3, 2, 1

It happened again. What can I say, it’s inevitable. I’m feeling under the weather and it's days before we leave for our weekend getaway to Hong Kong.

It all started Thursday night when I slept through Gerardo’s arrival. You see, although we’re on different schedules we ALWAYS greet each other when arriving home. [it's our small gesture of ♥ & respect for one another] In this case, I slept soundlessly until he came into our room to kiss me on the cheek and whispered if I were okay. I groggily replied "I think I'm getting sick."

Great. Just great.

Friday night couldn't come fast enough. Nothing sounded more appealing than snuggling into my pillow to catch some serious Zzzzz's. And, that's exactly what I did but it wasn't just Friday night. It was the entire weekend. Shameful. I honestly blame our 1000 thread count egypatian cotton sheets Gerardo got for us last year. After sleeping 16+ hours Sunday Gerardo treated me to Starbuck's before he went to work. I was just what I needed to quench my thirst. Dry mouth is just plain nasty.

♥ D&G

Hella Good

Ooh Yeah.

Jake had an appointment for a much needed grooming session. We always try to make an effort to take her every two weeks but our schedules occasionally don't match with the times that Pet Club have open. A week overdue and looking nicely mangy I dropped her off to get beautified.

As most of you know, I'm a planner. A preparer. So...... it looks like Jake as a Halloween costume already. She's going to be a ladybug!

Unfortunately, Gerardo is still sick. Some kind of respiratory congestion; it sounds pretty nasty. Poor guy can't sleep-wait, neither can I. Hmph. I play the nurturing role fairly well. Example #1: I quickly wake up while he's coughing up a lung to rub his back...I'd assume it's quite soothing. At least for the moment.

Today was lunch with the girls. I know, I know I'm always with "the girls." It can be easily explained; their like family. Although, I enjoy spending time alone or with my other half I can be caught spending time with "the girls." No, we're not a clique or cult. We're just good friends and today we decided to go eat nooddles. It was just what the doctor ordered! Yummmm.

kimchi

♥ D&G

Tulips

These are adorable.♥

[For] Work

[dinner] with the hubby

[hanging out] with the girls


[weekend] hangout

♥ D&G

Big girls do cry

....after all, a girl is - well, a girl.

A couple of us went to go see My Sister's Keeper last night, OMG-it was a tear jerker. The movie gave all of us the continuing sniffles, knot in the throat and red puffy eyes. Ugh, we were a mess.

My Sister's Keeper synopsis

13- year-old Anna Fitzgerald sues her parents for medical emancipation and the rights to her own body. She was conceived solely as a genetic donor for her sister Kate, who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia. The film is interlaced with flashbacks that detail the strong relationship between Kate and Anna, as well as how Kate's illness has affected her family’s lives.

Gerardo woke up with the summer flu. So, today I ended up cleaning and catching up on my crocheting projects. I swear crocheting & knitting brings me peace. I finished another beret, woohoo! Tomorrow I'm going to start painting for my first autumn door sign. We shall see how that goes; I'm not much of a painter.

♥ D&G

Stop & Stare

It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, it's what you have in your heart (and) I ♥ bubble tea.

In fact, it's one of the greatest kinds of relief you can have when the temperature gets too high. Some of you might refer to it as boba tea, either way, the effects it has to revive you on a frustratingly hot day is significant. Trust me.

My friend introduced me to Quickly's a couple of months ago. Since then I've become a weekly customer. I usually go for the mango with double layer tapioca balls. It's insanely refreshing.

Two more weeks until we go to Hong Kong. Shopping, eating and shopping again! Sadly, Gerardo has already mapped out where the Breitling sellers are. Oh great. (<- I hope you read that sarcastically)

Here's our hotel. The Mira Hong Kong

http://www.themirahotel.com/

We picked the Red room.

(we'll take our own pictures once we get there)

♥ D&G

Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.

Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.

A fairytale that has just begun in the most perfect way. It’s when happiness pulses with every beat of your heart. When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

He asked….she said yes!

But this is not a dream you're in, this is love that's true, now all await with eagerness for the day you'll say "I do!"

Congratulations on your engagement Lorreine and Mike! [♥♥]

(Note: If you truly know Lorreine you'll know why I posted this photo)

♥ D&G

Early Start

Sometimes the true object of all human life is play. Me, I like to play.

The weekend started early.

Thursday.[Girls day during the weekday]
Cookie dough, pillow fights, toenail panting- you know, the norm. Kidding. I finally got my hair back to normal. Hallelujah! We made some tacos and watched a movie. Simplicity at it's best.

Friday.

Gerardo surprised me by coming home early. We didn't do any in particular, just our usual midnight Starbucks run.

Saturday.[Work movie day & Bunco]

I ♥ Bunco.

♥ D&G

Well deserved

We would like to dedicate this entry to our sister Jennifer.

The best way to predict the future is to create it; you’ve done an excellent job at creating yours. On this, your graduation day we stand from afar to honor all the hard work you’ve done to get you here. You’ve achieved what you sought to achieve and for that you deserved the loudest of shouts, the biggest of hugs and the brightest future.

We hope your dreams take you...to the corners of your smile, to the highest of your hopes and to the windows of new opportunities.

You did it, congratulations graduate!

♥ D&G

Weekend routine

It's what we do.

It never fails that every Saturday and Sunday we start off exactly the same way. Weekend mornings are taken seriously at the Valdez household. No matter what, it's our relaxing time. We sleep in even if its just an extra 10 minutes OR a couple of hours. Jake usually always decides to wake me up first -hours before waking up daddy. She begins to rub her paws against my body as if she's digging sideways. After a few strokes she notices my unusual movements and bounces back for a full view of my morning stretches accompanied with large yarns. She then greets me with her big black eyes staring with happiness that says "Finally, mommy's up!" [she ensures that we make eye contact]

Along with my usual wake up call, I always make breakfast. It's the "domestic Dominique" that I've morph into since I've gotten married. (7 years ago) I make just about anything. Eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, papas, breakfast tacos...you name it, I do it.

This weekend was extremely uneventful. I mostly concentrated my efforts into finishing my book. Ah, it's getting good! Gerardo did his usual hair cut time followed directly by picking up a Dr. Pepper.

We're so predictable. It's kinda scary.

♥ D&G

Work hard/Play hard

[Sigh] The first half of this post will kinda make you want to puke..but, I just wanted to share some things and explain "how" and "why" things are possible. (speaking in terms of our life) It's impossible to explain without sounding too mushy/gushy or cliche.

Here it goes.

I can't even express enough on how lucky we've been to have found love in a world of madness- and to find it at such a young age. Meeting him has forever changed my life. He's become the man created especially for me. Everything I've wanted in life, he gave me...Love, Respect, Trust, Companionship, Everlasting Friendship, Stability, Safety, Honor, and Hope. He's truly my best friend and does anything to make me happy. Thank you baby Jesus, for my husband!

-puke-fest is now over-

With that being said....He's taking me Hong Kong for my 25th birthday! We knew we were going sometime this year but he confirmed the plans this week for the Labor Day holiday. He makes everything possible; we just got home a week from today from this last trip. (we leave in 4 weeks) He's the world's greatest husband!

Moving along to another love, frozen yogurt. Love quickly turned into an addiction. A crave. Yogurtland. Just like Pinkberry and Orange Cup, Yogurtland is dream for those who have a sweet tooth. Me, I have one everyday. Luckily, I work 7 minutes away from one (it's heaven). Gerardo and I went there Sunday night after sushi and I returned 4 days later after lunch.

Life is great.

♥ D&G

Island Livin'

We ♥ Okinawa, Japan .

Seawall

Japanese tacos

Kokusai St.

I always scream for green tea ice cream!

Eisa dancer

The cutest Eisa drummer boy

Jacks to stop the waves

Okinawa as by far the BEST aquarium I've been too

♥ D&G

The Season

It's that time again....typhoon season.

In fact, we're expected to get hit this Friday.

"Perfect!" Let's hope for a 3 day weekend. [crossing my fingers] It actually gives us a reason to stay indoors and watch movies in our pj's all day long. How could that not sound perfect?!

As of right now we're at TCCOR 3: Destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within 48 hours.

♥ D&G

A for Australia

Hi Mates!

"Home Sweet Home"

So, Gerardo and I made it home safely from a long nine hour flight. We sure do ♥ vacations BUT we love coming home just as much.

As most of you know Gerardo was in Darwin, Australia three weeks prior to meeting me in Sydney. He got to visit the local zoo that allows you get up close and personal with the crocs, kangaroos, monkeys and felines. [alittle to close if you ask me] Sadly, three days before my departure I got sick and had to go to the hospital for an approval of travel. Ugh. It was awful. Both Japan and Australia are strict and would have denied me exit or entry if I was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. Luckily, I just had a bad case of a sinus infection that was treated with medicine and a couple of days of rest. I flew out as scheduled with major head and chest congestion; horrible I tell you...absolutely horrible.

Sydney was beautiful and we got the best of weather that we prayed for. It was a pleasant change of the heat wave that Okinawa has it's title for. The entire trip was casted with 65 at it's high and 43 as it's low. Within the first two days both Gerardo and I have pinpointed a similarity to San Francisco. (another city we love) Overall, it was a fantastic trip. We did however, find that EVERYTHING was expensive. Case in point, example #1: a bottle soda was $3.50 AUD = $3

p.s. We're going to Hong Kong for my birthday. We just have to figure out with we're going to do with Jake, we weren't pleased with this last place.

Enjoy the pictures.

Note: not in any order
BEWARE *Picture Heavy*

Darling Harbour warf

Opera House and Darling Harbour Bridge

outside of Sydney

view #2 of Opera House and Darling Harbour Bridge

Nap time!

♥ Koalas!

Opera House

Opera Room

The famous Opera House

view from water taxi

inside the Opera House

Finger lickin' good. (p.s. he likes it)

on a water taxi

the cite and Sydney Tower

Gerardo boarding the water taxi

view from tower

Sydney tower

Australian crescent

SKYWALK!
Fantastic view of the city

[we're on the left]

BEST VIEW from tower

Darling Harbour

Sydney Tower

I ♥ him.

Hubba hubba!

harbourside

That's not bacon, it's Canadian bacon

♥ D&G