5 years ago today!

5 years ago today there was a boy who had asked me to go to a San Diego State Basketball game with some of his friends, what I didn't know then was that I would someday end up marrying that boy and that it wasn't just a game with friends but rather a first date. That's right 5 years ago today Tim and I had our very first date!!!!  I had not idea it was a date Tim had asked me the night before to go to a basketball game with some friends, he offered to pick me up which was great because I wasn't sure where the game would be or where to park or anything like that. I decided to dress casual because it was just a game, but I was so excited to go I thought Tim was a nice cute guy so of course I was looking forward to it, Tim arrived at my house by himself and I was confused because I thought there would be friends with him, but turns out it was just him. We then went to grab dinner before the game and Tim paid for my dinner and we headed to the game after that, when we got to the game the seats Tim had for us were definitely not with any of his friends, it was just the two of us. I had a great time great conversation and was completely relaxed because in my mind I was not on a date. I went home that night wondering was that a date? I went over it with my coworkers the next day trying to figure out if I was on a date and they all agreed that it was for sure a date. I find out a few months later that it was in fact a date a first date and the beginning of the rest of my life!!! Here are a few fun photos of our past 5 years together!

Barefoot Kitchen Diaries

Ok I'm obsessed with cooking so I've been thinking about doing a series on my blog devoted to recipes, but then I was like hmm maybe not there are so many good cooking blogs with beautiful food stylized photos ( I mean come on who really has time for that). I do however think it would be fun to add recipes I've tried and perfected onto this blog as a Melina's personal recommendations to good eats! Also maybe a few posts with some personal cooking tips and tricks I've learned along the way. It will be my own personal "Barefoot Kitchen Diaries". So I'll give it a try for my first recipe I'd like to recommend Posole Rojo, it comes from foodnetwork

Posole Rojo

With some modifications, instead of pork I've been making it with chicken which takes less time to cook and tastes just as good! so follow the recipe replacing pork with chicken and adjusting the cooking time to when the chicken is fully cooked. (or if you prefer do the pork)

Bi-Racial Couples

Remember when Bi-Racial couples used to be so taboo. I forget that we are a bi-racial couple when it comes to Tim and I. I think I am colorblind when it comes to Tim and I, it's not like I think about the fact that my husbands white and I'm some sort of mix between croatian and mexican. I forget that we are from two very different backgrounds. The times I think about it are times like when I wonder what our children will look like. I'm hoping they will be a mix between the two of us, but who knows I could end up with completely white children or we could end up with brown children. I laugh when I think about what it will be like if our children do take after Tim will people think I'm their nanny taking them to the park. I feel like we have come so far to even be thinking about things like that but sometimes those thoughts just seep in, I guess I'll find that out when we get there. And sometimes people are going to forget that a child can have parents from two completely different ethnicities.

Hey I'm guilty of that I'll never forget the embarrassment I felt when I was subbing for preschool and a women walked into the preschoolers bathroom to help her daughter use the potty, I became very concerned because the little girl was half african american (father's side) and half asian (mother's side) and in looks she took after her dad. I asked the woman if she knows the little girl and she said yes she's my daughter, my cheeks instantly got red and I apologized right away stating that parents aren't really allowed in the bathrooms (as all the children go in and out freely), but that it was alright since her daughter was the only one in there. I don't know if I offended the woman or not, I was hoping that she was appreciative that I was looking after the safety of the kids, but who knows. All I know is that I left that day with the realization that sometimes I'm not as colorblind as I feel and we all make assumptions that can be very wrong sometimes.

In any case I do love how common Bi-Racial families are becoming it just shows how we can appreciate beauty uniquely!

Also have you seen that adorable Cherrios commercial with the Bi-Racial family I love it so adorable!

Do you shower in the morning or at night?

Time for another random question! Do you shower in the morning or evening?

I used to be an evening showerer myself, I would take a shower before bed get into my fresh clean PJ's and fresh clean sheets and for some reason I just slept better smelling and feeling so nice and clean! Now that I share my bed with a man that does not shower before bed I found myself switching to showering in the mornings, call me crazy but my bed didn't feel as clean and when I woke in the morning I felt the need to shower after having a stinky man in my bed! Oh the joys of being married! 

But I began wondering is there a normal time of day that most people shower? Up until I got married I thought my habits were pretty normal, now I begin to wonder is there a norm? What about you what's your norm!

Oh and do you ever sing in the shower? I'll share a little secret with you I always sing in the shower?

The Space Between

Just a few weekends ago one of my best friends came out for a visit, it had been a good year or maybe longer since I had seen her, and like all visits with best friends, when we got together it was like no time had passed. Which made me happy but sad at the same time. I have had a handful of friends that have been there for me and been genuine true friends "kindred spirits" I like to call them. They are the type of people that require little to no effort to become friends with. It is almost like you have an instant connection and deep sisterly love for and you experience life with them. When they experience sadness your heart experiences sadness too, when they experience joy you join in that joy with them. Hanging out with friends like that is the same feeling as coming home, there is a familiarity there is a security,  and the comfort of knowing that this friend will love you through thick and thin, that they will not judge you but speak openly to you in love, they will look out for your best interest and you theirs and they will have your back when you need it, or be there to help you pick up the pieces in the toughest moments. I have a handful of friends like this and each one is unique and special to me, but as I have gotten older it has become so much more difficult to find friends like this and I am beginning to realize how rare and precious these friendships are to me. Which is why I find myself cherishing any amount of time I can spend with these friends, especially because most of my "kindred spirit" friendships have become long distant friendships. Long distant friendships are the one thing in life I wish I could change, I wish I could close all the spaces between my friends and I, and that we could all live close and be there for each other anytime and all the time, but I know I can't and I guess I will have to be ok with the space between, and cherish the chances I get to spend with friends.

O Come All Ye Faithful

O Come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.

Give to our Father glory in the Highest;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning,

O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

The First Noel

The First Noel, the Angels did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star

Shining in the East beyond them far

And to the earth it gave great light

And so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same star

Three Wise men came from country far

To seek for a King was their intent

And to follow the star wherever it went.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest

O'er Bethlehem it took its rest

And there it did both Pause and stay

Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men three

Full reverently upon their knee

And offered there in His presence

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel! 

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord

That hath made Heaven and earth of nought

And with his blood mankind has bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!