2009, here we come!

Happy New Year!. We got back today from our Marco Island mini-getaway. It was great!. Best company, beautiful hotel, spectacular beach, breathtaking sunsets (gotta love the West Coast!), a great pool, good food and of course...some good wine! (Alejandro's decided to crash our wine cabinet prior to heading down!).

The wine turned out to be a great idea because we quickly settled into a nice little routine while we were there (Wed-Sat). We would hit the beach/pool and relax (read, write resolutions, etc). We would then take a little walk down the beach, then back for a little more relaxation. Then it was time to get a workout in before hurrying up stairs to open a bottle, pour our selves to nice glasses of wine and head back down to the beach to take in the Sunset. A-w-e-s-o-m-e. Then back up stairs, polish off the wine while getting ready and go out for dinner.

I am ready for 2009!. My home office has been cleaned up and the calendars in there have been updated!. While on the beach, I used a handy little notebook my Mother-in-law gave me to write down some resolutions. To say I don't believe in resolutions would be a flat out lie!. I LOVE resolutions, I just never remember what they were!...so I truly can't say whether I followed through. I am sure this is my mind's self defensive way to keep me from thinking I'm a failure at the end of each year.

So I thought since I now have this little blog, I should write them here. This could be dangerous as my dad is my #1 Fan and I know he will remember (even if I don't, or if this blog entry mysteriously disappears before the end of '09!)

In either case, here it goes!

#1 - Finish my name Change -- I am basically two people at all times. For some things, and the majority of things, I still have my Maiden name. For other things I have married name. It is time to get it straight because it is a major pain in the behind. I was at the Dr's office last week and they had a hard time knowing who was waiting in the room...was it Miss "S" or Mrs "B"?? I even over heard them calling the insurance company because they wanted to verify the person sitting in the waiting area was the insured. Nice!.

My goal is to have this done prior to our 1st year anniversary (that means everything! frequent flyer accounts, insurance, bank accounts, auto stuff and all the systems at work -which will be painful-) ...I better get going!.


#2 - Run at least 40 miles a month -- I will track my progress here in the box to the right (which I just noticed is in urgent need of an update!!...I guess that's resolution #2B!). Along with this resolution I wrote down some mini goals while I was at the beach: Get My Ipod-Nike+ calibrated so I start tracking things more accurately, sign up for more races, join a run club.



#3 - Get organized in EVERY room -- The house still needs some stuff (like the new bedroom set I've been eyeing from Pottery Barn, a chandelier, a new mirror...etc, etc - I could go on and on, but this is a resolution list, not a wish list!). Buying and selecting all those things take time until you find just the perfect piece at the perfect price. However, the house has everything it needs to be a home...so it's time to get organized. I mean *every* corner in this house. I plan on selecting at least one space per month (no matter how big or small) and getting it organized!. I will post it here so I can hold myself accountable, and so you can laugh at the mess or smile at the transformation.


I have other ones that I don't want to write as resolutions because they should just be part of my life. What are those, you ask? (you didn't really, but I'll tell you anyway). Have a colorful diet (skittles don't count...and white and brown to be limited!), continue to work on getting back in shape (to lose the newlywed 12 lbs!) and continue to enjoy and be grateful for everything we have, starting with health!.

So what are your goals/resolutions for 2009? Feel free to share!

Here are some pictures from our mini get-away ;) Enjoy!


Our View...



Last Sunset of 2008...






Let's get this party started! (and look at my super-handsome husband!)






A little later...me jumping in bed, Alejandro wondering how old I am ;)


Day 2, Alejandro as we walked down to see the first sunset of 2009!


And me as we waited for dinner (a little chilly!)



And here was our last Sunset of the trip, Jan 2nd.





Good bye Marco Island, I will miss you.

2008 in Pictures...

I started writing this LONG post about 2008....but 2008 went by flying...or did it?. It was an intense, fun and unforgettable year for me and I wouldn't know where to start or end if I told you about it (plus it would be ridiculously boring!).

So rather than tell you, I'm just going to show you. So here we go, get comfortable as I take you down Andreina's 2008 Memory Lane....the year in pictures!

Disclaimer: There are some obvious moments missing, but those moments were just as special (I guess just not camera-ready moments!)

January

We rang in the New Year at my friend's house with both our moms!

The entire month of January was spent with preparations, preparations, preparations!. Finishing up all the details for the big day!. My sister, and Maid of Honor, was in town and thank God!! she was HUGE help!...Here is me working on the out of town bags (Isabella would not be very happy if I posted the one of her as it was not her best Kodak moment...which is highly unusual of Miss Photogenic!)

February

Aww, the month of love....and the month we went to the Chapel! (it was hard to choose pictures as you can imagine, so bear with me as I couldn't pick just a couple!

March

Let's MOVE!. I didn't find any pictures of the actual move, but believe me...this was a HUGE change!. I moved far enough to turn my life and routine upside down! (65 miles). Of course it was all worth it as I was moving to our new *home*.

Moving also meant I started working from home...another HUGE change and not as easy as a lot of people seem to think it is!. After a few months of crashing Alejandro's very-manly home office, I decided I needed my own space, so I made a new home office in one of the spare bedrooms.

That change made a tremendous difference...it's a little girlier and brighter!

Chepe celebrated his 4th birthday, happy as could be with his usual special Birthday dinner...ribs!

April

Happy Birthday to me!!!. I celebrated my 31st in my new home with Alejandro and his mom. I requested "little cakes" so I didn't have to deal with the temptation (very hard when you work from home!).

We also got invited to a Polo match!!! That was a lot of fun and very interesting!

....and last but not least, I got my new car!

May

Say hello to the new Engineer in the family (that's 3 for 3 sisters!). My sister Isabella graduated and I couldn't miss it!...it was so exciting to see her celebrating her huge accomplishment!!

Since I was in Colorado, a visit to my best friend was also in order!....her Fiance (now husband!) took us out on a very chilly but fun boat ride in the lake!

June

Que Viva Espana!!!. Spain played and won the Euro cup finals!! woo-hoo!

July

We went out to celebrate my promotion!. It was a huge promotion and with that came more changes for me...more travel, more responsibility and less free time! (making it even more challenging to find my new routine!).

We also had our yearly visit to the Cape to our friend's house to celebrate July 4th.

My best friend got married in July too! We had a grat time and it was a beautiful wedding..I just don't have any pictures :(

August

Like I said, I was busier with my new job...so busy that I can't find a single picture from August!. So there you have it, a BUSY picture-less month!

September

I left my heart in San Francisco...

Really, all over California!. We had a 2nd honeymoon (or so I liked to call it...and let me just say we scored some upgrades thanks to that!). We started out in San Francisco, drove down to Monterrey, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, headed West to Yosemite for some hiking and ended up in Wine country were we met up with some friends. It was one of the best vacations I have ever taken!

During the month of September we had a very special visit from my Dad & isa. I just can't find those pictures on this computer!. We had a wonderful special birthday dinner for Isabel!

October

Halloween!!!!. Alejandro and I had to look for last minutes costumes and ended up at Sports Authority and decided to be referees!

What I loved most about October was that I discovered my new love...RUNNING!. I started running in September, but it was towwards the end so my first full month was October!

While I ran, Chepe indulged in his favorite past time...NAPPING!. This picture could have been taken in any given month really...as this is how we often find him in the sofa!

And let's not forget October was Down Syndrome awareness month. My sister and nephews joined me in the walk to support our little friend Niko and his parents :)

Here is me with both my nephews (they were very tired!)

November

This was a special month!. We celebrated Alejandro's birthday with a quiet dinner at home, but then got a visit from our friends Jeff & Emily!. We all took a boat ride on the intercoastal to see how the riches live ;)

We also celebrated our first Thanksgiving in our home as Mr & Mrs ;)). It was extra special because my sister, nephews and brother in law joined Alejandro, me and his mom!.

And we went to a friend's wedding and made it into a tiny little getaway ;)

December

And that bring us to December. I loved the Holidays, all the family and friends...but most of all...I loved my RACE!!!. I know, that sounds a lil' selfish, but I'm just being honest here. I loved it and it was a great way to end the year!. All those runs...the good, the bad and the ugly brought me to that day. It was all worth it!...even the runs that my mind kept wondering "why the heck am I doing this!!?", all the alcohol shots that made my toes look like tiny little hot dogs...all. worth. it.

I hope 2009 brings more races and more fitness!.

Of course I also loved Christmas and having our house all decorated! ;)

Tomorrow the husband and I will leave on a little getaway to ring in 2009 (I just realized I had written 2010! I'm jumping ahead of myself!). I cannot wait to see what the new year has in store for us!.

I hope you all have a safe, peaceful and Happy New Year!!!!. I hope 2009 brings you all HEALTH, love, happiness, success and joy!

Cheers,

Andreina