Moving

I'm moving the blog to this address: http://claudiaconfesses.blogspot.com/
I don't know why I didn't use that URL when I first started, but anyway check out my new post there and follow if you wish

What's in a Name

I just read this post by the Shabby Princess and I was inspired to write a post of my own in response...

My name is Claudia, I like it a lot.
Different people have had different nicknames for me especially when I was younger.
The most common one from high school was Claud, pretty obvious. Then my ex started calling me claw and I didn't like it but he thought it was funny and it really caught on. He is SOOO not in the picture anymore but lots of people still call me that.

Anyway I also have a very unique last name which I really like. Although it gets mispronounced very often, I still LOVE my last name. My BF/Fiance/dude/whatever doesn't. His last name is super duper common. It's the Mexican equivalent of Smith or Jones or something like that. I used to think I want to keep my last name when we get married but I would want to have the same last name as my kids so who knows...

Speaking of kids, yes I totally think of kids names. Actually BF and I have already agreed on a name for a boy. If he had his way we would probably only have one kid, if any, and it would be a boy (he already has a girl). If I have my way, we will have two: a boy first and then a girl within a year or two.

The one thing that bums me out about my name is that I don't know of any songs with my name in it. So many girls I know have songs for them. My cousin Jenny has that 867-5309 song and probably some others. One of my besties Donna has "Oh Donna" by Ritchie Valens and she gets a shout out in that Sean Paul song "Shake that thing Ms. Donna Donna"...
So many girls names even some really random ones are in songs but not mine!! Well if it is I've never heard it, not in English or Spanish.

So my point is, that I will probably choose a girls name that is in a song that I like. I have some thoughts already but BF doesn't seem to like any names that I like. We'll figure it out when the time comes.

Also, whenever there are souvenirs or random knick-knacks at stores with names, they never have Claudia. Recently when BF and I visited Jerome, AZ I saw some really pretty bookmarks with Initials and they didn't even have "C". It's frustrating! Oh but they have BF's name in like 4 different variations: Rick, Ricky, Ricardo, Rich... Geez!

If you know of any songs with my name in it, Let me know!!
Thanks

Book Swap

My blog partner for the book swap was MeliFaif of MeliFaif Life and she hooked me up!!
She sent me what seemed like a brand spanking new copy of Little Bee.



*pic via goodreads
I work at a library on the side so I can recognize a popular book when I see one. I look forward to reading this and actually lent it to my friend who I'm in a book club with because she is done with our current book already and needed something to read. I need to catch up! She told me she almost bought Little Bee recently, so Meli's pick was perfect... Thanks!!

Our current book club pick is The Four Ms. Bradwells, so as soon as I'm done with that I'll start on Little Bee if I have it back by then.
I'd love to do more book swaps.

Happy Hump Day,
~Claudia

Not a Fairytale... oh well

Well as excited as I was about the engagement I only told a coworker and my therapist. We were going to keep quiet about it until we got the right ring.

BUT BF spilled the beans when he was drunk... oopsie!
We were at his cousin's wedding last weekend and he told one cousin and an aunt then I guess the news spread. This weekend his dad was in town and kept asking about the freakin ring, it got annoying. Geez it doesn't fit, relax!

Anyway his family now knows I guess but mine doesn't, nor do any of my friends.
It's not about other people though. Its about him and I and what it means to us. We don't like to make a big fuss out of things or attract alot of attention.

In other news, BFs daughter graduated 8th grade on Saturday. So the family got together to attend that and support her, it was nice... she seemed happy.
On Friday night one of BFs ex-classmates from grad school was in town (he's from SAudi Arabia) so we met up with him and hit up some bars in downtown LA. Before we met I used to go out alot in downtown after work. It was fun, and the drinks were tasty! We started off at Casey's for some appetizers then headed to Seven Grand which is a whisky bar with fun lodge-like decor and elaborate specialty drinks. We ended the night at the Association. I recommend these places for a good time in LA!!

OH and about the engagement... Since I'm an independent girl who is the furthest thing from a gold digger and want to be fair, I plan on buying my man a new watch of his choosing.

I'm Engaged!

Blogosphere... you are the first to know.
BF and I are now engaged. We went away this weekend and he gave me a ring...
He wants to talk to my parents before I start wearing the ring, and it's too big anyway so we need to either resize it or trade it in (i'm leaning towards trade)

This has been a long time coming, and although we have problems like all relationships, we are planning on working through them and spending the rest of our lives together.

We wont be planning an actual wedding for quite some time, if at all. We'll start by moving in together sometime in the next year and take it from there. It's reassurance that I'm more to him than just a 'girlfriend'.

Jerseycentric Boob Tube Babble

Good Morning All!

Remember I shared that since I'm super frugal I don't want to pay for cable at my new place?

Don't fret, I'm still able to stay current thanks to the cable & DVR at my mom's house. The parentals are on vacay this week so I've been staying at there to tend to my oh so high maintenance dog. (she's on a schedule for thyroid & liver disease meds and she's just not used to spending too much time alone)

Well This week's stay luckily coincides with the premieres of RH New Jersey & Jerseylicious.

Let's discuss...

NJ might be my fave housewives show, they are just so entertaining. So we have two new cast members and they are Teresa's relatives that she doesn't get along with. It seems to me like the women featured on these shows stop being "real" somewhere along the line. Caroline keeps it pretty real, but Jacqueline and Teresa and most of the women in the other cities get caught up in their pseudo celebriti-ness. Anyway, to me that seems to be the issue between Teresa and her family. Although I also suspect good old fashioned greed to be at the root of it. Greed for money and greed for fame and attention.

Maybe there is some sort of business partnership gone bad between Teresa's brother & husband. Her brother seems really jealous of the relationship between his father and Joe Guidice. This will all be pretty interesting.

Meanwhile, Caroline Manzo's boys are moving out. EEEEK!! She wants to die! How old are they? Alot of people might think this is odd, but I'm Mexican so I can relate. Lots of us stay in our parents house until we get married. Actually even then alot of people move their new spouse in with their parents.

The same issue came up on the Jerseylicious reunion.

Vivica Fox was hosting and asked Filipo & Lorenzo why they still live at home... I forgot what they said exactly but it was something along the lines of they like being taken care of. Then, Anthony mentioned he bought a house that connects to his mother's house. Tracy chimed in and said all her family live on the same block. Alexa, said "what is this? Everybody Loves Raymond?". I also love that show, btw.

Again, people may think it's odd but I totally get it! I guess that's something Italians & Mexican's have in common. Very very close families. Even if we are all annoyed by each other we can't go too long without spending time together. At least that's my experience and my opinion.

And I was so shocked about Gigi & Frankie not being together?? How did that happen? why!!
I wasn't as super sad about it as Vivica, but still.
At one point they were talking about haters online bashing some of the cast members. I figure any public figure deals with this but just now as I was searching for pictures to include in my post I saw some really nasty comments on the Style network site. Style should really monitor that and delete the inapporpriate things.

So that is my current boob tube update, I'm looking forward to see the drama on both these Jersey shows this season.
Go to the link up to what everybody else is watching... and Happy Weekend to all!

*Images from Google

Currently...

Joining Link ups will keep my posting more regularly
This is from Perfectly Imperfect

Current Book(s):
The Four Ms. Bradwells... haven't actually started yet but it's our first book club pick
Inspirations: Selections from Classic Literature
Also my therapist recommended The Five Love Languages so I'll be picking that up soon

Current Playlist:
Mary J. Blige playlist on Pandora

Current Color:
Purple

Current Drink:
Water

Current Food:
A train mishap ruined my plans of meeting up w/BF for lunch :( so I grabbed a tuna sandwich instead

Current Favorite Show:
Mad Men!

Current Wishlist:
A new TV
smartphone (finally!!)
new sandals maybe these, but they're so expensive!
for my bookcase and TV cart to be built

Current Needs:
I need (& deserve) a promotion

Current Triumphs:
signing up for an aerobics class, next step... actually show up!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence:
hmmm well not quite current (yet, thank God) but I'm sure fireworks will start soon and they make my poor pup very scared & anxious I HATE it, and seriously they go on for months in my neighborhood

Current Celebrity Crush:
Paul Rudd, I just saw "How Do You Know" the other day... he is adorable (but akward) in it

Current #1 Blessing:
My health and that of my loved ones

Current Indulgence:
I may have some ice cream this evening

Current Outfit:
brown slacks from JCPenney, aqua & white striped sweater from Target and my everyday work shoes: crocs ballet flats

Current Excitement:
Memorial weekend trip with BF to Sedona, AZ

Current Mood:
pleasant