January 10, 2010

What do you think?

So here is Isabella's preschool picture. I don't think I have put it on the blog yet? Maybe I have? But I love it. I think she looks like such a little Angel.

And here is a picture of me, about the same age as Isabella. I know we all thought she looked exactly like her Dad, hence the Chrisabella nickname, but my goodness... there is no denying now, SHE IS MY CHILD!! I will not take credit for the BEAUTIFUL green/blue eyes though ;) She must be a really good mix!








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January 4, 2010

Pictures Later...

A small recap on ending the decade. We spent a fun afternoon with Teren, the kids, Rebecca and her kids! Teren made us yummy salad, the kids played and we went to the park. (Pictures later-on my moms camera). We then went down to Grammy and Popi's where we had a yummy dinner and hung around until after 9 (New Years, East Coast Style). At home, Chris and I hung out on the couch for a while with all intentions on staying awake to ring in the New Year together...AND FELL ASLEEP!!! I woke up and 2am! New Year's Day my lucky hubby headed out early for the Rose Bowl game. He got to ride in a limo with his friends and everything. I was slightly jealous I didn't get to go and enjoy some football, huh Chris? So the kids and I stayed in our PJs almost all day, watched the rose parade and a movie and took down all the Christmas decorations. I was partly bummed to take down the decorations so early (I usually leave them until the ephiphany), but the trash was coming the next day so it was a perfect time to get the Tree out. I was also happy to get back to an organized house. I wrote on my 1o1 list that my Mom has always wanted to see the Rose Parade floats and that was something I wanted to do with her. Chris, the kids, my Dad and I all ventured yesterday morning to Pasadena. It was really spectacular to see all the floats. I can only imagine the work that was put into each of them. Of course, my camera is broke and I have been using my Moms. I left the camera at her house on New Years Eve but forgot to remind her to bring it. I was upset about going to an event like that without a camera, so Chris bought me a $10 fun-saver at one of the booths there. HaHa. I was a happy camper that I could get some pictures. I will take them to get developed this week. Hence, pictures later! I honestly thought January was going to be a very relaxed month, but when I was writing in my new calendar I realized I have so many things going on this month that it is going to fly by!

On a side note, I made a really yummy dinner tonight from the Weight Watchers cookbook that we thought was a keeper. I would like to share:


Chicken with Apples and Cider

Ingredients
  • 4 (4 oz) skinless boneless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
  • 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Packed dark brown sugar (I used Splenda brown sugar)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Freshly ground pepper
  • 1 Medium onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
  • 1/2 cup Apple cider
  • 1/4 cup Cider vinegar
  • 2 cups Hot cooked wide noodles

Preparation
  1. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Saute the apple until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the brown sugar; cook, stirring frequently, until tender, 3-5 minutes longer. Transfer to plate.
  2. On a sheet of wax paper, sprinkle the chicken with the cinnamon, salt, and pepper. In the skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Saute the chicken until browned, 4-5 minutes on each side. Transfer to another plate.
  3. In the skillet, cook the onion, covered until tender, 6-8 minutes; stir in the cider and vinegar. Reduce the heat and simmer 2 minutes. Return the chicken to the skillet; simmer, spooning the sauce over chicken, until chicken is cooked through and liquid is reduced by half 4-5 minutes.
  4. Return the apples to the skillet; cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Arrange the noodles on a platter; top the chicken mixture, pouring any remaining juices over chicken.

HAPPY 2010 ALL!!!

December 31, 2009

New Years

New Years Resolutions are always a good way to get motivated for the coming year. So, here are a few things I would like to work on in 2010.

  1. Spend LESS MONEY and work off a budget. You all know my husband doesn't complain about this. But it is something I not only want to do for him, but for myself. I need to become more responsible in my old age. If it were not for Chris, we wouldn't have savings accounts, college funds, and financial security. I need to be respectful of his hard work to provide for us.
  2. Be HEALTHY. Start cooking light, practice portion control and willpower, exercise and finish loosing weight, which I have no excuse to still have! Chris is my partner in this, plus a few awesome girlfriends, so we are going to motivate each other!
  3. Concentrate on WORK. I learned this past year not working that I actually like work. I like having that outlet and it gives me a sense of pride. So, I plan on getting a babysitter for two days (few hours a day) a week just to sit in the house and play with the kids while I do some work on my websites, etc.
  4. Stay HOME more. I have also become much more relaxed in the past months. I enjoy being home and just hanging with the kids, but I do make many needless store runs which leads to needless spending. So I am going to work on that.
  5. ORGANIZE the house and get some projects done like cleaning out the kitchen cabinets. This will lead to my weekly schedule of cleaning/chores.
  6. Finally, work on my 101 list. Although I have not posted them on the blog, I have completed many of them. I don't have much to go. A few special things and then a list of 6 or so that pertain to work.

Thank you friends for being in my life this past year! Thank God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon me and my family and may he continue to watch over us in the New Year. May he provide us with Health, Prosperity and much Happiness!!! Much Peace and Love in 2010!!!

December 30, 2009

Family Photos 2009


Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: Family Photos 09


Ugh, Smilebox has been driving me nuts with the landscape/portrait photo set ups. I would start a slide and then you would miss most of the pictures because they would be the wrong direction. Finally I did this Christmas scrapbook and fit what I could in it. Here are my favorites from our family photos we did back in November. I think they came out lovely this year and I think the scrapbook Christmas presents for the parents came out great, if I do say so myself...enjoy!



Christmas 2009


Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Christmas Eve '09



Well I am finally getting around to posting Christmas Eve and Christmas pictures! I figure I better do this before we get into the New Year, as my plan is to blog less on here (maybe once a week) and more on my business sites. I am super bummed that Christmas flew by. We had such a wonderful time with family, which always seems to be the case. The kids LOVED Christmas Eve and Christmas with all of the opening presents and playing. I just relaxed and tried to take it all in. I got all my traditions done that I wanted to this month and was also able to enjoy the time with my kids and with Chris. Christmas Eve we do our Hansen celebration and Christmas Day we open Calagna presents and have dinner with both sets of parents. This year we dubbed Feliz Navidad! I wanted to do something easy and fun...so we celebrated with Margaritas and Carne Asada. Santa was super good to the kids and us parents! We also made sure the kids remembered the real reason we were celebrating and thanked God for giving us his Son Jesus and blessing us with our family! We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas...Happy New Year friends!!



Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Christmas Day 09

Everybody Clap Your Hands!

My very hard working husband was the top performing Investment Banker in all of OC, and he didn't even know it. I am so proud of him. He got invited to the Union Bank suite for the Lakers game last night as a reward! We had a great time...we enjoyed some drinks, the food and game... LAKERS WON!






















December 24, 2009

Isabella really wanted to do an ELF card with Popi and Grammy. Try NOT to laugh...bet you can't :) Merry Christmas!


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December 23, 2009

Birthday Cake for Jesus

You know that every year on Christmas Eve we read the story of Christmas and then sing Happy Birthday to Jesus before we open presents. It has become our little tradition and this year my Mom asked if Isabella would like to bring the birthday cake! We were thrilled to do it. This afternoon, we put on some aprons and baked our cake.





Isabella had a great time...and she is really good at cracking eggs...surprisingly!





We made this cake with Candy Canes because I remembered seeing a Candy Cane poem before symbolizing Jesus. Here is the poem:

Look at a CANDY CANE, what do you see?
Stripes that are RED like the BLOOD shed for me!
WHITE for my Savior, Who's sinless and pure!
"J" is for JESUS, My Lord that's for sure!
Turn it around And a staff you will see ---
Jesus, my SHEPHERD, Is coming for me!



Bella was so proud of the finished product! Can't wait to taste it tomorrow :)


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December 20, 2009

Vegas, Baby!

Friday morning we headed to Las Vegas. We stayed at the beautiful Encore. While we were waiting for Chris' client and friend Josh (whom we met up with this weekend), we had Maggianos and I went shopping at Fashion Show while Chris did some gambling.

Our gorgeous Panoramic suite at the Encore ( I do believe we have a new favorite hotel for rooms ... at least I do...this one and the Venetian suite are my favorites).









Dinner at Sinatra in the Encore.



Chris and Josh.







Saturday morning we slept in (8:30 - hey, that is sleeping in for us!) and then had breakfast with Josh at the buffet.



We also had Sushi dinner with Josh and his girlfriend Lauren. YUMMY! Then Chris and I walked down to check out the new Aria hotel and City Center. Of course we stopped in to view the Conservatory, which was decked out for Christmas!






























We then hung out together at the Napoleon Piano Bar, which we LOVE!




















Holly, Gus, Erika and Jeff also made last minute arrangements to come up on Friday for Holly's birthday! This morning, after breakfast, I met up with Holly and Erika to do some shopping at Miracle Mile. I was really happy to hang out with the girls and walk around. And then Chris and I headed to the airport to come home to see our babies!











Chris was done with me taking pictures, so he decided not to smile in this one which is us coming home on the plane! And after viewing these pictures of myself, it is quite obvious that I will be going on a diet shortly!!!!! But we had so much fun eating, drinking (Yes, I even had lots of wine, a couple bloody marys, chapagne/mimosas and that martini....lived it up!) and hanging out. I even found a little time in there to work on my scrapbook Christmas presents and take a nap! Much needed R & R before this busy, yet always fun, week starts.