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

Take a Peek

I don't take enough pictures ever, and I realize my blog is a total bore compared to most others that I follow. So I figured I'd do a post to let you have a peek into my life. These pictures are all sort of old but I'll try to make it a point to take more from now on and share.


In no particular order...

BF and I summer '08

My cousin, like a sister to me. Too bad she lives 5 hours away...

I love volunteering, I've been participating in the Revlon walk for the last 4 years.

My fave comedian is Nick Swardson, it may not show in the pic but I was super excited to meet him.

BF and I at my first opening day Dodger game, 2008. We love sports, especially baseball. I just went to my first game of the season last night. It was Clayton Kershaw bobblehead night.

My precious pup Crisp, she gets her hair did on the regular. Those pretty bows don't last long on her head though. Sometimes as soon as we walk out of Petsmart one is missing.

BF and I at a wedding in Spring '08

This is the most recent of all the pics and it's a year old already. BF got his masters degree in real estate development from ASU in 2009.

Oh it's Crisp again, we go short on her hair for the summers.

Longish/keep it naturally shaggy the rest of the time (grooming is expensive).

So there you have it, a peek into my life. I'll try to stay current.

Meanwhile, I couldn't get any pics into my man candy monday post... wierd. So I didn't publish :(

I'll try again next week.

I Confess

I confess that I'm super frugal! Moreso than necessary. I've been resisting the extra expense of a smart phone because usually either at home or work or even at BFs house there is internet access. Can I afford it? absolutely! And soon I will convert.

Since I moved about a month ago, I haven't set up internet or cable at my new place. Yesterday I downloaded and started playing words with friends on my iPod touch. so much fun! I wished for a smart phone to keep up with my games when I wasn't near an internet signal. My contract with Verizon is ending in early June. Since BF is with Tmobile and I talk to him the most, I had been thinking about switching over, but I'm not so sure about their service.
I'm a little confused about the rules for words with friends... alot of times it rejects my attempts at a word, I don't know if it's because of placement or what. And people use some words I've never heard of! Do they use dictionaries? Either way, I'm into it. My username is clawgv if you want to play.

I also confess that I've been a total dud for too long. For a long time, it seemed like I had lost touch with all my friends. I would get discouraged when plans fell through and have a pity party thinking nobody liked me. Lately, I've been pretty busy first with moving, and then either volunteering or work on the weekends, family events and time with BF, but I'm really trying to arrange dates with friends. Its pretty lame when somebody doesn't have their own life outside of a relationship and I'm guilty of doing that for too long.
So on that note, I have plans to meet a friend after work to watch Something Borrowed. I'm so excited for this. Also, we have started a book club and chose "The Four Ms. Bradwells".
Tomorrow I'm supposed to hang with a friend after work. I hope BF doesn't feel too neglected :/

I hope everyone has a great weekend and stay tuned for my man candy post on Monday, I already chose my subject.

Man Candy Monday - Manolo Cardona

Good Morning friends!
Like I mentioned I have a special treat. Manolo Cardona maybe unknown to most of you but he is definitley man candy or as we say in spanish "taco de ojo"
His look is different depending on the TV show or movie, so in particular I think he is hottest on the Spanish soap opera "El Cartel de los Sapos"
Feast your eyes on this:

who me? yes you!


This 'novela' is about a Colombian drug cartel that Manolo's character Martin is a part of. Here, he is probably thinking about the dilemmas that come with a life of crime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7YTq6HgGSY
I don't know how to add video but click here if you are interested in seeing the man candy in action

So there you have it, my contribution to man candy monday. Enjoy.

He has ventured into American film work with Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but I'm not too fond of his look in that movie so the only pictures I'm posting are of him in El Cartel. I think that is his best look. Perhaps I have a thing for bad boys.

**Images from google

Busy Weekend Ahead

Greetings Interweb peeps,
This is what I've got going on this weekend:
Tomorrow I'm going to be confirmed in the Catholic Church. Its one of the sacraments.
I'm a little late. Most people do this (if they do it at all) in high school. But I'm glad I waited. It means more to me now. Honestly, back then I decided to wait because the teen classes are two years and I knew adults could do it faster (about 3 months). But also I feel like back then alot of kids do it just because that's what's expected or becuase everybody else is doing it. Regardless, I'm glad and I feel I've learned alot and will continue to grow spiritually.

I was expecting to wear a robe type thing for the ceremony (kinda like a graduation gown) and just this week I learned that those plans have changed. So now I needed a nice, church appropriate outfit. I'm the rare girl that doesn't exactly like shopping. Especially when I need something for a specific event its a drag! I prefer to shop online. But anyway I was in a bind so I went to the H&M nearby, no luck. I decided to check out other stores in that shopping center (Citadel in Commerce, CA) and actually scored at Charlotte Russe. I got a dress and a thin wrap/long sleave cardi sweater type thing for $16... woah! I don't love the dress but its good enough for the short amount of time I had to figure this out. I don't want to stress about what to wear.
After the mass my fam & BF asked me what I wanted to do. I don't like being the center of attention so I said nothing. But it IS a special occasion so I decided to have my mom make one of my fave meals, Birria. I just wanted it to be my immediate fam, my one uncle and his fam and BF. My uncle will be my 'sponsor' its like godfather. Then I hear BF called my mom to let her know to make enough food for an extra 5 people... hmmm? I wonder who he is bringing. I told him I didn't want anyone else to be invited and mainly I was referring to my parents inviting other people.
Our families have not really had much interaction. My bro has met his sibs briefly and my mom met his dad and stepmom again briefly, but nobody in my fam has met his mom yet. Maybe that is who he is brining, I guess it had to happen sometime. Its not a big deal its just that we've been dating for almost 4 years and it's never happened so it might be awk-ward. Meh we'll see and I'll let y'all know.

NOW Sunday I'm going to volunteer at the L.A. Times Festival of Books! I LOOOOVE books and reading and all things related. This is a great event that has always been at UCLA (my alma mater) but this year and I guess for now on? will be at USC (our rival). I don't care about the rivalry and actually USC is closer, so I'm excited about that. I love to volunteer for my favorite causes, and maybe I'll meet some authors. A couple years ago I met Arriana Huffington among others.

On Monday I want to link up with Man Candy Monday and post. I have somebody super hot to share with you guys, I gotta figure out how to post pics and link and all that sophisticated bloggy stuff.
wish me luck.
~Claudia

Annoyed, Can't Get no help!

Geez! Its so hard to get any help from so called loved ones. Moving is a drag!
Its more of a drag when people who you do so much for are soooo busy (allegedly) they can't help you move. I try not to be a person who keeps tabs but it seems like anytime I need help or a favor people disappoint me. Trust me, I'm not tooting my own horn b/c that isn't my style but I really am very generous and helpful. Especially with my BF and brother, I've done sooo much for each of them!!

I will give credit where credit is due:
My BF gave me a few hours of his Saturday to help me move in the kitchen table, chairs, a lamp and some other random things.
My Bro and his friend gave about an hour of a Sunday morning to help move my bed & dresser.
Everything else I've done on my own and I'm glad. I like being able to take care of myself and not depend on anybody but unfortunately for bigger things I do need help.

The real struggle has been getting the couches in. I'm buying couches from a friend. She lives in Whittier, I now live in Alhambra. LA County traffic is nasty, duh. I need a truck to be able to move these things. My BF and bro both have trucks. Trying to coordinate for a time when my friend will be home and my 'helpers' available, also a drag. Then she said she'd leave us her key. BUT BF doesn't want to deal with traffic so he'd rather do it during the day. (He is unemployed, Bro works at a school so is on Spring Break). I left a key to my place and tried to coordinate getting the key to my friends place, but these boys keep changing plans, in other words flaking! I know this may seem like small potatoes to some but I was so frustrated I cried a little. I wanted to just forget it, who needs couches? BUT my friend is moving out of her place and needs to get rid of them and I had told her a long time ago I'd take them.... SO here we are, me venting to the blogosphere and planning to just hire people next time I need to move.
PS This is why one of my requirements while apartment hunting was that the big appliances be included.

On my own?

Hmm I find that now that I'm on my own I don't really know what to do with myself. Its just taking time to adjust I guess. I'm still VERY happy with the move but have so much to do to get organized and totally settled.

This weekend BF is out of town so in that sense I'm on my own. He, along with his daughter, brother & nephew, is visiting his Dad in Arizona for Easter. I decided not to tag along because I didn't want to take the time off from work. Then I was offered to work a few hours at the library on Saturday. I'm glad for the opportunity because extra cash always comes in handy!! So my plan for the weekend is go to church this evening with my mom and probably hang at her house since I don't have cable at mine yet :/ and the lame converter box doesn't work UGH

Tomorrow I'll sleep in, get up and get ready, go to work and then go to my place to do some more organizing. Sunday I'm taking my doggie to get her hair did at Petsmart and go to church again and probably hang at my mom's for a while.
Nothin special, just a laid back, relaxing and sorta productive weekend planned.
I'm supposed to get The Town delivered tomorrow so I'll probably watch that in the evening. Monday its back to the grind and then get to see BF in the evening I hope.
I tell ya, dating someone with kids is challenging but we deal.

On my own

I moved out on my own this past weekend.

I'm almost 30 and had been feeling kinda lame about still living with my parents so I had been planning on doing so for a long long time. But, I live in LA and dayum rent is expensive. I'm a super frugal gal so I won't live beyond my means and I was getting real discouraged seeing craptastic places galore that were in my budget. There was also a debate with BF and I about potentially moving in together. Obviously splitting costs would make it more affordable but since he has a kid, we'd need 2 bedrooms and after a lot of back and forth with that I just found something on my own. I'm really glad I did, I love having my own space and peace & quiet. My family isn't rowdy, nor were we crowded in a tiny house but still. Its just better this way. Moving is a hassle and I'm not totally settled in yet but I'm already very comfortable.

I was concerned about my commute to work being longer but its not a big difference so that's great.

I've done most of my shopping for random things I needed at Ross, Dollar Tree and 99 cents store, but it adds up. I scored on a set of pots & pans for under $50 at JC Penney and picked up a few things at Target. I still need some furniture. So far I only have my bed & dresser in the bedroom and a table in the kitchen. The place had a fridge and stove in there which was one of my requirements. so that has been keeping me busy the last couple weekds and will continue to do so, but I'm very happy with this move. I will visit my family and pup often but not being there every day will improve our relationship I hope since there is less opportunity for me to be irritated and annoyed by the things that bother me.

Stay Tuned

I'm such a bore... I haven't blogged in forevah! But I'm getting motivated, some changes have been going on in my life and I'm looking forward to sharing.