We Miss You

Aloha Oe,
Aloha Oe,
E ke onaona noho ika lipo
A fond embrace,
a hoi ae au,
Until we meet again.

Our beloved Tita Tina passed away Tuesday night. Our hearts are full of sadness but we are comforted in knowing that she is no longer suffering and is now watching over all of us.

I still remember the first time I met her. It was Christmas Eve and my Dad felt it was time to introduce her to us as his girlfriend. Nicole and I already knew even before meeting her that we would love her. We just knew it.... and we were right. Tina and Dad had already some past history and their reconnection only made it more romantic. The moment she came over to me to introduce herself that evening, she wrapped her arms around me and gave me the warmest hug. I knew right then and there she was perfect for my Dad. She was perfect for us.

I will never forget her love. Her sweet smile that would greet us into her home. Even when the cancer took over her body, and she spent her entire day in bed, she would still smile and laugh with us when we came to visit. It just felt so good to be in her presence because the love that came from her even in her weakest moments burned into our hearts and souls.

Tita Tina, we miss you so much. I can't explain how much you mean to me. Even if I didn't say it enough or even showed you how much I cared. I did. You were the best thing that came into our lives and I will never get to tell you enough how much we all loved you. Until we meet again...

Feelin' A Little '96

Just because... :) Happy Thursday!

I'm Still Here

OMG. I feel so bad for no posting anything since September! I am such a bad blogger. I do have so much to tell you all and I will gather every single detail within the next couple of days.

Thanks for still showing some love.

I'll be back!

<3 Carlene

Our First Anniversary

Today Sonny and I celebrate our FIRST anniversary! I still can't believe a whole year has already past us. It seems like we got married only weeks ago. I guess the newly wed dust is somewhat still sprinkled on us. I went through all our photos from our day again and got all emotional. I mean seriously who doesn't go spastic looking at wedding photos?!

The year in review for us has had its highest of highs and lowest of lows. We had definitely learn much from each other and what our marriage means to us. It is beyond a relationship that can be define by words and if actions merit our love we have for each other than I would think we both get gold stars! I can't wait see what our next year will bring...

Dancing the night away.

Sonny may kill me for putting this up here but I just can't help myself! I am just so amazed by him everyday. We told each other we'd just make presents since we have been trying to save feverishly all year. Sonny totally out did himself with this one. I don't even know how he is going to ever give another gift to me ever again.

Sonny Cruz - By My Side

Please Note: If you are reading this entry from google reader you're gonna have to click here to hear the song.

OMG RIGHT?! He told me he would have to work late all last week! But was he really working? NO! He went to a studio and recorded this song of me. I currently have this song on repeat and plan to play it forever and ever.

I love you Sonny.

Happy Birthday To Me

This post is a little late due to very very busy month. Just so many things have been going on that my blog has gotten a little neglected.

To celebrate my birthday last week, Sonny and I drove out to Palm Springs for a little getaway. Let me just say the heat out in the high desert was just way too much for us to handle. We ended up staying indoors or really close to the pool. All in all a great weekend! And of course a girl can't head out there with out a stop to go outlet shopping. Happy Birthday to me!

Lunch at The Parker.


Jonathan Adler rules.


Hanging out in the lobby of our hotel - The Riviera.


Our bomb room @ The Riviera.

A Birthday surprise from Nicole. How sweet!!!

On our way home we spotted the desert dinos and Sonny broke out in a frenzy from remembering a scene from the 80s movie classic, The Whizard. So we had to stop and snap a few pics! :)

Playing With Flowers Part 2

Helped out with my friend Tracey over at The Flower Tray again with her flowers. You really can never get enough of spending time in a room full of beautiful flowers no matter how hot the room can get. This time she was creating arrangements for her work friend's wedding who loves everything about nature. With that Tracey worked with a pallete of greens, browns and creams (kinda my own wedding). Tracey used lots of roses and freesias... it was simple and traditional.

Welcome Home Lil' Dude

Welcome to the world, Matthew. You sweet sweet lil' dude.

My friend Daisy, texted me at 5am yesterday morning to tell me she had her second bundle of joy. World, this is Matthew Ethan. Can you believe this guy is a whopping' 9 lbs 1oz of pure love! I can't even stand it... I wanna smoother him with kisses! If he doesn't make your heart (or uterus) throb to have one of these, you are just bonkers!

He's got so much to say already.

Matthew and I discussing the health care crisis. I think we are gonna agree to disagree here.

I hope I have inspired all you newlyweds to go off and make one of your very own. I know Sonny and I have baby fever and hopefully plan to have a few of our own soon. Til then we'll just OoOO and awWww at this little guy.

Celebrating Life

My find myself a little lost for words putting together my weekend post tonight. Many of you already know I am not much of a writer and tend to just post pictures instead of writing out horrid sentences. But in this case I find myself reflecting my own life in seeing someone elses who is filled with so much love and hope. Please bear with as my heart is pounding so loud I can't even hear my own thoughts. I am writing this for my Dad and his beloved, Tina.

This summer has been a tough one for Tita Tina as she spent countless months in the hospital being misdiagnosed only to find out that she has stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. The news has been devastating to all of us and even more to my Dad. We are all praying for a miracle.

In hopes to lift all our spirits, my Dad planned an extraordinary party for her birthday. He transformed her entire house into a tropical oasis. It was beautiful and Tita Tina loved all the special details planned for the evening. We paid tribute to her exceptional life with all her nearest and dearest friends and relatives. Some of which traveled all the way from Hawaii to be with her. The night was filled with lots of love, laughter and of course Illocano songs.