& it was called Yellow

Look at the stars, look how they shine for you and all the things you do ⭒

This is how I'll remember your 20s - always on my couch studying for some test, napping, or bingeing your current Netflix obsession with a bowl of pasta. You've called it your own room, and my couch has never quite recovered from your visits. Of course, Mochi is never too far away. I have more shots of your naps, but I know those are far less appreciated hehe.

Photographs don't capture the valleys you walked through and the mountains I watched you climb in your past decade. I'm so proud of who are and that you're stepping into a new chapter more sure of yourself and unafraid of your future. Thank you for letting me hold your hand during our midnight sessions expressing vulnerabilities and hopes for this short life. I appreciate that you give love freely and you welcome me to take part in your victories. You are so loved.

Happiest birthday to my sakay o patay, my business partner, secret keeper & the reason this blog exists.

Goodbye, 2021!

This year has been a whirlwind. I am grateful for everything this year brought, and excited for 2022.

The best of 2021:

• Chungus - even though I can't get any work done, and I can't ever be on my phone anymore.

• Assisted in the design of brand new taxiways for 3 airports; wrapped up 3 construction projects at LAX and ONT.

• Bought a house, continuing to make it a home. Even though the closets are the bane of my existence right now.

• Everything K&N became this year. Excited for a new direction and ideas in 2022.

• Bon started her career in Pasadena. That meant more sleepovers and twice the amount of pasta.

• Ran my first and last half-marathon. Training for it took dancing away for a few months, so I'm excited to be back to my preferred outlet of Tahitian, Hawaiian, and ballroom :)

• Dodged COVID for the second year in a row. This seemed almost impossible towards the end of the year.

Goals for 2022:

• Keep shooting consistently and follow through with the projects I've been meaning to start.

• Start and finish the closets at home (lol to how long I've ranted about this to my sister)

• Europe - this trip got postponed FOUR times. WE. ARE. GONNA. MAKE. IT. HAPPEN.

• Road trips - to parks, to Lyssa and Leo, and just to get out.

• More courage to step out of comfort zones, and more grace when mistakes happen during that process.

Happy New Year! Thank you for all the support on this site. I see each one of you, and am grateful for your visits 😉

Our Paper Year

We celebrated one year of marriage and Tino's birthday in the past two weeks. The traditional first-year gift is paper. Paper symbolizes how the early years of marriage are fragile yet withstanding. If you handle paper with love and care, that sheet will maintain its written words for a lifetime.

I never believed in soulmates until Tino asked me if he was mine ...and then we got into a very heated discussion lol. Another year to us and to you, my soulmate 😉

Some of my favorite things about Tino:

1. Heart for God. Before we started dating, his own personal relationship was rooted. He served within his own ministries, and I wasn't the reason he attended church. This was an answered prayer and a blessing as we married.

2. Heart of a servant. His service extends to my family and friends. Find him sweeping booths at a craft fair for me and all my small business ladies or setting up chairs at church. He cleans up Chungus' poop around the house☺

3. He lets me pick where we eat and all I have to do is agree we get dessert at the end. He also eats everything and anything, so I can be adventurous with what I cook at home.

4. The way he forgives is inspiring. I never see him hold ill feelings or bias over someone after an argument has been resolved. He's always the first to say hello to ease an awkward situation. It's something I am working on and I find SO challenging, but it looks effortless for him. I know it isn't easy, which makes it even more amazing to me.

5. The best and my favorite ballroom dance partner. You should see how focused he gets doing body rolls hehe.