Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Amor por Key

Little bits of love coming from around the block and across the country...

For those of you who don't know the situation with my cousin Key, 
please read the previous blog "for Key." 


It's also been so great to have friends come by the sales whom I hadn't seen in a while, some in years. They've donated money, letters, items to sell, and hand-made art/jewelry. My friend Lisa, from the Nest and the Makery at Community, even gave me a couple of pointers that boosted our sales! 
(Thanks Square App!) 
People have been so loving, so supportive, so giving... and it's more than I think any of us ever expected.



made by a college friend! thanks Aja! and sold to a lucky girl! thanks Aline!



Our goal is really just to show our support for Key and do any little bit that we can. At the Flea Market I was encouraged by a man that I met who actually takes wheel chairs that a local convalescent home throws away and refurbishes them! He says that he does it all on his own, and donates the chairs to local centers or ones in other countries. Where ever there is a need. He does what he can to make even the smallest difference and believes it really matters. It's making a huge difference in the lives of those people and I was really happy to hear his story. It's that kind of attitude, combined with action, that changes the world.

antique onion heads

Last weekend was our 5th Key Sale, and I have to say... it was amazing.... Every sale has been. First of all, at each sale we get lots of stories from people who are struggling with or have beat cancer (including my mom) and it's been so uplifting to hear their stories.

everyone needs a pair of stripper shoes!
We will be having a couple of more sales in the future and a hair-cut-a-thon!
I will post more information on those events in the coming days.
We're hoping to reach the $3000 mark by May 3rd. We're at $2,800 as of April 27th. 
Meanwhile, we're still  accepting donations through our Paypal account at key.cure.perales@gmail.com
Oh so comfy rocker!


Ray Ray: at the 4th Key Sale at the Flea Market:

Ray Ray, probably in his late teens, came by dressed in a t-shirt and jeans and had his hair carefully done in a mohawk. He came over to our booth quite excitedly and started asking me questions about "the girl in the photo." I told him it's my cousin and we're trying to raise money to help her with her chemotherapy. Right away Ray Ray's energy went up. He started to speak more quickly and at first I didn't know what he was saying, but he kept pointing at himself. After a bit more time with him I realized he was saying that his mother has cancer. He was saying she went through chemo. He was saying he knows what it's like.

He told me to wait there and he ran down a few booths and grabbed his mother, pulling her all the way to our space. He showed her the sign and he started saying, "Just like you!" His mother, a bit taken back, shared with me that her son, who has Downs Syndrome, doesn't usually like when she brings up her cancer.  Ray Ray's reaction came as a surprise, typically he gets angry when she mentions it. Holding back tears she shared with me her battle and that she just finished up her last round of chemotherapy and is now waiting for results. She is hopeful and even has a cruise coming up that she will be taking (I believe with other survivors).

Ray Ray, who was playing with the drum set that was holding up the sign, asked if he could sign the board. I gave him some markers and he wrote down his name and number. And repeated several times, "Tell her to call me, I'll make her better." Before he left he held out his hand, as if to give me a high five. He'd written "Key" in large blue letters across his palm. He said he wrote it down so he wouldn't forget. I almost started to tear up and thanked him as he walked away.

Ray Ray's note in blue, towards the bottom center.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

for Key

Every little bit helps...


Exactly one week ago my cousin Lola posted a prayer request for my cousin in Mexico via Facebook. 
I immediately posted my own in order to help spread the word.


Here is my first post: 
This is my cousin Key... (Pronounced K.) She's 15 and lives in mexico city. This week she's starting a new round of chemotherapy. from what I understand, this is the 2nd time it's come back and she's been battling cancer for over a year. Her parents are pretty much out of money for treatment and they really need help. I'm not asking for money, just prayers and support. Another cousin here in westminster is going to be setting up a yard sale for her some time soon and I want to support it as much as I can. If you would like to donate items to sell, if you've done some early spring cleaning, or would like to do some shopping at the sale, let me know. I'll keep you posted for more information. I really don't know Key much at all since I don't visit mexico city as often anymore, but when I saw her photo for the first time a few weeks ago I felt instantly connected and my heart literally started to ache. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, even if you're simply reminded of her when taking out your ”keys.” thanks to those of you who've been praying. I'm sure she can feel it.


Literally the next morning I had tons of messages, comments, and texts asking how to help. Since then we have had people from all over donate items, money, care packages, artwork, hand-made crafts, time, prayers, and words of encouragement. It's been overwhelming and motivating! 


Little by little we have gotten more and more support from friends, co-workers, and extended family.  There are now multiple dates planned for donations, sales, and potential for other possible events and in May, my aunt will take over the proceeds and gifts/letters that people have put together for Key. God has blessed us with compassionate friends who care and are keeping us moving forward. My cousin Lola was the catalyst for this whole thing and I'm excited to see where it will go. 


UPDATE March 27th: The first sale went really well, generating over $400, not including all of the donations that we have continued to receive.
Thank you to those who attended, those who donated items, and those who are continuing to pray and offer support for her!
Every little bit will continue to help. 

There will be another sale this weekend and more in the future.  
Thank you so very much. 

Her mother, Erika, recently updated us. 
Here is what she said: 
(translation below) 

"Gracias a todos por su apoyo Katlin esta bien tiene buen animo estas quimios no la hacen sentir tan mal, eso si no le gusta la comida del hospital, así que aveces le llevamos comida a escondidas, Mañana va por la 3er quimioterapia, Katlin agradece sus oraciones y esta sorprendida de que mucha gente esta rezando por su pronta recuperación . Mil gracias a todos Que dios los llene de Bendiciones.


Thank you all for your support Katlin is well and in a good mood, these chemotherapy do not make it feell so bad. She dislikes the hospital food, some times we bring her food from home. Tomorrow is her third chemotherapy. She appreciates your prayers and she is surprised by that many people are praying for her full recovery. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Let me count the ways...

Daily love notes to Luis 
during the month of Febrero.

Day 1...cuddles... make me feel safe, comforted, warm, needed, loved.

Day 2 ...when i get all hot and bothered... you somehow keep your cool.

Day 3 ...i like to be woken up by you... even if i do sound grouchy when you do it.

Day 4 ...i love that you've never been in a fight. let's protect that pretty face of  yours. :)

Day 5 ...i like it when you focus on the positive. 

Day 6 ...it's part of what made me fall in love with you in the first place. that hasn't changed.

Day 7 ...helps me build confidence in the kitchen. 
However, you will always be the "top chef" in this house.

Day 8 ...whether it's coaching, tutoring, home-schooling, football stuff or whatever... you do so much for us and i am appreciate all that you do and love you so much for it. 

Day 9 ...with you, i discovered how good food can be... you appreciate a good meal, whether it comes from your mom's kitchen, our kitchen, or some crazy fancy, let-me-clean-your-spot-with-a-knife-fancy ...i love how we enjoy food together. let's eat!

Day 10 ...Poh was a decision you made with your heart. It was an impulsive and completely emotional reaction to love at first sight. I love that he brings that out in you. :)

Day 11 ...us and costumes are always a good time! you get just as creative as i do and it is so much fun running around trying to find the perfect pieces to wear, even if it is always last minute. 
We make each other look good. ;)

Day 12 ...although i've always had a problem in this area, and although i might want you to spill your guts when it comes to other people's bizness... i am thankful that you don't. i respect that you keep your nose out, don't judge, and don't make assumptions about others. i am learning from you. 

Day 13 ...you read my mind last night!!! our laughter makes me the happiest person on earth! it's the most genuine thing and feels so good to do until we're both in tears. even if it's at inappropriate times or about inappropriate things... i want to laugh with you forever. it's my favorite.  
Day 14 ...you're a fan of me. What more can I say?

Day 15 ..."Love ain't easy." I feel like we're always a work in progress. Marriage is something, I feel, we both actively work at and I think our love definitely keeps us on our toes.


Day 16 ...So loud, SO FUN! I hope the neighbors can hear us!

Day 17 ...and he's a pretty good judge of character. ;) 

Day 18 ...sometimes you give me a look (today in the car). It's a look between, you are the nuttiest person on the planet, why the heck am I laughing right now and I love you because you're the nuttiest person on the planet and I love laughing at you. That look, I love. 

Day 19 ...taking time to get away, try new things, and wandering the earth is fun with you.

Day 20 ...both literally and figuratively and i trust you behind the wheel. :) 



Day 21 ...when my eye puffed up for absolutely no reason today, you seemed so concerned. when you show concern, it's nice. even when you don't know what's wrong or how to fix it, you try to be reassuring and i definitely need that sometimes. you've always been that way.

Day 22... you totally get my stress, at least when it comes to school. you totally understand when i am under a stressful deadline and have to stay at work late, or come home moody and exhausted... not to say that you like it, but you get it. 

Day 23... we've known each other for 16 years... more than half of our lives. we can totally be ourselves around each other, without reservation, especially when we're at home in our pjs on a saturday morning. we know each other in a way no one else on earth ever will. 

Day 24 ...k, so technically i didn't write this... it was Jayden. and actually, if i'm being honest, she wanted to say, "...you help me to play golf." lol. but i edited it and told her to leave it at "help me" because you really do help her with so many other things. you help me too. the heart was her idea. ;) you're so good with her and it's like getting a glimpse at a possible future.

Day 25 ...you don't hold a grudge. you don't let things get to you. you don't judge. you let things go. 
(4.5 years today!)

Day 26 ...whether you pretend to be asleep so j and i can play a prank on you or because you let me test out magic night cream on your face... you really are a good sport.

Day 27 ...you don't really ask for much. ever. you are happy with all that you have and what God's blessed you with and understand that where you are is where you should be. you put others before yourself and i definitely admire that about you and need to learn to be more like that.


Day 28 ...whether it's in work or in your work-outs, you keep yourself motivated, give yourself goals... and that's sexy ;) ...i'm thinking it's bound to rub off on me at some point. 

Day 29 ...how awesome is this! i got an extra day for my February love notes! I kept it simple. 
I just DO. 

i feel like it's so easy for us to just take each other for granted and all that we have... i know that it's definitely easier to point out all the things that irritate, annoy, or anger me... it's true for most. 
(but that list would not have been as much fun... but trust me, they're there.)
i am blessed to have grown and changed along with you all these years, in our points of view, in our experiences, in our faith, in our love. i hope to continue to grow and evolve right along side you. 

i wrote down even more things this morning, on the 1st of March... and i know there are so many more that i am not even cognizant of... but i know that in all the big and little things that you do and say every single day, 
you show me.

Thank you for loving me.



Monday, January 23, 2012

30 in 30: Part 2

What my 30's are teaching me...

How bout thing 8: Life happens...
don't let it get you down... just get right back up!

I had this grand idea... an intention in my head... but I allowed myself to get overwhelmed, distracted, and busy. Now, I know, it was the holidays... I had deadlines for yearbook, and I've been sick more than once for days at a time, I shot a wedding, had a visitor from out of the country, and together, all these things attacked my blogging confidence and took away my focus. While I still kept track of the little things, I allowed myself to 
wallow in the big ones... in the stress of the day and this is not where I want to be anymore.
Starting tomorrow I am starting a new routine. I'll share more about that after I get back to completing the 30 things I've learned in the first 30 days of being 30. (Rather than "new" things, I'm just going to focus on lessons or at least things I am acknowledging now. Things I'm learning about gratitude and my own well-being. Some new, some re-discovered from scratch.) And yes, I am aware that I have been 30 for a total of 50 days now, but I'm not too far off my mark, so I will now continue where I left off...

Thing 9: Sleeeeeep: It does a body good.
My pillow in Portland at Ace Hotel (summer '11)
Poh nappin' (winter '12)
I can no longer remember what day it was, but there have been about 5 days in the last month that I took naps. Real naps. Not naps where I wake up feeling drowsy and worse than before I fell asleep, deep naps where I wake up feeling completely rested, in a better mood, ...lighter! They are so absolutely necessary! Sometimes I'll make an excuse and say I have way too much to do, but my naps, I believe, will make me much more productive during my week, and in a better mood. I should also probably start going to sleep earlier, but my clock is so jacked up from years of no sleep, that I think it's still going to be a while before I can do that. Poh (my dog) likes to take naps... and he's super alert! I'm learning to be more like Poh.

Thing 10: The art of conversation...
I have a lot of Facebook friends; I recently hit 500. I know that Facebook is not necessarily a clear representation of reality and I believe that most people can only truly maintain healthy, honest, and personal relationships with a handful of people... less than 150...  in real life.
That being said, I can honestly say I'm friends with each and every one of my FBFs for a reason. I have been enlightened, entertained, or encouraged by a status change or two along the way, and Facebook has served to keep me connected to family&friends whom I really do cherish, appreciate, and love to have in my life.
Time and Distance have proven no match for "the book." For that, I am grateful.

But still, I have at times wondered... If I hang out with an FBF... will there be awkward silence? Will I be able to communicate Face to Face... in the flesh? Will it be creepy that we may know the recent happenings of each other's life so well that we'll be finishing each other's sentences and have nothing left to share?

A few weeks ago I went to a new sushi place (Full Moon sushi in Tustin) with 2 beautiful girls, my friend Jen (a long time FtF friend) and Monica a friend who I grew up down the street from (and hadn't seen in maybe 10 years), with whom I (up until recently) had only been communicating with via FB. Well, we crossed over! The whole night, for me, was really refreshing and comforting in that we all seemed to have so much in common... common experiences, interests, and the conversation never seemed to be lacking (age, travel, family, babies, bad habits). 
One key piece for me, was the laughter. We laughed a lot and that always makes for the best time. Being able to LOL in person is a whole different experience. It wasn't like we had to talk about strictly the past, we had plenty going on in our own lives that we could share or relate to and I left feeling very thankful for the conversation and the friendship, and I hope that it continues... 
via "the book" and in person. 

Thing 11: i don't do it for the money.
Gypsy Den, paid with $8 in change (January, 2012)
This is my 5th year in my school district. 
I have been a part-time teacher for the last 4 years... My % has gone up and down several times since then and 2 days before we went on Winter Break, I was told it'd be lowering once again. I have very little left to say about it. I work a ridiculous amount of hours through sickness&health, not because I get paid to do it, but because I feel I must. I have no other choice.

However, 
I do feel it starting to take a toll on my confidence, internal motivation, and really, I'm just left feeling burnt out, trying to dig out bursts of energy that I can share with my students. They deserve my 100% all of the time, so something is going to have to change. It must be me. It's the only thing I have any control over. 

I am going to give this till the end of the year, but then I'm going to start looking for a new and/or second job. Though grateful for the bit of a part that I have, the amount of hours being spent on it, are not even close to equitable. My husband Luis seems to support all that I do and is encouraging me to just be happy. 
I am that lucky. So, with this new year, maybe will come some new opportunities.




Thing 12: Getting together can get ugly, but that's ok.



We did it again. 
Had friends and family 
get together for a night of 
ugliness. 

People came and went, showed off their sweaters, exchanged white elephant gifts, ate soups, sipped wines... all in all, it was a good time. A little more mellow than last year, but still a good time. I got to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while, and I personally just enjoyed listening to the chatter and laughter as I ran around and helped make sure we had enough toilet paper....
Santa's Behind... part of my classroom door decoration.

Loved the effort that was put into the sweaters this year. The store bought ones were awesome this time too! Nice work! 


me and the sibs
This "lovely" thing was left on my tree....
I love Christmas Time and this annual gathering allows me to share that joy and celebrate!



Together we created a painting that I believe is the best one yet!


It's a Wonderful Life at the Regency Theater
(December, 2012)
Thing 13: It's A Wonderful Life... 
Growing up, my mom always made sure we watched classic movies. I don't have kids yet, but I have always tried to share the classics with the ones around me who've missed out on these truly classic moments from films that I believe have so much to say. 


I feel this way about It's a Wonderful Life. 
A movie that used to be played on REPEAT during the holidays, but this year I only caught it once on TCM. Luckily, the Regency Theater in San Juan Capistrano was showing it. To be able to watch it the way that it was intended (on the big screen) was super exciting.

The movie was enjoyed with a dinner (during the movie), dessert, and even a bell that we could all ring. (The bell, however, got a bit annoying and I think should have been handed out at the END of the movie. The audience was GIVING away wings every 2 minutes that night. sheesh....)  
Arlene and me, taken by Luis

It was a great night. It was my sister (in-law's) birthday, and she is one that I have always tried to educate on the classics... since she was 7 or so. This is one that we hadn't watched together yet, so it was perfect. I also brought along my husband Luis. 2 of my favorite people watching a movie that really is all about being appreciative of the loved ones around you and trusting in that love.

This movie has been spoofed, re-done, and adapted into TV shows, cartoons, sketches, and muppet movies. It has a simple message of worthiness. That we are all worthy of the air we breathe. That we are loved, that we were created to love and to serve, and that we do make a difference, just by living. 

Good stuff.




Thing 14: brussle sprouts... 
they don't smell like feet.

Brussels Sprouts I saw, but did not purchase, at Albertsons. (January, 2012)


On an episode of Full House, someone commented that Brussels Sprouts smell like feet. That idea has stuck in my head and prevented me from having any desire to even be in the same room as a brussels sprout. After a little coaxing, I tried one and, to my surprise, I actually liked it. Jen made my try them. (Thanks!)

They'd never be my first choice, but if they happen upon my dinner plate in the future, I won't be hiding them under my napkin.



More to come... but don't want to overwhelm. :)