Stay Safe

Hello everyone! I hope all of you are doing well considering everything that has transpired since we last met. After my best friend's wedding it seemed like Florida and almost all of the United States spiraled into darkness. While I was out of work at Universal being a 911 Dispatcher means that I am essential and had to work. So I didn't really quarantine like everyone else but I did have to make sure that when I did go out to work and other places that I was keeping myself protected with my mask, gloves, hand sanitizer and washing my hand whenever I could for the rest of my family that was home. My family did the same when they went out because I am essential so I wouldn't have to be quarantined from work. 

I know this "Covid-19" topic is a little iffy to talk about with others and I don't want to get into it, I want to keep this space a safe zone. I do want to say that even with it appearing that things are getting better and places are opening up again, like theme parks and a lot of other places that were fully closed, that you are still out there taking those precautions still. Covid-19 came off strong and fast but I feel like we still have a while to go till we can say its safe out there again. 

Best Friend's Bridal Shower

First off I would like to say sorry for my lack of posts these last few weeks. I've been really busy with work and with helping my best friend with her wedding preparations, that is now a month away. Last year she asked me to be her maid of honor and I was shocked and excited at the same time. And yes I was shocked because even though she is one of my best friends I thought she would have chosen her roommate who she was super close to. It has been great to be by her side and helping her with creating her invitations, bridesmaids shopping, tasting the food that she will be serving and so much more.  It has also been fun/stressful planning the fun things for her like the bachelorette party (which she had requested that we stop planning for personal/financial reasons), and the bridal shower. 

We had the shower almost a month ago and I have to say it was amazing. She was so happy to have the small shower and to be with some of the people she loved the most. The theme of the shower was Southern belle since she is from South Carolina and is a southern belle. All of the decorations were from Party City and looked amazing. 

The food was southern comfort food that she loves! Like pimento cheese sandwiches and corn muffins. And then the rest was all things that we thought was good southern food like chicken and waffles, roasted turkey biscuit  sandwiches. As for drinks of course we had southern sweet tea and mimosas (one of her favorite types of drinks). I also decided that instead of a cake a small donut wall would be better and I was right. 

Now I come from a Hispanic family where you always have to give out some sort of party favors. I thought that it would be cool to give out something practical that they could use over and over so I cut out some vinyl with my mom's circuit and gave out some mason jar cups to everyone. Both the bride and her mom loved the cups, as well as everyone else. 

For the party the other bridesmaids and I thought it was a cool idea to have the guest come in tea party hats/fascinators. All but one of the guest came in one, which is ok because I did put on the invitation that they were encouraged but not required.

The Beautiful Bride and myself

Bride and her Tribe

Aside from the shower itself, one of the best things were that the bridesmaids and myself came in black floral dresses and none of us planned it.

I'm super excited that there is only 30 days left till she says "I Do!" to her soulmate.

Photography

During my last semester for college I took a film photography class thinking that it would be a good way for me to get an "easy A" and a good way to take my mind off of all the things that I had to do for my major before I graduated. Well if you have ever been to college or are in college now you know that there is no such thing as an "easy A" but you also know that it is the classes that you take outside of your major that you end up falling in love with. That is what happened with me I fell in love with the film developing process, but more importantly I fell in love with taking pictures. I think it was because they were black and white photos and those kind of pictures had always seemed so timeless to me. I do also love taking color photos as well because they tell slightly different stories than their black and white counterparts do. 

I recently found some of the photos that I took in college and they have made me realize how much I want to pick up photography again. Now I know that I will never be a professional photographer but that isn't the point for me it's just a hobby, a way to take my mind off of things like drawing or writing for other people. It's just a way for me to have a little fun and try and capture those beautiful moments life throws my way.

The only question I have for myself is digital or film? But then why limit myself to just digital or just film why not both. Although it is cheaper to just take digital photos nowadays than film since places to develop them are hard to come by and developing them on your own is so expensive. So I guess for now I'll just take digital photos...now to go play with my digital camera that has been collecting dust. 😂

Merry Christmas

"Maybe Christmas" he thought "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a bit more!" ~ Dr.Seuss How The Grinch Stole Christmas

As I sit here waiting for the rest of my family to wake up, I want to say Merry Christmas everyone from Jingles and I! I hope you are all having an amazing day with your family or if your festivities were last night I hope it was amazing as well. I hope your day/night was spent with those you love the most. Remember to take this Christmas spirit with you all throughout the rest of this year and next year. I believe we need to keep spreading this good cheer for all to hear because I think that is what the world needs now-a-days.

Transported to another country.

Last weekend my family and I spent a few days at Universal's Portofino Bay Hotel for my birthday and it was amazing. As we were driving onto the hotel property I instantly felt like I wasn't in the U.S any more but that I was actually in Italy. If you have ever stayed at the Portofino before then you know exactly what I am talking about. Now I have stayed at the Portofino before but I am always amazed with how well of a job Universal does in making you feel like you are somewhere else.

Not only are the grounds beyond gorgeous but the rooms were breath taking as well. We have stayed in nice hotels before but this one was defiantly on the top of the list. The one thing in the room that I thought was both cool and weird was that there was this "window" in the bathroom that if opened and while laying on the bed you could see right in. I can imagine that it would be nice for couples if they were super close or families with little children where the parents can see everything that the little ones were doing in the bathroom, however for a family with older children it was a bit weird. The view from our room was nice as well especially because we had our own balcony.

With staying at the Portofino you also get a few Universal perks as well. Guest of not only the Portofino but also the Hard Rock Hotel and the Pacific Royal Hotel get early park admission so that they can experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before there is a huge crowd. Guest of the hotels also get a complementary unlimited express ticket that are good for every ride except the Harry Potter ones, which is why get to go into the parks early to ride those rides first.

If you are visiting the Orlando area and can't decide if you are going to stay at a hotel on Universal property, or if you are going to stay at a hotel around there I would defiantly choose a hotel on Universal property. They may be just a tad bit on the pricey side but the way they look and the perks that come along with it staying on property is defiantly worth it.