LOVE is in the air! :)

While I was house-sitting for my Friends', and they were on their Parisian Holiday, one of my Best Friend's, Alex, proposed to his long-time, live-in, Girlfriend, Michelle. I cannot help but be so thrilled for them! It was only a matter of time before it happened... but I am just so happy for them, I cannot even put it into words! They are such wonderful people, and it makes me SO happy to see others happy... I guess when one is happy, they are happy for all those around them who are happy as well ;)

I am extra excited, and thrilled, to be helping my Best Friend (who was the Maid of Honor in our Wedding) plan her nuptials, which will be taking place December 2011... I am soo excited for her too! And to think that around the time of our Wedding (of which we'll be celebrating our 2 year Anniversary this January) she said she was never getting married... oh, how things change ;) The plans are in full swing, and she is really happy, which is the most important thing :)

We finally left Alex and Michelle's, after staying a little longer with them, and came over to my Mom's to house/dog sit for her and my Grandparents' while they are at the Beach for the week... We packed our things (once again - and hopefully the last time before getting back into our own house), and headed to Miami Springs... but, next month, there is FINALLY a deposition set for the case with our Insurance regarding the fixing of our home... HOPEFULLY things will get moving soon. We miss our little house, very much, and are definitely due for some privacy...

With that said, we planned a last minute getaway with some friends on the 13th thru the 16th. We will be going on a Bahamian Cruise on Royal Caribbean, and do we need it! I didn't think it was going to be possible, cause we are a bit tight on money, but the Hubby insisted, so it was planned. It's actually a bit funny... it started out with just our friends Jose and Barbie, and now it's 12 adults and 1 baby! We are definitely going to have a great time, though... I have never been to the Bahamas, and my only other time Cruising was for our Honeymoon when we sailed the Mediterranean. I am really looking forward to it, to say the least...

Despite all the craziness, moving here and moving there, these recent weekends, the the upcoming ones, have been pretty fun... This past Sunday, we boarded our friend's boat, and headed to the Sand Bar... we had a blast, and I definitely had TOO MUCH to drink... Let's just leave it at that ;)

This Sunday, we'll be Tailgating at the Marlins vs. Cardinals game... this marks another "First" for me, since I have NEVER tailgated (I don't know why... it's just never happened...) So it should be fun... I love going to watch the ballgame... I don't know what it is, I just love it! And of course, it's extra fun when you go with fun people who like to have a good time ;)

Anyway, lots of updates, and lots of love, including for my new iPhone 4... yes, it's the best, and no, rumors about dropped calls and such are not true... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! But I'll leave it at that, because I wouldn't want any HATERS, like this guy, out there to think I'm apple obsessed, and start running their mouths... ahem. So, for now, I bid you adieu...

Happy Blogging!

House/Puppy Sitting and Updates

As of July 16th, the Hubby and I are on House/Puppy Sitting Duty for our Friends Alex and Michelle while they are in France. It's a nice change from being at my in-laws for the past 5 months due to mold issues in our home. It's definitely different than being over there where my Mother in Law is almost always home taking care of our Nephew. I find myself being alone once in a while, just me and the dogs... and it's kind of nice. Reminds me of when we used to be in our own place.

Our friends' bed sure is comfy, though... that is one thing I really must say I look forward to. We have a queen bed of our own, and have been sleeping in a full since February... so upgrading to a super soft KING bed is definitely fantastic. I have been sleeping sooooooo well, I can't even begin to elaborate, for no words would be enough... I really do love our current sleeping arrangement!

On another note, I officially started my own personal Business with Mary Kay last week, and have my first Pampering Session tonight with a couple of my cousins. Should be fun! I need the practice... Honestly, I have to say that I love the Mary Kay products... they have changes so much since the last time I remember trying them, and honestly, the new face of Mary Kay kicks all the skin care competition out of the water... not to mention that their products really are good! So many women in America SWEAR by them! And all of those women have beautiful skin... It is NEVER too late, nor too EARLY, to start an anti-aging regimen. They even have a ling for Teenagers AND for men! It's fantastic. If you want more info, you can go ahead and e-mail me at mruiz@marykay.com! I would be glad to set up a pampering session for you and 3 friends (did I mention you get a free gift if you do??) or maybe a pedicure party?? ;) Martinis and Makeovers? Whatever tickles your fancy!! Can you tell I'm excited?? Not to mention I have this huge goal to do 30 faces in 30 d

ays!!! It's going to be a lot of work, but I know I will do it!

So I had an audition this past weekend in St. Augustine with First Coast Opera. Looked like a very promising one... but we shall see! Apparently, if I get hired, I'll be in St. Augustine the last 3 weeks in October... It will all depend on what the offer is, but I think I should be cool with that ;) I also have an audition on August 28th in Naples, Fl. I'll be heading up there with a good friend of mine, Miguel Llerena. Should be fun!

Until next time!

Happy Blogging! :)

"Die Zauberflöte" & Opera Resources

So for the past month, or so, I have been working with the Riuniti Opera and the Alhambra Orchestra (once again) on a Production of Die Zauberflöte. This is, officially, my 3rd time performing the role of the "Queen of the Night" in Mozart's fantastically funny yet "deep" creation. Click here for more info about this Opera from Wikipedia.

Finally, today, is the first (of two) performance of thi

s show. We will be performing a short version of the Opera at the University of Miami's Gusman Hall for a bunch of kids at Music Camps. It's going to be fun, and honestly (most of all) it'll be good to see our hard work pay off!

Sunday is the second, and final, performance. We will be performaning at Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest, and yes, this will be the full show (with the exception of a cut or two). If you are my Facebook friend, you can see that I posted some info directly onto my page... if you're not my FB friend, you can go ahead and add me! My FB badge is on the right column ;)

I wanted to add the following...

Nowadays, being an Opera singer has gotten SO much easier than it was for the great singers of the past... we have all sorts of online and technological resources... it's just crazy how things have evolved! For example, on iTunes, if you visit the iTunes store and search for "Opera" in

the Podcast section, you can find all s

orts of goodies! For example, there are FREE (yes, I said FREE) podcasts from such companies as the Washington National Opera in D.C. and Seattle Opera. There is the "premieropera's podcast" which features greats from the past as well as today! The possibilities are endless! Check out this screen shot of the iTunes store featuring some of the endless options:

This is, really, only the beginning... there are sites like YAP Tracker, Aria-Database and so much more (but we'll got into all of that some other time)! ;) It truly makes our lives so much easier! Just think... no more sitting in the libr

ary for hours looking through those old, moldy, translation books... just look it up! Most of the time, you'll find what you're looking for ;)

Happy Blogging!

Help Support a Wonderful Cause

If you are feeling generous... please consider sponsoring my friend's classroom.

She is an Elementary School Teacher who needs a class library, and is trying to get an overhead projector as well. These items are necessary in helping the children do well on the FCAT, which has become a really big deal in the state of Florida...

Please click here and helo make a difference by Adopting a Classroom.

Happy Blogging! :)

Lucky

I realize, more and more everyday, how lucky I am to have been blessed with my talent to sing, and have a real career, not just a job. I know it seems a bit frivolous, singing for a living, but honestly, why not? I love what I do... and it is not as easy as it seems. Nothing worth having is easy to come by... and that is why I work harder and harder everyday to get where I need to be.

So many people go day in day out through their lives waking up driving to some place, faking it all day just to

get a paycheck, and then going home to repeat it the next day... Even though my career choice hasn't always been easy, I truly love what I do... I love being part of something like the Opera world.

I am also so happy to have found someone like my Husband who supports me beyond anything. I cannot even count how many times I have been ready to give up my voice lessons and singing because it was getting too hard or too expensive... but he has never allowed me to do give up! He knows how important it is to have a dream and make it a reality... especially since almost 2 years ago, he and his friend started a business with nothing... no loans, no advice, no help... just a few contacts and through the use of their computers and phones (and our 2nd bedroom). Now, they have their own warehouse with their own inventory, and are doing pretty well for themselves! I am so proud of them...

If you have a dream, don't be stupid and follow it! Do what you have to do to make it a reality... don't get caught up in junk and stupidities... reach for your dreams, no matter how far fetched they may seem... and never, NEVER, let anyone weigh you down!

Happy Blogging! :)

Nice Quote...

I saw this on a FB friend's page from a Quote Generator, and had to share... enjoy!

"What most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things. (Anonymous)"

Happy Blogging! :)

Our Big Fat Cuban 4th of July

Have you ever had a day or time when you felt you were part of a movie? I definitely did this 4th of July, spending it with friends at the Beach... It was fun and truly interesting ;)

We started planning towards going to the Keys this weekend to celebrate the 4th... but ended up just heading to our Friend's condo in the Ramada Marco Polo. He has a really nice studio apartment on the beach. We arrived before 10 in the morning to avoid parking issues. We brought up the food, and coolers stuffed with beers and sodas, and got settled before heading down to the beach. The water was nice, not too hot, not too cold, and the Sun was out most of the time (My Hubby and I have the tans to prove it). We definitely had to take advantage, because the bad weather was definitely coming, and could not be avoided. We were out there a while, catching some rays, and swimming around, before finally packing up just in time to seek shelter from the big storm that was coming. We got upstairs, showered and had some dinner, followed by a game of Beer Pong (my first time playing!) and then some fireworks, courtesy of Alex, Jose and Adrian. They were great! All and all, a great day...

Still, I couldn't help but notice how several moments in the day strangely resembled the hilarious movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (one of my favorite movies of all time)... from Jose's Mom and his girlfriend's parents bringing "Boliche" and Turkey to the beach, to cramming about 18 people into a small studio apartment, to how loud we were all together... It was so funny! Jose's mom even reminded me of the Mother in the movie... telling people when to shower, how to prepare the food, and when to eat... it was a trip! We had a great time, and I definitely spent the day laughing, which is always good ;)

Of course it's always nice to celebrate something so important as the Independence of our GREAT country! It is because of this that we are able to speak our minds, and even write on our own blogs! No one can tell us what, or what not, to say or how to dress... and aside from laws which help our society function, we are FREE! Gotta love America!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend with Family & Friends!

Happy Blogging! :)

On a lighter note... PANDORA!!!!!

Ok, so I got yet ANOTHER pandora charm from my Hubby (he's the best)... It's a cupcake, because of my obsession with baking and decorating cupcakes... I attached a picture of it... so cute!

Sometimes, I sit back and I realize... I have soo much to be thankful for... a wonderful Family which grew on 1/24/09 when I married my Sweetheart, awesome friends... I am too BLESSED to be STRESSED!!!

Happy Blogging! :)

Stupid People

**RANT WARNING - TO THE TUNE OF "It's my party and I cry if I want to"**

It's my blog, and I rant if I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes, I just wish that some people would just S*T*F*U*!!!!! Seriously. My patience is running very thin. It amazes me to see some people act so foolishly, running their mouths about everything, thinking they are experts on everything and anything ever invented, when they know nothing about the other person, or what their day to day life entails. It amazes me even more to see how some people think the world revolves around them and that everything that is going on around them is linked to their lives... I will never understand some of these people!

Anyone who really knows me KNOWS that I am constantly going out of my way for the people I care about. I have stayed up until 4 in the morning working on projects for friends and family, driving across town to pick people up from the airport... hell, I go as far as to inconvenience myself to make others happy. I don't do it for any personal gain. I don't feel that I need to prove this to anyone, but once in a while, even if it's for my own benefit, I remind myself that this is how I've always been... I don't expect people who do not take the time to know who I really am to understand any of this - especially when most of what they do in their lives is for their own personal gain. Hence why these people should all flock together, using each other, and spitting each other out.

I am very lucky because I may not have a million friends, but the few that I have are GOOD friends, who are there for me. I have no complaints! I know that if I need something, I have at least 4-5 people ready to jump to my aid... some of them who I haven't known very long at all, but who have taken an interest in really getting to know me... I am truly blessed.

Ok... rant over. The end.

Happy Blogging! :)

Why Cuba did not participate in the World Cup 2010 (Hilarious!)

I was checking up on recent postings from my blog-roll, when I noticed that my friend Ms. Sunshine of Why Women Should Love Sports posted this video... This is absolutely HILARIOUS!!! Granted, not everyone that views this blog will understand... and I do apologize for that... but I am sure you will at least find some humor in it ;) Enjoy!

Happy Blogging! :)

"How-To" Anything!

While browsing around the World Wide Web, I found some videos that I thought were interested, and I wanted to share...

To start off, I found this YouTube Channel... Yoyomax12! She teaches, step by step, how to make all sorts of desserts. As the title to her YouTube channel states, "Cookind and Baking and Crafting OH MY!". She also demonstrates techniques to be used with creating cupcakes from "Hello, Cupcake!" and "What's new, Cupcake?" (Truth be told, "Hello, Cupcake!" was the book that actually got me into baking and decorating cupcakes...).

There are also a few postings with the actual authors of the two books... you can watch them create yellow rubber-duck cupcakes by clicking here. They just make it look so easy!!

All of this just goes to show that the internet has so much to offer... Don't know how to do something, or want to see someone else demonstrate... just look it up! :) It's fantastic! I remember the first few times I used a piping bag, I wanted to see someone else (a professional) do it, so I went to YouTube, and found my answer!

Even companies like Wilton offer blogs and videos for people to create all sorts of goodies at home...

I need to pick up a copy of "What's New, Cupcake?" and try out some of those projects...

Happy Blogging! :)

Pandora CRAZY!

Ok, so many of you might remember this post, when my Hubby got me my first Pandora bracelet (which I had wanted so, SO bad) for my birthday, along with my first 3 charms...

Well, it has been a month since then (give or take a day) and I am pleased to announce that my bracelet is growing!!! I have since added the following charms:

This little purse was a gift

And I got this one for myself, to celebrate the fact that Jared now carries the charms in the store!!!! I just had to :)

Just thought I'd share my excitement :) I highly recommend these bracelets and charms! And, of course, the entire line of pandora jewelry is very cute...

Happy Blogging! :)

I would like to introduce you to...

Mr & Mrs P! They are friends of mine, a young, newlywed couple, who have decided to start their own blog about cooking, gardening, home decor, and party planning. Their blog is very new, (probably about a week or so old) with only a handful of postings, but it is very promising! I urge you to follow them as they add new recipes and posts... they will be posting on a very regular basis!

Click here to check them out!

Happy Blogging! :)

Cupcake Wars

So I finally caught one episode of the show... I had been reminded by a few people that I know to watch it, but somehow I missed last weeks, and finally caught the midnight showing of today's show...

I have to say that I was a bit torn as I watched. A local Bakery, Cupcakes Nouveau were competing, along with a Vegan Cupcake baker, and two other traditional cupcake creators. I honestly felt that what the Miami girls brought to the table was really great, and was disappointed to see them eliminated after the 2nd round, despite all the creativity and cuteness they brought to the table. I haven't personally tried their cupcakes, but I have heard wonderful things about them. There was actually a review posted about them (click here to view it) on my favorite cupcake blog, Cupcakes Take The Cake... but unfortunately, the Vegan girl ended up winning the prize. Her display was fantastic, I must say, and it is definitely a wonderful opportunity for her, especially since she has only been baking professionally for 3 months, but I honestly don't know how I feel about Vegan Cupcakes. I guess I'll have to try some out for myself someday and see.

Anyway, if you like cupcakes, and you want to check out the show, it is airing on Tuesday nights at 9pm on the Food Network. Hopefully, I'll be able to watch it at it's normal time next time around ;)

Happy Blogging! :)

The Haitian Diva's "Aloha" Party

I wanted to take a moment to share some photos from a party we put together for a good friend of ours... It fell upon her closest friends, Alex, Michelle and I, to throw a good send off for The Haitian Diva, Jouvanca. She will be leaving us for a journey across the country to San Jose, California to sing with Opera San Jose this 2010-2011 Season in the roles of "Tosca" in Tosca, "Anna Karenina" in Anna Karenina and "Mimi" in the opera La Bohe

What better way to send off our friend than to say "Aloha", since it does mean both Goodbye and Hello... Jouvanca will not be gone for ever, so this was our way of getting together with her closest friends, and bidding her Farewell and Good Luck!

Here are some photos of the party setup... If you follow me on Facebook, there are photos of the event (with people) as well. We had a FANTASTIC time, and totally caught her off guard... she was completely and utterly surprised! Our evil plan worked ;)

We had some Barbecue, took a dip in the pool under a clear night sky, and laughed the night away...

Jouvanca, we are so glad you enjoyed your party, and wish you all the Luck and Success you deserve!

Happy Blogging! :)