vase and some picture frames, etc... :) So I think Im doing ok! but I still have bare walls! I go to Ross, TJ Max, Walmart, Kirkland's, even Ikea! and everytime I sees a painting art for my walls is too overwhelmed! dont know which one to choose and where should I hang it! One friend of mine sent me a link of an art studio where you can go and paint a painting with the help of the teacher. Isn't that amazing? So I did the research on the studio website and looked at the paintings and reserved a space for the class on 9 February. They were going to paint some hearts in a 11" x 14" canvas. I convinced  my husband and we did it as a pre-San Valentine's date :) we had a blast painting and drinking wine (me) and beer (him). I think this activity of painting our own art and hang them in our walls is going to be a very creative way of decorate our house! :)

We started at our bedroom and cant wait to go again to the studio to paint another one for the living room :)

Very first Post! - Break the Ice

I'm new in Blogging so this is going to be my "break the ice" blog. I should've done this before! Reviewing my life I think I have done interesting things to share! but lets begin now in 2010 :)
I love reading, so you will notice that, now that I'm into blogging I will probably start blogging about the books I read. I've been neglecting it though :( I've been with the same book since last year!! Unbelievable, oh well I will catch up! I have a bunch sitting at my bookshelf waiting for me! Right now I'm reading "The Time Traveler's Wife" recommended by a friend. Its a really nice book but Ive been feeling tired lately and I get home and just wanna to rest. Oh I forgot to say that the reason for me to be neglecting my reading is my job! I work 9 hrs Monday thru Thursday and 8 hrs one Friday and free every other Friday. So that makes me very tired. I have a husband that required food :P so I have to get home and cook dinner...wonder what I'm going to do when I have a kid :S God Help Me!
I even got one of my friends to do a book club for this book but we both haven't finish it! but I'm more than halfway so I will finish it this weekend! I PROMISE!!!