Saturday, December 30, 2006

Happy New Year!

365 days ago, as I walked out of my apartment to see the Rose Parade's New Years floats going by as they were being set up for the next day’s Rose Parade, I marveled at the blessings I have in my life. Not only do the New Years Day Parade floats, come to little-ole-me so I don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to walk a mile and a half to see the parade, but instead can sit in front of my fireplace and watch them on TV drinking hot chocolate, (you say “lazy”, I say “cozy”). Needless to say, 2006 indeed HAS been a year of so many blessings. So as this is as good a place as any to express my gratitude to the Universe and reflect on all the blessings I have received, I am listing some of the things I am so grateful for:

1. Welcoming my newest niece, Avery into the world, who kept us all on our toes by not allowing us to know weather she was going to be a girl or a boy throughout the three sonograms.
2. My new Civic. It’s so much less about the material possession than about the security and peace of mind it provides me in knowing that I can safely get to wherever I need to go.
3. Inheriting a whole new, loving, kind and amazing family (in addition to the one I already had).
4. Inheriting five other nephews and nieces who ran up to me on my birthday and gave me a card that AUNTIE A2 (Not because they know about this blog, but because my name begins with an “A”) with the gift of one of their biggest fireworks for me to light.
5. My first trip to Hawaii, which after all the hype, didn’t disappoint.
6. Being able to work with the most amazing, caring, appreciative clients and families and seeing how much they are all changing and growing.
7. Marrying an amazing man who loves and supports me unconditionally…I couldn’t have done it otherwise, as my eccentricities can be quite challenging, I’m sure.
8. More material gifts that I could have ever imagined receiving or needing.


But I think one of the most amazing blessing I received this year, has been the understanding that I have always had everything I have always needed within myself and there is nothing external that I need to make me happy, because true happiness and joy comes from within…and to think, years and years of watching The Wizard of Oz and it took me nearly 33 years to figure that out!

Happy New Year Everyone! My 2007 be filled with blessings and ruby slippers for everyone, everywhere!

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Christmas with the Squares...

Hey, if a picture is worth a thousand words, it's as if I just typed over 5,000 words!!





Monday, December 18, 2006

It'beginning to look a lot like an Auntie Blog!!!

I HATE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! With all the hustle and bustle and such. And yet I love the sappy corniness of all the Christmas season. T.V. specials and music and “It’s a Wonderful Life”…Merry Christmas you ole South Pasadena!!! But despite my sappy, sentimental spirit, I try to avoid crowded marketplaces, yet being a sucker for my perfectly adorable and amazing nieces, I agreed (well actually suggested) to accompany SquarSis #3 to one of those new, crazy, open malls that have fake snow and restaurants, and music and stuff…oh yeah, and of course Santa. So after a delightful, yet loud meal, and visits to Santa and orders of Boba, Squaresis and I had the audacity to stop into one of our favorite clothing stores with the understanding that at any moment we may be negotiated (i.e. screamed) out. Our rampage-like collection of clothing turned into an intimate party of four in a dressing room and as Squaresis #3 tried on a pink tunicky camisole, my nearly three-year-old-angel/neice announced, “Ooooooooh, you look like a princess!” and then immediately after, when I tried on a long orange hooded sweater (that I eventually bought), told me, “Oooooooh....you look like a teacher!”

Doesn’t she say the sweetest things?

It'beginning to look a lot like an Auntie Blog!!!

I HATE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! With all the hustle and bustle and such. And yet I love the sappy corniness of all the Christmas season. T.V. specials and music and “It’s a Wonderful Life”…Merry Christmas you ole South Pasadena!!! But despite my sappy, sentimental spirit, I try to avoid crowded marketplaces, yet being a sucker for my perfectly adorable and amazing nieces, I agreed (well actually suggested) to accompany SquarSis #3 to one of those new, crazy, open malls that have fake snow and restaurants, and music and stuff…oh yeah, and of course Santa. So after a delightful, yet loud meal, and visits to Santa and orders of Boba, Squaresis and I had the audacity to stop into one of our favorite clothing stores with the understanding that at any moment we may be negotiated (i.e. screamed) out. Our rampage-like collection of clothing turned into an intimate party of four in a dressing room and as Squaresis #3 tried on a pink tunicky camisole, my nearly three-year-old-angel/neice announced, “Ooooooooh, you look like a princess!” and then immediately after, when I tried on a long orange hooded sweater (that I eventually bought), told me, “Oooooooh....you look like a teacher!”

Doesn’t she say the sweetest things?