Easter

I did not forget Easter this year, although I kinda wanted to. But Boobie (I'll call him P from now on, since at 12 he seems too old to be my Boobie anymore) was looking forward to our annual traditional scavenger egg hunt. He was so excited about it, I could not disappoint. Plus there was Fatty and Princess to consider as well.

I literally put Easter together in one day. No advanced planning necessary. I had our plastic eggs from previous years that we save just for the occasion. I had a few pictures of hiding places I had cut from magazines. All I had to do was stuff each egg with a picture clue and hide the eggs all over the house and yard. I did that while the kids were in the shower.

Next, I had to run to the store for a few goodies... after all, what would the kids be 'hunting' for? Plus, I had to fill those baskets with something. My budget for Easter was tight this year due to other financial obligations (notably the wedding) so I could not spend too much. Luckily, my kids are so blessed, they don't need much. They are bombarded with toys so I decided to forgo toys this year (and probably for the years to come). Instead I filled their baskets with:

Papitas (cheese puffs)

Condensed milk cereal treats

Choys chocolate bars with rice crispies

Gummies (they never get these so this was a real treat)

And the prize at the end of the hunt: Chocolate kinder Surprise eggs filled with a mini toy. I got Toy Story for P, Mickey Mouse for Fatty and Disney Princess for Princess. They gobbled up the chocolate eggs and played with the mini toy surprises for the most of the day.

It was another successful Easter... everything was a hit. And I was super happy to give my kids such a fun day. I was so glad I didn't 'skip' Easter.

Hubby, for his part, went out and got ice-cream and a family movie. It was a perfect Sunday.

Venue Down!

So the ceremony venue was not a big deal to handle. I finally decided to have it in our backyard. After-all, we have a pretty nice yard and it's pretty big too. So why not? It took me a while to warm up to the idea, I have to admit, but the more I thought about it, the more the idea seemed genius. I don't have to pay a fee to use my own backyard (all I need are a couple of rental chairs and I am good to go.) I am sure hubby will spruce the yard up for the big day. Just hope it doesn't rain.

As for the reception venue... well it took a little longer than I would have liked, but we finally booked a venue for the reception portion of our wedding. See, I was still in fantasy land and wanted the whole wedding in one place (to make it easier on our guests and on us). But all those kinds of 'all in one' wedding sites were a bit out of our price range, so I started looking at reception halls instead (I could rent a space and do with it what I will). I found Sala de Eventos San Antonio on a yellow pages type of web site for Costa Rican wedding vendors. It was perfect. BUT, pictures do tell a thousand lies so I had to go and see it for myself.

Well, the pictures did not do it justice. At first, I was not (and still am not) impressed by the outside. I was a bit turned off actually and prepared for the worse (and for my search to go on and on and on ....). Well, I walked into the space and it blew my mind and literally took my breath away. It was gorgeous. Don't get me wrong, it's not super fancy or anything (that is NOT the look we want), but for the price and the proximity, it felt like it was too good to be true. I mean the space is HUGE. Big enough for 250 people (so yeah, my 150 guests will have plenty of space.

Also, not only is the space huge, it's amply equipped. There are 5 (yes, FIVE) bathrooms, a room upstairs (loft style) for the bride, and disco/DJ lights. Plus a kitchen at our full disposal. It could not have been more perfect. But for some reason, I waited and held out for something.... more! I guess the one downfall was the outdoor space. There is none... just asphalt to park a few cars. No garden, no frills, nothing.

I thought, if I could find this space with an outside I could boast about, then I'd be golden. But there was nothing. And I had to tell myself I was not settling. I had found perfection already. After deciding on having the reception in our backyard, San Antonio seemed more and more enticing. I dreamt about it at night. I day dreamed about it during the daytime. I pictured my wedding there, my guests, the set-up, everything. And even though it's an affordable option, I did not want to picture myself anywhere else even if I had the money to splurge. So I made the decision to finally book the space and reserve my date officially. I am so excited.

The one caveat: the date hubby wanted, which was a Saturday, was already booked. So I booked on my original date, our 14 year Anniversary, November 25, 2012.

Wedding News

Like many little girls, I have dreamt of my wedding day for years. I pictured what I would look like, what I would wear, how I would do my hair, the cake and the shoes. I had dreams of my wedding day even before I knew what the groom would look like. I had been to a few weddings and I took ideas from them what I wanted to incorporate in my wedding one day, locking those ideas in a corner of my brain reserved for all things wedding.

After I met Hubby, I knew I would get married to him and I jumped head first into planning my dream wedding. I even had a wedding book, with pictures of hair, dress, cake, and makeup ideas, among other things. I wanted a 30 person wedding party. Ice sculpture. A horse and carriage fit for a princess. I wanted it all, and in my dreams, I would get it.

However, reality has set in and my dream wedding is a little less dreamy. First off, I have grown up, gotten a little wiser and some of the things I wanted then, I think a bit silly now (like an ice sculpture). Also, actually planning a wedding is different than writing down ideas and tearing photos out of a wedding book. All those photos and ideas come with a price tag, some bigger than my tiny budget will allow.

Also, getting married in Costa Rica is a little different experience (I am guessing as I never tried to actually plan a wedding in the States). First off, the language thing is still a barrier. Trying to convey to people what I want in Spanish does not translate well. I tried to explain to a coordinator at a wedding venue that I wanted escort cards instead of the paper page they print up with names of guests/table numbers and she completely misunderstood me... I just could not get her to understand what I was saying.

There are lots of wedding venues, however, that offer all inclusive wedding packages that include everything from a DJ to the cake. There are venues that allow you to just rent their space. And there are venues that include the space with tables and chairs. Finding the right venue depends on the look and feel that I am going for and my budget.

Budget: this is tough. I don't have one. But I know how much I can and CANNOT spend on the wedding. While I want my dream wedding, I know I have to make compromises to make it happen. After all, I already have my dream guy!

What Hubby and I want is a big party and for our guests to have fun. What we don't want is to spend thousands of dollars on one day, with little details that no one will end up remembering afterwards. We don't want the stress and we don't want the headaches that come with wedding planning. We just want all the fun. So stay tuned for all things wedding!

Did 'Ya Miss Me?

It's been a while. Boy do I miss blogging but I have gotten so lazy about it. My posts are so sporadic nowadays. I hate that. And it's not like I don't have time, I have loads of time to blog, I just spend my time elsewhere on the web and get so pre-occupied. I guess I figured I could get away with not blogging often because I don't have a huge following, which was something I wanted to fix. But I promise to blog more... after-all, it does help with my writing.

There is so much going on and so much to report that is new in my life. My son, my oldest son (Boobie) turned 12 this past Wednesday (March 28). At 12 years old, he is almost my height and is in full blown teen mode. We didn't do much to mark his special day. All he wanted was to go to his favorite restaurant to eat: Applebees. I almost ruined his day but it all turned out great. We went to dinner at Applebees. Then we celebrated with cake and ice-cream at home. His grandpa got him TV accessories for his room and grandma is gifting him her 19" flatscreen TV. I gave him some pocket cash for the weekend. I am hoping we can go have some paintball fun, something he's wanted to do for a while now. I will post pics this weekend (I promise.)

Also new is what I have been so occupied with. I am planning a wedding!!! My very own wedding!!! Hubby and I are getting married. I know some people, when I announced the news on Facebook, thought we were already married (and in our minds and hearts, we are). But not legally married. So we thought, after almost 14 years and 3 kids, why not go that extra step and make it a legally binding union in the eyes of the law (God has other eyes ;)

So yeah, this blog will inadvertently turn into a wedding blog as I go through the planning process, which is fun (as I had expected) but oh so worry-some (not what I had expected).

I hope to get on at least once a week... to give my ideas, updates and any other wedding news. And since this is a puravida mommy blog, I'll be letting folks know what it's like getting married in Costa Rica (thankfully cheaper than in the states, but not by much).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

It is 2012! can you believe it. The year of fear and scary catastrophic movies has finally arrived (LOL).

Well, I will live each day (again) like it is my last. I had a great start to the new year.... hint: nursing my very FIRST hangover :)

I look forward to a great and amazing new year....I hope it's even better than last year. 2012, you ready for me?

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

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The Countdown Has Begun!

Children's Museum





Christmas decorations






Yes, the Christmas countdown has OFFICIALLY begun. Not just for me, but for my kids as well. And as far as my kids are concerned, mommy has yet to buy them one. single. gift! hehehehehe!

I do this every year. I make my list, research, pay attention (close attention) to what the little ones want and what the older one asks for. I make sure what they ask for and what they want pretty much stay the same for a few months before I just go out and buy it. It's not easy narrowing down my list to just 3 gifts but that is why I have in-laws. LOL. Whatever does not make my list, is passed on to mother in law and father in law, who are more than happy to get the kids what they want. Once I buy, I stash....and the kids are none the wiser. :)

I have to say, I am pretty proud of myself this year with the gift selection. I think my kids will be VERY happy come Christmas morning (and Eve when they get to to open the in-laws gifts).

Now this year was slow going for me. It took me longer than usual to wrap up all my shopping. I literally just finished yesterday. And now there is a week left until the big day and I can just sit back and relax. The only things I have to do: pick up 2 gifts on lay a way (but I have until the 24th to do that and I want to wait until the last minute because these 2 gifts are pretty HUGE and I have no place to hide them). Then when that's done, I have to wrap (I wrap the kids stuff on Christmas Eve).

It has been a decidedly more laid back Christmas for me, somehow. I didn't do as many activities with the kids this year. However, we made it to our first ever Children's Musuem Lighting Spectacular, which was way cool. I did missed the Nutcracker, though, because by the time I went to get tickets, they were ALL gone. That put a damper in my mood... it was the ONE thing I wanted to do with dd, starting our tradition. I guess there is always next year. Plus she'll be older and maybe more willing to sit still for how many minutes a ballet takes.

I could not be happier with what I got accomplished. Just cannot wait to see my kids faces on the big day.