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I'm no Martha Stewart but...

We recently moved to a new place, and for the first time in the history of the Rodriguez-Yance family, we are living in a house where we own all of our furniture. Since Alex and I got married more than 2 years ago, we've lived in furnished apartments, which made me feel very limited in the creativity department of my brain. Maybe I'm going through a nesting stage or something, but for the past two months I've been hooked on pinterest, trying to make myself like the sectional couch we couldn't return, mixing colors and curtains, and chair cushions, breakfast tables and dining tables, considering a shabby chic look, shopping at ikea, consignment stores, craigslist, garage sales, michael's, etc. and now when christmas is around the corner I will be starting Christmas decorations, so that means shopping or redecorating again! woohoo!
Anyway, so here are some pics of our new little place, and as the title of this post suggests, I'm no Martha Stewart, but I had my fun fixing up the place!

Jandro's Bedroom

My attempt to make a Shabby Chic-like kitchen

 

the Official dining room

 Our Living Room

  

Jandro's Playroom

 

 Master bedroom!

Thank you, Pinterest

dear Pinterest,

you are a lifesaver. during times that i have felt stuck as a homemaker, you have provided a way out. When i say stuck, it doesn't mean i'm "stuck" with being a homemaker, but stuck because I'm at a blank, not knowing what to cook, what to do to decorate my new home, what furniture or household items to get, how to learn to like my new couch which i hated at one point by decorating my living room, what activities to do with my child, what DIY projects to work on, etc. As for food, you're just incredible. Things I could never envision myself cooking, that I would actually have to go to a restaurant for (pizza from scratch, chicken marsala, italian minestrone from scratch, stuffed zucchinis, Thai food, all sorts of paninis), i now have at the comfort of my own home for a very affordable price. I love you Pinterest.  thank you for your amazing-ness.

yours truly,

Ingrid

ps: Here is a picture of a recent meal I made, after finding the recipes on random pinboards. Spicy Thai noodles with Thai peanut chicken. I'm not trying to be a show-off, but it was magnificent, ridiculously delicious. i could've easily sold a plate for $11.99 without tip.

My Very Own Wonder Years

This past Sunday, my husband and I sat on our kitchen table and started remembering some of our childhood and teenage-hood memories. I don't know why but I feel like we actually bonded having that little talk. We shared some things that we have never shared with each other, little moments that back then were part of our daily lives, things that every kid/teenager experiences, and now looking back you realize it helped you grow, it shaped your personality in the person you are now, it hurt, it made you happy, it brought you down, it made you feel like a million bucks, and sometimes it right down made you feel silly, even when you look back at it now.

Things like getting stood up for the first dance you get asked to, that cute boy/girl you were crushing on (and had never spoken to you) finally talks to you and someone ruins the moment, the times you cheated on tests (including the time you got caught, and the time you realized it was wrong), the things you see your parents go through and didn't understand back then and now you do, the time you find out significant things about your friends, the time you get your first "broken heart", the time you realize you're growing and how change can be hard to take. I like to call them my "Kevin Arnold Moments".

I guess what made us have the conversation is that ever since The Wonder Years started playing on Netflix, we have been hooked. Well, mostly me. I watch it while I cook, clean, run on a treadmill, when I have little insomnia episodes, and well, when I get a little break. I think Alex also tries to sneak an episode here and there.

One reason why I love this show so much is because I remember watching it with my dad as a little girl in Peru (dubbed in Spanish of course, now I understand some of the jokes better, haha). My dad loved the show too, I don't have a clear memory of my age, I'm guessing 7-9...but I remember sitting down with my dad to watch it, and also watching it the whole week I was hospitalized when I was 8 for severe asthma episodes. Yep, Kevin, Winnie, and Paul were my TV friends.

It's so interesting though, now watching it as an adult, it's a complete different perspective than when I was a child. As a kid, Kevin Arnold and his friends looked so old to me. And they were only 12 when the show started. I remember thinking I couldn't wait until I would go through those moments! (Especially when I moved to the US). My first dance,  having a locker, having a cafeteria at school, having my first job, graduating, somebody who liked me liked me, being allowed to go to the mall and the movies with my friends and no chaperones! I remember thinking, Man, I can't wait to be a big kid like them. Now as I watch it as an adult, I can't help but think, Omygosh, that already happened. I already lived that! Not just as a child and teenager, but also a young adult in college. It went by so fast, too fast. It feels like a dream I had and I just woke up. This week, one of my closest college friends referred to that time as the "primavera de nuestra juventud", "the spring of our youth", and yes, spring it was.

But not only does it make me look back on those times, it makes me realize that my very own children will experience all that. You see, as a kid, I would look at Kevin's parents, especially his dad, as super strict, and to be honest I don't even remember him much, I would mainly focus on the kids. Now as an adult, wait not just an adult, but as a mother, I look at them differently, and as I listen to Kevin narrate his story I realize what an important role they played on his life during those years. As I watched an episode last week, I found myself all teary-eyed. It was after Winnie had broken up with Kevin. That wasn't what made me cry, the kid was only 14 and really the whole time I was just like "awww that's sad", and then I got to this part. Please watch for yourself:

I couldn't help but think, my little Alejandrito is going to go through that. He is going to have his poor little teenage heart broken sometime. And even though it may seem silly, it really might hurt him. Even if they weren't real feelings, it could be his self-esteem. But I love what Kevin's dad tells him, "I wish I could say it gets easier". I don't think he just meant that about Winnie Cooper, I think he meant life in general and that this was part of growing up.Man, and then the way Kevin holds on to his dad, it shows that he's still a little boy who needs his father's comfort, even if at school he tries to be the cool kid and  has a girlfriend and what not. I really hope my kids will feel like they can turn to me like that when they grow up.
Anyway, don't hate on me for being sappy. This is a random post and I'm working on some updates. but hey I had to get this out of my system...sighs.....and I love the Wonder Years.

Little Bro Scores!

 You know when you're really happy about someone and what they have done or what they are doing, but you get caught in other things and never take the time to talk to them or call or text or email or you just don't know how to tell them, "Hey! just wanted to let you know I'm really happy and proud of you...or I'm grateful for what you're doing...or it's so awesome to see you succeed or do so well...or wow you're coming a long way!" Anyway, I've been wanting to jot down my thoughts about my little brother for a while since last time I went to Florida (exactly a month ago Aug 12). I also wanted to write something about his high school graduation back in June when we visited because I was just so happy for him, but again, I never took the time...so here's a little belated post about this kid named Ricardo, who happens to be my brother.

Here are some facts about him and our relationship, so you can get to know him better

• We were both born April 17th. He, 1993, and I, 1984. We are 9 years apart.
• I remember the day my mom told me she was pregnant with him. I was sooooo happy and ecstatic! I was 8 years old and I was so tired of being an only child. I had wanted a sibling since I was like 3, it sucked playing alone! So when I learned of his existence I was on cloud 9, and then the day he was born, it was definitely one of the happiest days of my life. I remember seeing him in the nursery in the hospital when he was 1 day old and I couldn't believe he was mine, I finally had a brother, and although we were so many years apart and couldn't really play together, I was excited to help my mom take care of him. 

• Since he was 3 till I graduated high school, I would babysit him after school and he would throw apples at me when we would sit down for lunch. He would also call me, "MALA, FEA, GORDA!" (Meanie, ugly, fat) and would add a "YA NO TE QUIERO!" (I don't love you anymore) during his tantrums.
• I wasn't very nice during that same time either. I would always yell, "RICARDO! COME!" (eat, in Spanish) and would tell him he was crazy and wouldn't have friends if he kept throwing apples at me. Don't judge, it was the start of my teenage-hood, everyone is rude then. I apologized for this recently.
• He went from liking rap and hip hop, Usher and 50 cent, to being a hardcore rocker and liking bands like Bring me the Horizon and the Devil wears Prada during his high school days.
• When he was 3, I once caught him calling 9-11 because my mom didn't let him watch TV.
• He is one of the most forgiving and non-judgmental people I know.



When I was mean and he was annoying. The apple throwing years

• I wish I had his metabolism. He eats so much and doesn't gain a pound!

• He had to mature fast, at a very young age, growing up in a single-parent home and maintaining a good relationship with both my mom and dad when things were very rocky. I definitely learned that lesson from him. He really was the example of having to be like a child, and loving like a child.
• He is a gentleman, I don't think he's ever mistreated a girl.

• When he was little, he would eat eggs and hot dogs with everything. It was crazy! 

• He has super awesome curly hair. I have always been envious of this. Why did I get the boring straight hair!?!?? I wanted his curls so bad! he is such a stud!
• He is so patient, especially when people around him freak out. He is just chill and cool.

when he dropped me off at BYU in 2002

• I always wish I could've been there for him more and that we would've had more years growing up together.. Unfortunately I left home for college when he was only 9 and the only time we spent together was on holidays and summers. 

• He can pull some sweet stunts on his skateboard and rollerblades.
• When he graduated, everyone and their mom was putting a ton of pressure on my dad to buy him a car, but Ricardo shut everyone up by saying he wanted to buy his first car on his own with the money he was saving. That's right people! he's taking charge! that's how you teach your kids responsibility and independence!
• He is so sweet and affectionate to my mom, my dad, me, my baby...I love it. He doesn't act like he's too cool for it.
• He recently started working as a telerecruiter for Florida's Blood Centers and is currently a full-time student at Valencia Community College.
• He is the first priesthood holder in our family, and it has been a huge blessing for my mom and our home.

Ricardo, I love you bro. I am so happy for you and how far you're coming along. I can't believe you're not my little baby brother anymore. You are a man, and not just by age, but you're showing it through your actions. I know I always gave you a hard time for not trying enough, or for your grades or whatever, but now all I hear are wonders about you. And not just coming from mom. You're working and going to school, and taking responsibility for your own things, becoming more independent.You have your priorities straight, with things at work, school, church, family, friends, homework, social life, etc. When you talked to me about your experience with your patriarchal blessing, I felt like I was talking to a missionary, a mature priesthood holder, I felt so happy. Thanks for being there for mom when i couldn't be there because of school or my mission. You took on the role of being the man of the house when you were just 9. Thanks for being my friend, my buddy, and for also being there for dad and always showing us love, patience, and friendship. You are one of a kind. I know that if you continue to go forward, working hard, studying hard, serving others, and staying strong in the gospel, you will  be successful in whatever you do, in any career path you choose, and I know that your future wife and kids are going be so lucky and grateful to have you. Man, you are a stud. And remember there is a little person that is going to look up to you and follow your example. Hint: He calls you "Cayooooo!"

Here I'm the tallest...

Here I am NOT

Here I get a kiss on my BYU graduation 2006

Here he gets one on his high school graduation 2011

Remember he is watching! mwahaha!

The proud gang!

Micah & Jandro Adventure #1

My face hurt from smiling so much when I found out that my very good longtime college friend Maybelline was moving to the DC area. She and her lovely little family arrived in early July, and even though we haven't seen each other much, it is a blessing to be close to her. We have adventures planned ahead. Here's a peak at our first one :)

We met at the National Mall to stroll around the Smithsonian Museums, and um, here are our little men, in front of the official "Smithsonian"...it's just a building that has info...but it's the official and first one to be built.

As we wandered around the building, we saw a poster of an exhibition titled, American Sabor (American Flavor), which immediately caught our attention. I mean, it sounded Hispanic obviously, which we are, but also American, which we are as well, given we immigrated to this country at a young age. Plus the title describes our own kids! Born American, with a Latin Sabor from their mamacitas! hehehe

The poster had a picture of an old school couple salsa dancing! how was i not going to see this exhibition?!? that would be like giving cookies to the Cookie Monster and expect him not to eat them!

Considering it was about the history of Latin music in the United States, or better yet, the different roots of Latin music (conga, bomba, rumba) influenced by American music (jazz, rock) and the fusion of art it created. Perhaps, one of the greatest creations in music, one that had a huge influence in my own identity, and that would be none other than Salsa, mi primer amor. But that, I will blog about later. this is about our little trip to the Salsa Museum! Man, I wish they would teach this at school.

El Maestro Eddie Palmieri!

ORIGINAL posters of some of the first presentations of Tito Puente, Miss Celia Cruz, and Ismael Rivera back in the day in New York....ahhhh how I would've loved to live during those years!

El cantante de los cantantes, Mr. Hector Lavoe

The Original Fania All-Stars! Ahhhhhhh! I know heaven is a happy place with many of them around.

and of course, who's dis? el Cangri, Daddy Yankee yo.

A  wall covered in album covers from those who had American Sabor :)

Teaching Alejandro about Joe Cuba, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Ismael Rivera, and all the other great artists her mama used to dance to back in her youngen days!

"wanna dance Micah? I heard our mamas used to shake it all the time at the BYU salsa club!"

        They had a jukebox with a progressive timeline of some of salsa's biggest hits! we danced. what do you expect?

 Happily posing in front of this castle-look-alike building

Quick visit to the famous elephant in the Museum of Natural History

Jazz in the park! Alejandro was knocked out! but we weren't :)

 Maybelline and Micah shakin' their groove thang!

This girl is awesome. I am so happy I get to have her close!

It was a fun day. and many more to come soon ;)